Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1849-08-02
PRIVATE PUDDING.
en- THE war THE noosIEk CANE III

: struck 7 New Orleans for the ifst time a..
ter his fiat boat was made snug and fast Went
up to see the sights Of the city PASSING 81
Charles Hotel, and looking up he seem 81 81
scrutinizc the building with lie eve ~ a.
architectural lconnoisseur.
After satisfying his gaze lie asked of a
passer by, what building it vas; on being
told that it was hotel, he inquired for the
entrance, and being shown, he assembled the
steep steps Approaching theIofice he en-
quired for tile landlord, of whom he INQUIRED
if be could get "a bite = to eat Mr.. T.. II.
Nudge who was the host at chat time. and
who i q hDst 4 at all times, humoring the
fellow, told him that be could do so by pay
ing dollar After considering for some
time Oh this item, and grayelY looking his
host id the face, he said, /" Well I'll 20 1T,
thar's my dollar, whar's my dinner 2i+I-
aWelE9 said the other with II smile, titsis
not ready yet, but take seat at the table,
and you can amuse yourself with the papers
for half an hour, when you will hear the gong
which will inform you when dinner is ready.
:. The gpng,what's that2n asked the Honsier
2 Oh, you will find cut when you hear ii
replied Mr.. Nudge. Satisfied with this an
swer, tile Hoosier after looking around him,
sat down and rumaged over Tile papers ~
Time sped on its customary rate, when sud
denly the gong sounded, and as usual tile
crowd moved for the dining room.
Recovering from his astonishment lit tile
noise Of tile gong, and scenting the delicious
fumes of the dinner, the Hoosier made "a
rush through ths crowd for seat, but being
met BIZ Dis hostile was conducted to lis d.
lotted chair. The gentlemen seated on each
side Iof him as we'll as the one opposite him,
had their wine before them
After finishing his soup, and having his
plate well filled the Hoosier observed the
gentlemen helping themselves freely to wine,
and $50 scizing The bottle of Lis right hand
neighbor, lie attempted to help himself, when
he Was modestly Informed that 1.-The wine was
!" private The Hoosier did mot seem 10
comprehend. and with blank sort of look,
resumed his knife and fork On laying them
down again, and having apparently come 10
the conclusion that it could not all Be n pri-
waite wine, lie seized hold Of his left hand
friends bottle & Stop if you please, SIR
said the offended individual, with fierce
look, "that's private wine sir" The Hoosier
looked still more astonished, and it beinga
hard case, thought he would make another
trial any how. So reaching across the table,
he seized the bottle opposite to. him, and was
justin the act Of filling his glass, when his
eisG-rts Ire1echoed private wine, sir, if you
please and Withdrew The bottle from the
fearful leakage it was about to undergo
The sgreen un becoming cnraged at,
being foiled on every side, and observing
that there was general simpcripg and litter
ing among the walters, turned on the servant
who stood at the back ofIhis chair, and who
had taken away the plate for the fifth or
sixth tirAa, and cried - him rri#it oasti, ~
bring back his plate, and if he took 1t away
again, he'd be dod rod if Id didn't draw
biz picker On him. and suiting the artion
tothe word, put his hand in his bosom, show
ing the handle of a huge bowie-knife
After this, things went on quietly, till tile
desert was put on the table, when large
Charlotte Russo pudding was set right
before the Hoosier. This be immediately
drew near his plate, and looking right and
left iat his neighbors he helped himself to a
large portion of it. Keeping his eyes fixed
ON the dish while eating, he perceived his
right hand neighbor attempting to withdraw
the dish from him. No you don't Mister.'l
said tile Hoosier to him, i that thar puddih'
is pFiuafs pnddla'" The left Hand gentle
man, not Observing what had passed, then
said, Allow me to take this pudding, sir ~
No yol can't take that thar I1Hsttlit, 4 said
tile IIookier with seowl, !: that's pirate
paddi4'3I and he rc-helped himself Shortly
after, the gentleman opposite was in tile act
of drawing the dish ever to him. = Hold
on, Mister said the Hoosier with look Of
triumph 4 I'd have you to know that that
puddin' is prirqte paeidin', while AZ the
same time he put his thumb To His nose and
made sundry gyratiors with bis fingers. 49,
" You can't come it over me- he continued,
feeling that D joke had been Hraetised upon
lin. siIPriyate wine, eh 2H
The attention Of the table being attracted
during the lattersccne, the gentlemen around
burst into roar Of laughter, and soon the
whole story was whispered from ono To an
other The thing took so we'll that every
gentleman was induced to.send his bottle 10
the HOLSTER, with his compliments, and our
.greenPun y soon became as merry as a lord
Hiccoughing as lie left the table, be turned
I'd the gentlemen and said:
& Well old (hiccough) fellows, you chic
cough) couldn't come it over thiccough) me
with your (hiccough) private wine"
The glasses fairly danced upon the table,
with tie uproar and laughter, which this
last remark created, and the Hposier stag
gered out of thereon, and made the best of
lis way to his boat-N o. Della.
4