Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-08-19
Jimmy Maher, the Turkey and the Aristocrat.
Mrs lanes Maher l. knoun 70 Ill -. -

IL.
Mrs James Maher is known to all who know
| anything about Washington to keep one of
the best tables in the world During last
winter dandy of a cockney hearing of this,
took board at her house, and found all to his
mind as far as good eating went, but he ap-
peared to prefer aristocratic company FIRE.
quently the airs he put on would give offence,
and finally everybody in the house wanted
him ont of it; but there was no way of ac-
complishing the desderatmn, as he paid his
board regularly, and was only pest in his
peculiar manners. Whatever was placed be-
fore him met with some appreciation, but in
all cases he had seen better in {" Hingland.,
This, indeed, vas the case with every subject of
note in this country that would from time to
time be brought into conversation. A like
thing on the other side of the '' big pond'' was
always far superior" There proved but
one exception, and this Internationally served
to accomplish their radiance of the fellow. 1t
was an immense turkey. On coming home to
dinner one day about Christmas, great
turkey was brought in. cooked to a nice
ty, smoking, with delicious gravy and the
finest flavor, delighting the senses of the
boarders. Our aristocrat gazed upon it, and
admitted that q it was as fine one as ever he
saw in liondon-almost." He went on to laud
the splendid 80 bird, and among other things
said . it was too superior for them to eat-it
ought to be on the table of Queen Victoria. or
that OF some of the nobility" This was too
much for Jimmy, who was carving the turkey
at the time. His face glowing with patriotic
Indignation, he stuck the knife in the tab1a
and resting on it, addressed himself to the ILL.,
hammered cockney:
''Sir," said he, * the right ones to ate that
turkey were the Industrious people who raised
it, or the honest man whose money, earned nv
hard labor, bought it, and such were those
around that table They arc the women and
they are the men to ate it, and be jabers thew
only should ate it. To the dvil wild Ouane
Victoria and the tyrant nobility of England
But now, sir, you say that it is only fit for
such as them to ate. and seeing that it would
make n bad subject of you to let you partake of
it, I'll be id if your honorable self shall have
mouthful. Not bit, sir, not bit, sir"
Much amusement ensued at this retort with
those round the table, and even the object of
Jimmy's wrath joined in the laugh, not think
ing it was anything but one of Makers Jokes
But he soon found out his mistake. Cut after
cut of the delicious bird was served, every
plate being filled, but still the empty plate of
the offender lay before him, without taste of
the turkey. He again and again asked for IA
piece" called to the carver to have done
with his joke and help him but Jimmy was
memorable. :'Divil mouthful We shall
have" was his response.
At length the fellow called the waiter, but
Jimmy shook his brawny fist with the carving
knife in it, at the waiter, and he dared not
move. Mrs. Maher coming past him, he
stopped her and begged her for piece of the
turkey, but she proudly refused, saying:
You have insulted me more than my hus-
band sir, and the others; for cooked the tur-
key, and L think myself as good as Duane
Victoria or the nobility aither, for am one of
the sovereigns of froe America
There being no hope for slice of tho de-
licious bird and the company tittering at
his predicamy," now fully realizing that it
was no joke, he left the table. and demanded
his bill. This was produced promptly, he paid
and quit the house, while Jimmy clapped his
wings and crowed like turkey-no, chicken
cock-and the boardcrs joined in the triumph
with right good will. Well wager beef
steak that Mr.. Cockney has never admired
the sight or sound of turkey since.