Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-01-17


be off in two or three days
Well, Betty, says the mistress, go
back and when the gentlemen begin to
sit down, do you stand by the head of
the table, and whisper to some gentle
men, that wish a vacant place left
at the head of the table tor Judge
Crane, and then do you hasten back
and see that John has the cider and
other liquors in good order. And
Mary, do you fill two more tureenes
with gravy, and pu, one at each end
OF the long table. And Martha, do
You see that all the clean plates are in
good order. Betty again repaired to
her post at the bead of the table, and
softly Informed gentleman of the
request OF her mistress Certainly
SAID the gentleman; and Betty hasten
ed back to assist John. The gentle
men now sat down to an excellent re
past, and after short ejaculatory ad
dress to the throne Of grace, delivered
by Judge Crane, 10 which he sdored
the Father of all mercies for feeding
all his creatures throughout the i'm
mensity OF space invoked q blessing
on that portion of earthly bounty then
before them, and supplicated divine
mercy through the merits of our Re
deemer, the gentlemen began to carve
and serve round in usual form.
Bot as the lodge was OF singular
turn in almost every thing, and bad
taken fancy that il person eats light
food al the same meal, and that which
is more solid and harder of digestion,
that the light food should be eaten first;
and therefore filed his plate with some
pudding, made of milk, rice aud eggs,
and placing himself in rather an awk-
ward situation, with his left elbow on
the table, and his head near the plate,
began TO eas according to his custom,
which was very fast, although he was
not a grea. eater And some of the
gentlemen near the Judge, followed
his example as TO partaking Of the
pudding before the meat, of course a
large deep vessel which had contained
| that article, was nearly empted when
Mary approached with her two add
tienai tureenes OF gravy, according to
the command of her mistress, and as
she SAT down the last near the Judge,
| he says 10 her in az anstere manner,
Girl, bring me clean plate to eat
some salad on The abrupt manner
in which he addressed her, and her
disgust at seeing him there in that po-
sition, SO disconnected the poor girl
that she did not observe that any one
excepting the Judge bad partaken Of
the pudding, nor did she know what
he meant by salad: but she observed
that the large pudding pan wasempty,
and then fastened back with the at.
most speed to her mistress, and ad
dressed her with Lord madam, that
old fellows there yet, ard he is certain
ly crazy or drunk for he is down al
the table, and has eaten more than
a scbippel* Of rice pudding already,
and has his nose right down in plate
foil now, shovelling it in like hog;
aud told nae as if he was lord Of the
mannor, to bring him a clean plate 10
eat salad on. Bless me, where can
we get salad at this time Of year: and
the gentlemen have not done carving,
and not one has began to eat meat,
much les. to eat tub full Of pudding
Aye, he'll get a clean plate, says
Martha, before gentlemen want clean
plates
I'll clear him out, says the mistress,
and starts for the dining room, bur.
ming with indignation.
The judge was remarkable for not
giving unnecessary trouble 10 any
body where he pu. up, and generally
ate whatever was set before him with
out making any remarks; and seldom
made use of more than one plate a.
meal; but at this time he bad observed
near him. dish of beautiful raw
white cabbage, cub up and put into
vinegar, (Which the Low Dutch at
Poughkeepsie call cold slaw and
which he called sallad, and he wish
ed for separate plate to prepare some
of il for his OVID fancy. The carving
and serving were not yet finished,
when he expected q clean plate and