The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-11-08
W00DsFIELD MONROE COUNTY, OHIO, NOVEMBER 8, 1854

The errand was done accordingly. and
the Judge in low tone Of voice said to
the girl
"Teli your mistress have little busi-
ness 10 do with some of these lawyers,
and when done, I'll be off in the course oil
two or three days"
The girl returned and faithfully re-
hearsed the message, and added, that she
believed the old fellow was drunk, or he
would not have said. as soon as my bus
mess is done, III be off in two or three
days"
Well. Betty" says the mistress, Ego
back, and when the gentlemen begin to sit
down, do you stand by the head Of the
table. and whisper TO some gen,ema an
,ha, l wish vacant place left at the head
OF the table for Judge Crane, and then
do you hasten hack snd see that John has
the cider and other liquors il good order.
And Mary, do you fill two more tereens
with gravy, and put one at each end of the
table. And Martha, 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 a
gentleman Of the request of her mistress,
Z" Certainly said the gentleman; and
Betty fastened back to assist John.
The gentlemen now sat down to an ex-
cellent repast, and after a short ejacula-
tory address to the throne of grace deliv-
cred by Judge Crane. in which he adored
the Father Of sill mercies. for feeding all
his creatures throughout the immensity OF
space-invoked blessing on that por-
ton of earthly bounty then before them,
and supplica,ed divine mercy through the
merits of our Redeemer, the gentlemen
began to carve end serve round in usual
form.
But as the Judge was of a singular turn
in almost every thing, and had taken a
fancy that if a person eats light food at
the same meal, and that which is more
solid and harder OF digestion, thatthe light
food should be eaten first; he therefore
filed his plate with some pudding. made
of milk, rice and eggs, and placing him
self in rather an awkward situation, with
his left elbow on the table, and his head
near the plate, began to eat according 10
his common custom, which was very fast,
although he was no great eater. And some
Of the gentlemen near the Judge, follow
ing his example as to partaklng Of the
pudding before the meat, Of course large
deep vessel, which had contained that ar
ticle, was nearly emp.ied when Mary ep-
pro oached with her tao additional tereens
of gravy, according TO the command OF
her mistress. and as she sat down the
last near the judge, he said TO her in an
.austere mannel-
...Girl, bring me q clean plate to cal
salad on.''
The abrupt manner in which he address.
ed her, aud her disgust at seeing him
there in that position. so disconnected the
poor girl, that she did not observe that any
one except the Judge had partaken Of the
pudding, nor did she know what he mean,
by salad but she observed that the large
pudding pan was nearly empty, and then
hsstened back with her utmost speed to
her mistress. and addressed her with
"Why, madam, that old fellow is there
yet, and he is certainly crazy or drunk,
for he lie down at the table, and has eat
en- more than q skipple Of the rice pud-
ding already. and his nose is right down
in plsteiul now, shoveling it in like a
hog, and he told me, as if he was lord Of
the manor, to bring him clean plate to
eat salad on. Bless me, where can We
get salad at this time OF the year? And
the gentlemen have not done carving. and
not one has begun TO eat meat, much less
C,lI -
AYE, he'll &c, a clean plate" says
Martha, /" before gentlemen wants clean
plates" .,.e.-.s
"I'll clear him OUT" says the mistress
and. starts for the dining room, burning
with Indignation.
The Judge was remarkable for not Civ
ing unnecessary trouble to any body
where he put up. and generally ate what
ever WAS set before him without making
any remarks; and seldom made use o
more than one plate at a meal, but at thi
time he had observed near him dish o
beautiful raw white cabbage, cut up ant
put into vinegar. (Which the Germans a
Poughkeepsie called cold slato. and which
he called salad, and he wished for
separate plate to prepare some OF it 70
his own fancy. The carving and serv
ing were not yet finished, when he ex
pected the clean plate, and when the land
lady arrived at the door of the dining rsom
determined to drive him out. She ad
vanced with firm step TO the door, AM
fixed her keen eye firmly on the Judge
when he turned his eye that way and oh
serving her, mildly said
{" Landlady, can | have clean plat
to eat some salad on ?''
a clean plate and salad - retorte
the landlady Indignantly. 81 wish yo'
would come into the kitchen until gentle
men have dined. | had reserved ths
seat for Judge Crane"
| The company we're struck with aston
ishment. and fixed their eyes alternatel
on the landlady and on the Judge. an
sat or stood in mute suspense, when tn
Judge gracefully raised himself up in tn
chair. carslessly folding his arms aero.
his breast, then putting his head awkward
ly on one side
., 9" You reserved this seat for Judg
Crane, did you, landlady?"
''Indeed did," says she.
1t was very kind" says he. in an iror
ical tone, .but if you will step to th