Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-08
{. POsTPONING, A GOOSE.


I took passage in one of the packet ships that
run between Mobile and New York She was
commanded by a sharp fellow, who was inter
ested In making the trips as profitable as Dos
sible Asa general thing, a meaner table was
never provided in cheap boarding house.
During the passage, We were becalmed one
day on part Of the coast which was excellent
saving dollar or two, ordered the men to get
out their fishing tackle and try their luck.
This was done; and quantity Of the fnny tribe
were soon transferred from their aqueous
abode to the deck of the ship F
The captain enlarged upon the delicacy Of
the fish, and closed by asking, What say you
to fish dinner to-day, ladies and gentlemen
Everybody said, by all means.'
Attached to the ship was a negro cook, called
Centsur.
"Ceutaur." cried the captain.
AYE aye, sa,''
"COok a mess Of fish for the passengers din.
ner; and, dye hear, postpone that goose"
All right, sa.'
Centaur seemed troubled, and scratched his
wool vigorously. "What de mean by cooking
de fish and postpontn' de goose? ben on seb-
eral voyages, if not more-I ben in big hotels
and little hotels, man and boy, for cher so long
if no longer dan dat, and dis de fust time eber
hearn OBJ postpontn' goose. Dere's pickin a
goose, an drawin' goose, an stufin' a goose,
an roastin' goose, an bakin' a goose, an
win goose, but poStponin' goose don't
..ieve dat eben Mrs. Glass de great cook dey
talk bout, eber hearn of. 1t must be done,
though. Wonder if Jimmy Ducks eber heard
OBJ it. He knows eberyting ...
just as Centaur concluded, Jimmy and two
others Of the crew passed the galley door, and
the bewildered cook anxiously inquired of the
oracle If he knew 4" how to postpone a goose ?"
:. DE case is dis, you see Cap'n says to me
Jis now, says he, Cook a large mess OBJ fish for
de passengers dinner to-day, and POSTPONE
de goose. Now, dat is jis what dis niger
can't git through bis wool, no how, what post
ponin' goose is y"
"Oh :" said Jimmy, winking at his compan-
ions, that is easy enough. I thought every
fool knew that"
81 fought so, too, said Centaur, " an 50 I
says to myself, Jimmy Ducks I'll know
We'll, you see," said Jimmy, looking Sc
nous 1T isn't a common way of cooking q
goose; but ven it is served up after fish, at
the nobility . dinners, they postpone it, Now,
this is the mode: After drawing the bird, stuff
it with mixture of 'ardb boiled eggs, chopped
fine; onions ditto ; apples ditto biscuit
pounded into bits, and portions of a fish pre-
viously Drowned on the fre. Then put the
goose into pot, boil it for 'alf an hour; place
1t In the oven, and bake it for 'alf an hour :;
then put it on your spit, roast it until done,
and serve it with gravy"
Centaur listened with attention, and, noting
upon the tablet Of his brain Jimmy's -direo
tiOns, started for the galley, highly eiated.
Dinner time arrived, and Centaur won hon.
ors by the style in which he served the fish.
Dish after dish disappeared; and, when every
one supposed the meal to be concluded, another
dish was placed before the captain, who, on re-
moving the cover, to his indignation, discoy.
cred the goose His wrath was not to be sup
pressed, and, in passion, he shouted" Send
that internal cook aft"
Centaur entered the cabin, very good -hu-
moredly, having no suspicion of ANYTHING
wrong, and was startled by the question
a;..Sa W nat IA 90 you mean, scoundrel, by disobe
"Beyed orders, sa done jest what you said,
"Obeyed orders, you rascal" Didn't /
tell you to postpone the GOOSE"
Course you did, sa; and did it,
Did what Z" shouted the captain.
p" Postponed do goose, So, 'cordin' to direc-
The passengers saw the joke, and burst into
laugh. The captain was somewhat modified
and requested Centaur to explain himself.
ell. 50, said he, "you ordered me TO
cook do fish and postpone de goose Now,
nebber postpone in all my life, an on con rse
didn tknow nothin' bout it but Jimmy Ducks
Tighten me on the subjeck, an follow 'xsct.
MS description. L mad trouble enough
don want to postpone another, no how"
Everybody laughed at Centaur' e explanation,
and even the captain smiled.
I" De of, you blOckhead." he said, - and
send Jimmy Ducks here"
The darkey was off in a twinkling, and there
being some curiosity rs to this new style OF
cooking, We tried the goose, but could not tell
whether we were eating fish, flesh or fowl
Jenny soon appeared and was compelled to
repeat the directions he had given to the cook
forgiveness only being extended to him on con
dition that he should eat the whole of the
goose The punishment was not very severe
for In fifteen minutes noting but skeleton re-
manned of that goose.
My heyes." was his exclamation, when b,
had completed the task "if that's a post
poned goose, L wish the capting nd ave on,
postponed every week. The dressin' 'owseyer
might be varied, so as to be little more pal
atable."