The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-05-13

o"s'as nousoS nero man OF taste could man
age 70 make dinner, and they are too far off,
NO, Monsieur Leblanc, We shall dine here, in
your own dining room and we shall dine we'll.
you may take my word for it."
= But, Monsieur lie Marquis,o objected the
young wife, with an air of evident embarrass-
ment.
Give yourself no trouble about the matter.
my, child take the whole affair upon myself.
Have you any charcoal9"
Even 30 poor kitchen as ours is sure to
have that Monsieur lie Marquis" answered the
hostess, still rather uneasy.
"Very good. The rest is my affair" con-
tinued the Marquis, as the bell rang once more,
and a tail lackey, in q gay livery, entered the
painters apartment, painting under the weight
of great hamper, heavily laden with provis-
ions OF various kinds, and number of bottles
whose resined corks and dusty cobwebs pro-
claimed the quality of the precious liquor they
contained.
II must let you into the secret of some of
my ways, my children pursued the gastrono
mer: II am not only Q professed lover Of
good cheer, but have also the right to call
myself an excellent cook" And SO saying, he
TOOK OF his coat and turned up his shirt sleeves
with an evident intention of affording ocular
demonstration of the truth of his claim to all
whom 1t might concern. AS for you, Mon
sievr Leblanc" he continued, turning to the
porcelain painter, who was looking on with q
tace expressive OF amusement and interest, al
beg you will not let my presence disturb you in
the work you have undertaken. Return to
your business, my dear sir, and leave me to
mime When have finished my labors, 1 will
let you know"
The Marquis, having unpacked the hamper
with the aid of his servant and the painters
wife, now betook himself to the little kitchen.
and began to make the fires for his contempla
ted operations.
Monsieur lie Marquis" said the young wo
maj, 81 cannot allow you -
ITO make the FIRE myself? But do you not
knew that the making of the fire is not an I'M
IMPORTANT point in the preparation of dish
a Little more charcoal or little less is by no
means tribe; and no one but myself knows
juss what the quantity should be. Beside" he
added, IN s~whisper, "you remember our agree.
mett: am here as a doctor; let me cure nv
patent in my own way"
"lf Monsieur lie Marquis is really determined
to CD everything himself, have nothing more to
say: but hope be will at least suffer me to make
myself useful under his direction" replied
Madame Leblanc, with grateful smile.
AT dusk, the Marquiss preparations being
hnl he'd, the painter was summoned to dinner,
He could hardly credit his senses when he cross.
ed rhe threshold Of his humble dining room.
Thinks to the provident forethought of the Mar
quis, and the jealous aid of his wife, this room.
whose cheerlessness he had taken in horror, "a,
sorting to the wine shop for the spurious substi.
tuition it offered in place OF the comfort his home
no longer afforded him, looked as neat and
pleasant as possible. A bright wood FIRE was
cracking and blazing on the hearth, making
the faded and threadbers curtains, costly drawn
across TIE window, look as good as new in its
rudy glow. The little round table was cover.
ed with snowy cloth, aud for each of the three
Dinner companions was laid handsome cover.
with plates Of Sevres china, fsnked by goblets
OF transparent clearness. A tell chandelier,
garnished with lighted tapers, stood in the cen.
tire of the table, surrounded by tureen of steam.
ing soup, that was sending forth a most anne
tizing aroma, and sundry small Aors deupres
OF equally agreeable promise.
gut If the appearance of the repast wss .at;s.
factory and inviting, what shall be said of the
WARDS OF which it was oomposedf Some things
are beyond The reach of description, and the
Marquis's cookery was one of these.
Let me tell you, my children" said the Mar
gus, as the soup was removed, and the succeed
ing dishes were placed upon the table, Let me
tell you that the King himself will not sit down
this evening to better dinner than ours"
THAT is just what Vas saying to mvselfv
exclaimed the porselein painter in the entbusi.
ssm of his satisfaction. "But, Monsieur Ia
Marquis, how can it be possible to give such
wonderful flavor TO everything"
so you lind my cookery tolerable, do vouPn
returned tho gsstronomer, with a smile Of graf.
ined vanity.
never dreamt of anything half so deli.
cIops," responded the painter.
"dood then we will make another attem ut
TO- morrow" cried the Marquis, gaily.
The porcelain painter, deeming it incumbent
upon hmm to protest against repetition of the
Marques generosity, endeayored 70 bring out
sentence depreeatns the trouble that such
proceed ding on his part would cause TO him but
i may fairly be doubted whether his protesta.
tons were altogether sincere.
"Hive yourself no concern about INV stroublo
as you call it," replied the MARQUIS, good
"for it is all done with view to
my ewn interests, am most impatient to DOS. |
aess 'l-lyselr al the two saucers; and know, by
roy swn experience, that nothing helps forward |
any sort of labor so efsctually as the certainty
OF sitting down to q good dinner when ones |
task is over. And, besides, am not sorry to |
be en- the spot, and to see for myself how the |
work gets on"
Things went on in this manner for four DAYS.
Simon Leblanc working steadily all day long. |
and dining like a prince of the blood in the |
evening.
BY the end of the fourth day, the porcelain
painter was astonished to and something of his
.esmes liking tor his work coming back to him.
bis work room seemed to have grown less dis
agreeable; his brushes, his palette, and all the
details OF his occupation, began to exercise |
omething OF their old charm over his mind |
and he might have been heard to murmur, |
while painting busiy, "If one vera only sure of |
having COCO dinner in ones Own home at the |
end Of a days work."
When the Marquis was leaving that evening,
after. they had again partaken, as usual Of an
excellent repast, the young wife followed him
% the door, and whispered, 81 really think that
Simon is beginning 70 forget the road TO the
.avesn."
"He viii have forgotten II altogether few
lays hence, mon eafant," replied the Marquis,
With a smile. =
he was already meditating the preparation of
golden pheasant, chef d 9Urre of culinary skill
and perfection, on which he counted for the
completion of the cure he had undertaken to
effect. 1t was the execution of .his project
#hica took the Marquis, two days afterward, to
he poultry market, as We have seen.
Wasn the Marquis entered the painters apart
aent, he found the little rooms decked out as
or festival Madame Leblanc had been busy
III the morning in putting the place into apple
Die order. The floors had been waxed, and the
urnisure subjected 70 thorough dustina and
ubbing. Clean white muslin blinds we're to be
een in the windows, the bsass knobs of the
.ndirons were shining in brilliant rivalry with
he cleaning of the fire, and punches of asters
md OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES filed the little china jars
Ipon the manteipiece.
I" This evening I shall deliver to You the two
aucers, Monsieur le Marquis exclaimed 81.