The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-03-12
aPostponing" a Goose.
BY A PASSENGER.

one Of the packet ships that run between
that city and New York. She was called
the Grover" and was commanded by q
sharp little fellow, part owner, and who
was therefore interested in making the trips
as profitable as possible. The passengers
were not long in making this discovery, Tor,
as general thing,a meaner table was never
provided in the .meanest Of third-class ho-
tels, or even in cheap New York board
ing house.
II happened that during the passage we
were becalmcd one day upon part OF the
coast which was known to be excellent fish-
ing ground; and the captain, with view,
of course, Of saving dollar or two, ordered
the men to bring out their fishing tackle and
try their luck. This was soon done; and
sure enough, large quantity Of the hnny
tribe were soon transferred from their aque-
Gus abode to the deck Of the ship, to the in.
finite 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 captain
took occasion to enlarge upon the dellcacy
Of the fish caught in thct locality, and closed
by asking:
"What say you to fish dinner to-day,
ladies and gentlemen?" :,
Everybody said, 10, by all mcuns!" and
80 it was arranged that the bill Of fare that
day was to comprise fish only.
Now, attached to the ship was a negro
cook, sleek, oily and rather good.looking
negro, who was called Centaur-a name
which he obtained in consequence OF q
curious fancy he had of sitting astride OF
the bowsprit whenever 1t blew hard, and
fearlessly retaining his position, no matter
how madly the vessel pitched and tossed
amidst the turbulent waves. As this some
what appropriated to daring act OF horse
manship, the name Of Centaur was consider
cd to be very appropriate one, and WIN
which the negro was by no means dispieased'
Af(er the passengers had agreed to the fsh
dinner, | CHANGED to be on the forecastle,
no, far from the galley, when the captain
came forward, and looking in sung out:
"Centaur"
"Aye, ave, sat" replied that parsonage.
"Cook a large mess Of fish to-day Tor the
cabin passengers dinner: and, dye hear,
postpone that goose"
Such were the captains directions, to
which the cook replied:
"All right, sa!"
"Alter the captains departure, poor Cen.
taur seemed to be greatly troubled, and
scra ched his wool in the most vigorous and
determined manner. overheard him ask
ing himself: .,.;.,, !.
fish aud postponin' de goose ben on seb-
beral boysges, IL not more-l ben in big
hotels an little hotels, man an boy, for eb-
or SO long, il not longer den dat, anil by gol-
" dis de first time | ebber heerd OBJ post.
ponin' a goose. Dere's pickin' goose, |
know, and drawin' goose, and siutfin'
goose, an roastin' goose, an bakin' a
Soose-yes, by golly, an boilin' a goose,
teo; but postponin' goose-don't beleoe
dat chen Mrs. Glass dc great cook dey. talk
about, eber heerd oh. II must be done,
dough, or dis child'll git some kicks, sure.
Wonder if Jimmy Ducks eber heerd OBJ II!
He knows most ebery ting"
Jimmy Ducks was one OF the crew-a
real cockney, and, like every one born with.
in the sound of Bow Bells, considered him
self TO be a sort of walking encyclopedias.
II he didn't know he at least pretended to
do so-and too often, ! am sorry TO say,
pretence is permitted to pass current.
just as Centaur concluded his rumina-
tions, Jimmy and one or two others OF the
crew passed the galley door, and the be-
wildered cook rushed out and anxiously in
quired of the oracle IL he knew how to post
pone goose?
Now, Jimmy was somewhat sensitive, and
probably thought for the moment that the
term goose might apply to himself, and that
there was a covert joke in the remark, for
he was evidently taken aback, and his face
began to flush. Centaur, however, explain
ed: ~
"De case is dis, you see. Capn says to
me lis now, says he, Cook large mess Oh
fish for dc cabin passenger dinner to-day,
an postpone dc goose Now, dat is jis what
dis ngger can't git trough his wool, nohow,
what postponin' goose is !"
"O!" said Jimmy, seeing through the af-
fair, and winking at his companions, "that
is easy enough. l thought every fool knew
that"
~ fought so, too" said Centaur, inno-
Gently; IAN so says to myself, Jimmy
Ducks II know"
sWell, you sec," said Jimmy, looking
very serious, "it isn't common or very
usual way Of Cooking your goose, but
when it is served up after fish, and nothing
TO follow, at the nobility's dinners, or at the
Lord Mayors banquets, then they postpone
IL. Now, this is the mode Of doing It: First
pick the goose as clean as possible; then,
with a piece Of lighted paper, burn the
stumps of the feathers. Amer drawing the
bird, YOU will stuff It with mixture COM
posed Of hard.boi'ed eggs, chopped very
fine; onions ditto; apples ditto; biscuit
pounded into small bits, and portions OF q
fsh previously Drowned on tho fire. You
will then put the goose into pot, boil It
for half an hour; then put It on your spit,
roast II until done, and you will serve It with
prepared gravy"
Centauf listened with profound attention,
and noting carefully upon the tablet OF his
brain Jiminy's directions, started for the
galley, highly elated.
The affair was, OF course, kept profound
secret, and would not have spoiled the ex.
pected Joke for the world.
Dinner time arrived, and Ccntaur certain
" won honors for himself by the style In
which he served the fish, both boiled and
fried. Dish after dish had disappeared, and,
when every one supposed the meal to be
concluded, another dish was placed before
the captain, who, on removing the cover,
to his great surprise and indignation, dis
covered the goose! His wrath was not to