The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-31

Il
"Neyer mind. my DEAR" said her husband. on her de
elaring that the beef burnt crisp"lrs only
the outside; All is right within Here's slice thai
would tickle the palate OF alderman, and there are
plenty here Just like it, The beef will do very well
Don't run il down until we begin, and then speak up
Tor the cook, which you may do with clear con-
science"
"Pm sure the slice YOU have helped Mr. B. is not fl
TO eat Go, john and take Mr. BIS plate up for better
piece"
BEG pardon, madam % said Mr. B. 81 couldn't ask |
anything better. like beef well done, and always pre-
fer outside piece"
But nothing would do Mr. BIS plate had to go up, |
and an exchange be made for juicy slice OF beef
which, II what Mr. b. said was strictly true, not as
agreeable to his palate as the other.
"Wll you have some OF this gravy" The lady cd,
looking al me- 'Its black as coal" she added turn
ing j up from the bottom with spoon ~
,,Pl take some il you please" | answered
The gravy certainly was rather darker than was in
the habit OF seeing it, but yet about the color of
coal the meat to being burn, to a crisp There
was nothing unpleasant in its taste.
9" don't believe you eat this turkey, Mr. C." she
said few minutes afterwards she was helping the in
divdua she addressed piece OF turkey that had been
carved at side table by the waiter and placed before her
81 like even fowls little rare" replied Mr.. C. at
will Just suit me-"
"lts well you are all easily suited" returned Mrs
Clayton 81 call the whole dinner about the worst
cooked have ever seen. am mortified to death about
We all assured her. as soon as we had time to test the
quality OF the good things before u.s. that all excel
lent And, in saying this did not exaggerae in the
least. 10 nave OeUer dinner tnan that would not
give the value of copper. But it awaited nothing. Be-
cause everything was not cooked and Favored just TO The
point that she approved, it was pronounced unfit to be
before u.s. she scoded the waiter for his omissions
ting the table, ceremony that both he and the guests
would have most cheerfully dispensed with.
AT length through with the principal course
and then came the dessert By the way, however for
got TO mention that TO add Zes 10 dinner Mrs Clay
ton refused to be helped to anything, and did so in way
that especially unpleasant To her sitting up
straight, with her hands in her lap and empty plate
before her, while feastng on the many decacies she
had provided effected my appetite considerably But at
First some ars were brought by the waiter and placed
the table before her The moment the eyes OF Mrs
Clayton rested on these, her brows contracted sharply
but she said nothing. that the sides OF two or
three OF them were burnt pretty black Save that defect
their appearance was tempting enough.
"Al burnt up! II is too badw could hear her say in
an under Tone speaking to herself while she was serving
them out in plates, and handing them to the waiter to be
passed around the table.
The first flavor OF the tars very delicious, and
the first few mouhfuls pleasant to taste anything of
the kind had eaten; but, after that, did not enjoy
them much from thinking about the unhappy temper Of
Some lemon and cocoa nut pudding followed These
delicacies upon which Mrs Clayton prlded herself
and when they set before her. her face frightened
up So, sure, did mine, for by this time had be-
gun feel really unpleasant, and must have shown my
feeling in my countenance After these buildings had
been served around, Mrs Clayton asked Mr. B. how he
liked them
Delicious !" was the reply. -..-...
- believe will try piece myself" said the lady.
hall the pleasure Of the dinner to see you eating nothing
after all your trouble in preparing so many delcaces for
US"
By this time Mrs. Clayton had lifted a small piece of
NV gracious" she exclaimed. "Why, it isn't fit to
eat It's sour as vinegar Isn't 1t too bad! Every
thing has gone wrong to day"
at is little tart Kate" said her husband; but
really hadn't noticed it before you spoke. hope may
| ha,-nr ha,ra rnrca mo
Ditto to that" said Mr. c. And ditto" went cheeri-
Ily round the table.
But it did no good The piece OF lemon pudding was
pushed aside. ..
TRY some of the cocoa-nut pudding. am sure that
is without fault" said, hoping to restore of
81 suppose that is no better than the rest" she said
at would be strange if il were an exception"
| "Only try it ~ urged.
| In this was joined by Others
Although perceived no fault whatever in the pud-
ding confess that saw her make preparations for try
ing it with some misgyings If this should prove de-
fecve, there little hope of our getting away from
the dinner table with cheerful spirits.
Ifs as dry as chip" almost stunned me, even while
these thoughts were passing through my mind, though
spoken in low, querulous tone. .,-,... ...
| From that moment | gave up. | spoke not another
word The fruits came on, and we eat them in silence
Poor Clayton looked miserable. He mortified and
worried. We were all relieved when the signal was
given for retiring and gladly escaped from the presence
Of our hostess, who had the kindness to say to u.s. that
if dined with her again, she hoped she would
be able to give us something fit to eat!
81 wouldn't give Goldfish and potatoes, with cheerful
countenance presiding them, for a hundred such
dinners" said b. to me- walked away from the
house of my friend Clayton sit made up of every
decacy could DESIRE but the of cheerulness and
good hnmor was not there. Bless me! If | had such
wife, would -
"What would you do ~ said, laughing as he paused
to think what he would do. .'.... a... ....
"Never invite my friends to dine with me-" he said
Joining in my laugh. "But isn't it too bad" he continu
ed speaking less emphatically, "for of Mrs
Clayton's good to spoil dinner in the way she did
ours to-day If anything was wrong, why didn't she
try make il up by bright looks instead OF dark ones "
ats her weakness and want of thought" replied
"He husband ought to teach her better He ought to
make her think" .....
| at isn't always so easy thing to make woman do
as you please friend b., said Sand the hardest thing
of all is to make her give up her peculiar humor and
habudes of mind. If she can be made to see how much
she affects the comforts and happiness OF Others by their
indulgence, she may do better, as if of her own accord
but she isn't person to be driven from her ground by
any prompt and bold assault upon, rdicule of her fol-
bes and weaknesses And If ever you get wife, you
will find this out Mrs Clayton is very excellent wo
man All her friends like her But she has the fault Of
makn the worst instead of the best OF thing Tbs
she.cannot help But she can help annoying others with
its untimely and unady-like exhibition and am very
much in hope that her being led so far asay to-day will
make her sensible she ought to be OF her defect OF
character, and prevent undue exposure OF IT on an
other occasion. At least my charity goes so far.
The next time took tea with my friend the biscuits
were little heavy, but not word was said about II;
nor was there cloud upon Mrs Cayton's brow
Whether there had been curtain lecture or not on the
subject of the dinner, had means of knowlng nor
whether the subject had been alluded to not between
nv friend and his wife. Enough that change had come