Litchfield enquirer., 1843-11-30

positively declared he would not leave the
room and fire until he pleased. But, added
he, it you will grant my request, will eat
and be off. The cider was Immediately
brought and the judge partook heartily of the
collation. before him, took his broad brim.
med hat. and gently walked to the court.
house, where he found good fires and clean
floors, and during the court hours he presi.
ded with dignity aud propriety.
When the judge withdrew, the landlady
anxiously looked after him for some time, as
he walked steadily on towards the court
house, surprising him TO be some poor man,
summoned up TO court as a witness, or some
culprit, or some vagabond who might give
her further trouble in time of court, and ex.
pressed to her servants a desire that thew
would see that he did not disturb the gentle
men and the Judges who might put up there.
While some of the girls declared ifhe did
come, they would use some of his own ex.
pressions, which he used respecting Judge
crane. Let me see, says one, rusty, fllStY,'
yes, and 'crusty old fudge, says another.
When dinner was announced the court
not being thronged, was Immediately ad-
journed, and the day being so stormy and
cold, the Judges and lawyers poured into
the sherif's tavern, where they were sure of
good fires and good fare, all except Judge
Crane, who walked to the store and pur.
chased a valuable shawl, and put it into his
pocket on the inside of his coat then
walked quietly to the tavern. While he was
thus detained the landlady entered the din
ing room and earnestly enquired if Judge
Crane had come in the answer was, not
yet madam, and perhaps he may not Gomez
the landlady, who was anxious to pay the
highest respect 10 the supreme Judge retired
TO the kitchen not little chagrined, or
disappointed. In the mean time the Judge
arrived, and being at proper times very So
ciable, and at all times fond of cheer
ing the minds of those present, no began
to make somed pertinent remarks, and
also to tell some lively anecdotes, in
tended to convey good morals which
set the whole company in an uproar of
laughter. And at this instant, one of the
waiting maids entered the room to inform
the gentlemen that they might sit down to
dinner. She did her errand and fastened
back to her mistress with the tidings, that
the old fusty fellow with his broad brimmed
hat on was right in among the bareheaded
gentlemen, talking as loud as he could, and
all the lawyers and judges were laughing at
him. Then go, said she, and whisper to the
old man that wish him to come into the
kitchen. The errand was done accordingly,
and the judge in q low tone of voice said to
the girl, tell your mistress I have lit
tie business to do with some of these law
yers, and when done, I'll be off in the course
of two or three days. The girl returned and
faithfully rehearsed the message, and added
that she believed that the old fellow was
drunk, or he would not have said, as soon
as my business is done, I'll 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 at the head of the table, and
whisper to some gentlemen that wish va.
cant place left at the head of the table for
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 iii
two more turenes with gravy, and put one at
each end Of the long table. And Maria do
you see that all the clean plates for change
are ready, and that the tarts and pies, &c,
are in good order. Betty again repaired to
her post at the head Of the table, and softly
informed the gentlemen of the request of her
mistress. "Certainly," say the gentlemen !;
and Betty FASTENED back to assist JOHN
The gentlemen now sat down to an excellent
repast, and after short ejaculatory address
to the throne of grace, by Judge Crane, in
which he adored the father of all mercies
for feeding all his creatures throughout the
immensely of space: invoked blessing on
that portion of earthly bounty then before
them and duplicated divine mercy through
the merits Of our Redeemer, the gentlemen
began to carve and serve round in the usual
form. .,.r ....
But as the Judge was of singular turn
in almost every thng,and had taken fancy
that if a person eats light food at the same
meal, and that which is more solid and
harder Of digestion, that the light food should
be eaten first he therefore filled his plate
with some pudding, made Of milk, rice and
eggs, and placing himself in rather awk-
ward situation, with his head near the plate,
began to eat according to his common Gus
tom, which was very fast, although he was
not great eater. And some of the gentle
men near the Judge, followed his example
as to the partaking Of the pudding before
the meat, of course large deep vessel which
had contained that article, was nearly emp.
tied when Mary approached. with her two
additional turenes OF gravy, according 10 the
command Of her mistress, and as she set
down the last near the judge, he says TO her
in an austere manner, Girl, bring me
clean plate 10 eat some salad on" The alb
rupt manner in which he addressed her, and
Der disgust in seeing him there in tina: posi-
ton, SO disconnected the poor girl, that she
did not observe that any one excepting the
Judge had partaken Of the pudding, nor did
she know what he meant by salad but
she observed that the large pudding pan was
nearly empty, and Their FASTENED back with
the utmost speed 10 her m stress and address
ed her with, Lord, madam, that old fellows
there yet, and he is certainly crazy or drunk,
for he is down at the table, and has eaten
more than a skipple of tho rice pudding al
ready, and has his nose right down in a
plate full now, shoveIing it in like hog !:
and told me. as il he was lord Of the manor