I.— KING ALFRED AND THE CAKES.
AN HISTORICAL DRAMA.

 

[Tue great fault found, and deservedly, with modern playwrights, is, that
they will not write the Drama of our Hearths and Homes. The following
dramatic sketch, the author flatters himself, will be found an exception to the
rule, The liberal use he has made of such household matters as baking, a
scolding matron, the coal-hole, &c., gives an irresistible charm of homeliness
to his production. And as the entire scene is laid in the immediate vicinity
of the oven and fire-place, the tone of sentiment throughout is necessarily
“ of the hearth—hearthy.”’]

Prvsmns represented.
ALFRED THE Great, King of England,
(At present fulfilling a provincial engagement as a journeyman baker).
Gururum, Leader of the Danish Forces.
Joun Smirx, Neatherd and Faney Baker,
(Hot rolls at eight, and dinners Dunctually attended to).
Mrs. Sorru, his excitable better half.
Time or REPRESENTATION—Just before Supper.

ScensE—Neatherd’ s cottage and public bakehouse of the olden time. Various
placards in the Anglo-Saxon character, such as“ Hot Rolls at Hight,” “ Best

Bread down again to 5d.,”” disposed about the scene,
B 2