Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-08-29
lFrtm Table Traits
A LIGHT DINNEH. FOX TWO.

Many years ago, when railways were
things undreamed of, and when the journeys
from Oxford to the metropolis were newt
ably performed ON that goodly and pleasant
high road which is now dreary and forlorn,
gentleman and his son, the latter newly
flushed with college fame ana university
honors, rode forth over Nagdalen Bridge
and the ChG'well, purposing TO reach Lon
don in q leisurely ride. A groom, their
only attendant, carrying their scanty bag
gage with Linn on good stout cob, had been
sent on in advance to order dinner at we'll
known roadside hostelry, where Oxford
nags baited, and where their more adven-
furious riders frequently caroused, out OF
reach of any supervision by Principals or
PROTECTORS.
Pleasant is the spot well approved by
past generations of Freshmen, picturesque
and charming to an eye content with rich
fields, luxuriant meadows, and pretty
streams, tributaries of the now adulesceut
Thames. whose waters had not at that date
been polluted by barge or lighter at that
point of its course. The neighborhood is
famous for its plump larks; and whether
in savory pudding, swimming with beef
steak gravy, or roasted, round half-dozen
together, on an iron skewer or tiny spit,
those little warblers furnished forth pretty
adjunct on o Widespread table, tempting to
an appetite somewhat appeased by heavier
and more substantial viands. Mine host
at our roadside quarters had cook who
dressed them 10 a nicety contriving to pro-
duce or develop succulency and flavor
which meaner practitioners would scarcely
have deemed practicable. Now Martin,
pursuant to his masters instructions for Sc
curing a repast of ducks and the dainty
lark, finding the landlord brought out from
his shady porch by the clalter OF the horse 5
hoofs Oh tho ssau-haNtnn ,sas4l as,rAAuun nad
the approaching arrival, and ordered din
ner.
my master wishes to find couple Of
larks, and dozen OF ducks, well roasted, on
his arrival at four o'clock"
"Did l understand you rightly, young
man 2" said Boniface.
"OH said the varlet, pettishly, "in Ok
ford no landlord needs twice teling;' and
betook himself to the stables looking for
ward to the enjoyment of a tankard of good
house-bre wed ale-no brewers iniquitous
mixture-aud the opportunity of shining
with some lustre in the tap, or the kitchen,
before country pumpkins, eager to listen to
man like himself who had seen racing at
Newmarket and Doncaster, and high life
u
masters came ieisurely along the road, nor
thought Of applying a spur, until the crav-
ing bowels Of the younger h)rseman, whose
digestive organs were unimpaired by college
theses; and examinations, suggested lack
of provendcr and their watches, when con-
suited, indicating the near approach of the
dinner hour, they broke off their chat, and
soon drew rein at their place of temporary
: soiourn.
Finding the cloth laid, and the busy
walters preparations nearly complete, they
glanced with satisfaction at a table Of some
what unnecessary dimensions, considering
the limited extent of the party, which our
young Hellenist would have described as q
"duality." Just as our travellers were
growing impatient, the landlord, having
previously satisfied himself by obsequious
inquiry, that his guests were quite ready
re-entered, bearing a dish with a bright
cover, and heading as good n procession Of
domestics each similarly laden, as the lin.
tied resources of his modest establishment
admitted. The large number of dishes
rather surprised the elder of the twain
whose mind was less absorbed by the sug-
gestions of appetite; and, having dispatched
the sole attendant left for bottle of the
best Madeira the cellar could supply, and a
Jug of that malt liquor for which the house
had obtained some nOteriety, he proceeded
to look under the formidable range ofcoyers.
Seeing under the first couple of ducks, he
said Come, this is all rightl" but finding
the next, and the next, and still the next
but repetition Of the same, either with OF
without the odor of seasoning, he fairly
stood aghast when six couple of gOOdly
ducks stood revealed before him. The young
collegian's mirth was great, his laugh
hearty, at the climax of two pretty little
chubby larks which closed the line of dishes
Apple sauce and gravy, broccoli and pota.
toes, stood sentries, fanking the array
Upon his ringing the bell with no gentle
hand, the landlord himself stepped in from
the passage, where he appeared to haVt
awaited the summons; and in answer b
question the reader may easily anticipate
replied that the servants order was precise
and that it was impatiently repeated upo
his own hesitation in accepting it, The re
speetability of the landlord, and the evi
dent truthiuluess OF his manner, stayed a.
further questions. But the elder gentlema
said firmly, that he should not pay for wha
had been so absurdly provided, allegin
that no two, or even three, persons coul
be found who would do justice TO such pro
visions. The landlord, like Othello, "upol
that hint spake;n for he saw faint chanc
of righting somewhat difficult matter.
80, sir" said he, I" 1 think could find
man hard by, who would not consider th
supplies too much for his own appetite"
HProduce him" said the guesS, Sand Sc
tie the point; for, if you do, will pay fc
the whole
The anxious landlord said no more bu
boWing, left in search of a neighboring col
bier, whose prowess with the knife and for
was pre-eminent in the vicinity. Near
time, our hungry travellers sat down 10 dir
ner, with such good will, that each of thel
had disposed Of enc Of the regiment and,