Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-03-24
"Postponing" a Goose.
BY A PASSENGER.

time since, and being in no particular
hurry to transact it, / determined to
take passage in one of the packet ships
that run between that city and New
York. She was called the Grover"
and was commanded by sharp little
fellow, part owner, and who was
therefore interested in making the trip
as profitable as possible. The passen-
gers were not long in making this dis
covery, for as general thing, mean
er table was rever provided in the
meanest Of third-class hotels, or even
in cheap New York boarding house.
1t happened hat during the passage
we were becalned one day upon part
of the coast which was known to be ex-
cellent fishing ground, and the captain,
with view, of course, of saving a dol
lar or two, ordered the men to bring
out their tishine-tackle and try their
luck. This was soon done; and sure
enough, a large quantity of the fnny
tribe were soon transferred from their
aqueous abode to the deck of the ship,
to the infinite satisfaction Of the little
skipper, and the no small delight of the
passengers, who anticipated, for that
day at least, pleasant change Of diet.
In the course Of the morning the cap
tain took occasion to enlarge upon the
delicacy of the fish caught in that local
ity, and closed by asking:
''What say you to a fish dinner to-
day, ladies and gentlemen 2" ....
Everybody said, 90, by all means -
and SO it was arranged that the bill of
fare that day was to comprise fish only.
Now, attached to the ship was ne
gro cook, sleek, oily, and rather
good-looking negro, who was called
Centaur-a name which he obtained in
consequence Of a curious fancy he had
Of sitting astride Of the bowsprit when
ever it blew hard, and fearlessly retain
ing his position, no matter how madly
the vessel pitched and tossed amidst
the turbulent waves. AS this some
what approNimated to a daring act of
horsemanship, the name of Centaur
was considered to be very appropriate
one, and with which the negro was by
no means displeased. After the pas
sengers had agreed to the fish dinner,
[ chanced to be on the forecastle, not
far from the galley. when the captain
came forward, and looking in, sung
out. -s-...,...
"Centaur -
"Aye, aye, sa - replied that person
age.
"Cook large mess of fish to-day
for the cabin passengers dinner; and,
dye hear, postpone that goosc.''
Such were the captains directions,
to which the cook replied:
'tAll right, STRIP
After the captains departure, poor
Centaur seemed to be greatly troubled,
and scratched his wool in the most Wig
orous and determined manner I over
heard him asking himself:
"What de deuce he mean by cooking
de fish and postponin' de goose?
ben on sebberal boyages, if not more
[ ben in big hotels and little hotels,
man an boy, for eber so long, if not
longer den dat, an by gol!y dis de first
time l eber heerd OBJ postponin' a
goose. Dere's pickin' a goose, I know,
and DRAWN goose, and stuffin' a
goose, an roastin' goose, an bakin'
a goose-yes, an boilin' goose, too
but postponin' goose-don't belebe
dat eben Mrs. Glass, de great cook
dey talk about, cher heerd ob. 1t must
be done, dough, or dis chile'H git some
kicks, sure. Wonder if Jimmy Ducks
eber heerd oh it! He knows most eb-
cry ting"
Jimmy Ducks was one of the crew
a real cockney, and, like every one
born within the sound of Bow Bells,
considered himself to be sort of walk
ing encyclopedia. If he didn't know,
he at least pretended to do so-and
too often, | am sorry to say, pretence
is permitted to pass current.
i Just as Centaur concluded his rumi-
nations, Jimmy and one or two others
of the crew passed the gallery door,
and the bewildered cook rushed out
and anxiously inquired Of the oracle if
he knew how to postpone a goose?
Now Jimmy was somewhat sensi-
tive, and probably thought for the mo.
ment that the term goose might apply
to himself, and that there was covert
joke in the remark, for he was evident
ly taken aback, and his face began to
flush. Centaur, however, explained:
Ode case is dis, you see Cap'n
says to me jis now, says he, 'sCook a
large mess OBJ fish for de cabin passen-
gers dinner to-day, an postpone de
goose" Now, dat is jis what dis Mig
ger can't git trough his wool, no how,
what postponin' a goose is ~
COP said Jimmy seeing through
the affair, and winking at his compan-
ions, ''that is easy enough. l thou hit
every fool knew that
81 fought SO, too,'' said Centaur, in
nocently; ''an' so I says to myself,
. Jimmy Ducks II know"
swell, you see," said Jimmy, look
ing very serious, lit isn't common or
a very usual way Of Cooking your
goose" but when it is served up after
fish, and nothing to follow, at the nobil-
; ity's dinners, or at tie Lord Mavor's
banquets, then they" postpone" it.
Now, this is the mod, of doing it,
f First pick the goose IS clean as posi-.