OLD BLACK JOE:  Let me think, Massa, let me think.

VIOLA:  Yes, Joe, try and remember.

OLD BLACK JOE:  (With a sudden burst of light in his eyes.) I remembers now.  He hid the money in dat old tree over dere.

(VIOLA rushes over to tree accompanied by several of the guests.)

TREMBLE:  I hope you don’t place any faith in the silly fairy stories of this doddering old nigger.

VIOLA:  (Pulling an old and worn pocketbook from behind the trunk of the tree.) Here it is!  Father, here it is! (She runs to her father and hands him the pocketbook.  He eagerly takes out the contents, a big roll of bank bills, and hastily counts them.)

MAYNARD:  It’s fifty thousand dollars and the old plantation is saved, thanks to Old Black Joe! (To JOE.) Let me grasp your hand.  (Shakes OLD BLACK JOE by the hand.)

CHARLIE:  (Who has sneaked on the scene from R. 2.  To JOE.) Yes, give us your flipper, Joe.

HARVEY:  (Who suddenly appears on the scene and shakes JOE’S hand.) It’s all right, Joe; you wait for me after the show and I’ll buy you some horseradish ice cream and a fried cigarette sandwich.

MAYNARD:  Now that the plantation remains, I invite you one and all to join me in a Fried ’Possum and Sweet Potato Dinner.

FELIX:  (Who also appears on the scene, carrying his dog’s head in his hand.) Thank heavens, I’ll get something to eat at last.

CHORUS OF VOICES:  Three cheers for Mr. Maynard!

MAYNARD:  And don’t forget Old Black Joe, for it was through him that I have been able to save

“My OLD KENTUCKY HOME.”

(Final Chorus by entire company.)

CURTAIN

GLOSSARY

ACT IN ONE.—­An act playing in One (which see).  AD LIB.—­Ad libitum—­To talk extemporaneously so as to pad a scene or heighten laughter.  AGENT, VAUDEVILLE.—­The business agent for an act.  APRON.—­That part of the stage lying between the footlights and the curtain line.  ARGOT.—­Slang; particularly, stage terms.  ASIDE.—­A speech spoken within the sight and hearing of other actors, but which they, as characters in the act, do not “hear.”  AUDIENCE-LEFT.—­Reverse of stage-left (which see).  AUDIENCE-RIGHT.—­Reverse of stage-right (which see).  BACK OF THE HOUSE.—­Back stage; the stage back of the curtain.  BACKING.—­A drop, wing, or flat used to mask the working stage when a scenery-door or window is opened.  BACKING, INTERIOR.—­Backing that represents an interior.  BACKING, EXTERIOR.—­Backing that represents an exterior.  BARE STAGE.—­Stage unset with scenery.  BIG-TIME.—­Circuits playing two shows a day.  BIT, A.—­A successful little stage scene complete in itself.  A small part in an act.  BOOK OF A MUSICAL COMEDY.—­The plot, dialogue, etc., to differentiate these from lyrics and music.  BOOK AN ACT, TO.—­To