The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-02-22

is variety for them TO choose from-cold
corned beef, ham, pork, 6sh, bread, pota-
toes, cabbage, turnips, onions, dc and
soup. Soup is in great demand-hot, rich
soup, made from wholesome knuckles OF
beef, rich with vegetables Of all sorts, served
out in steaming pint bowls. Il contains
the nourishment Of oil the other dishes serv.
ed there, with the additional recommenda-
tion Of warming as we'll as filing the stom-
aeh. Each one has his pint bowl full and
another one II be wants Ii. At tho table sit
stout, robust young men, who would sooner
pay for their meals In labor IL that were pos
si6le. Then there is the tottering old man
whose whitened locks and wrinkled face tell
of sixty winters at least, sitting beside tho
emaciated mother, whose babe suckles while
she eats. Here little boys and girls Whose
chins are below the level of the bowl they eat
from. All are welcome, oil are fed. As
they rise from the table with the flavor Of
the generous soup still in their mouths, they
turn to the manager, each and every one,
with God bless YOU, sir. or Much OBJ
ligcd to you SIR So hearty comes to thsm
the answer, You're perfectly welcome, Sir
come again tomorrow night when you are
hungry, and every night, that they almost
feel they have done Mr.. Farmer seevicc.
Another company Is admitted, and they
take their seats as directed, waiting In 81.
lencc their turn to be served. Here is lit.
tie girl, ragged and barefoot, who has been
waiting outside in the snow for half an hour,
She hangs back moment TO speak TO Mr..
Campbell. He is soon ut Der side, and she
whispers, F" Please sir, my mother Is sick to-
night, and cannot come; won't you please
let me take her little something to eatT
Certainly, my dear, replies the manager;
f: you sit right down and eat all you can, and
your mother shall have some too. The
child takes her seat joyfully, and in few
moments bowl Of soup is placed before her,
and beside II is little tin pail full OF the
same food for her mother. She swallows
hers in haste, and turning give heartfelt
. Thank you, Sir, runs home as fast as she
can. Here is the poor Irish woman, who
spoke to the men outside-the heat which
comes into the room from the adjoining
kitchen has warmed her shrunkcn form she
fingers to speak to the manager. She has q
little puny daughter at home, whom she dare
not bring out in the wet, and she wants to
know fshc can take her mouthful ofsoup.
Sure, she says. it's no pleasure for me to sit
down here and eat hearty supper, unless
she can have some -indadc, sir, | couldn't
do it, lie answer, Sit down, madam, and
eat all you can, and then you shall take
pailful to your little girl While she mur.
mcrs her thanks; her soup is placed before
her, and the little tin pail is filed, ready for
her when she has finished
The articles of food served to the poor by
Mr.. Farmer are of the most wholesome kind
sweet fresh vegetables, Hcckcrs's fresh and
toasted bread, fresh fish and meats, just from
the market, all cooked in the cleancst and
incest manner. The soup is made in large
forty gallon cauldron, and is kept on the fire
constantly. This requires to be replcnished
once or twice during the night, when more
vegetables and meat, ready cooked, arc put
in, and the last made is quite US rich rs the
first. The number thus far of an evening
has varied from $50 TO 400, many of them
being regular customers, the meal they get
there. being the only regular one they have.
In 1857 we arc informed that two thirds OF
the whole number fed by Mr.. Farmer were
natives of Ireland. This year two-thirds Of
the whole number have been Germans, and
there are more Americans than Irish among
them. The amount of food consumed and
the expense attending Mr.. Farmers enter
prise canuot be estimated rs he has kept no
account 1t. His house IL full Of provisions
and he feeds the hungry multitude from the
same qualities Of food as hc puts upon hisown
table. lie says that II the times grow any
worse, and mechanics are likely to suffer |
still more, he shall keep his free dining saloon
open seven days in the week from daylight
until midnight. John w. Farmer, while
he is not 80 wealthy rs many Others in
our city, possesses an amount Of property
which enables him to live comfortably, and
to help those who are less fortunate than
himself. Ile isa plumber by trade, and does
an extensive business at No. 24S Broone
Sfraat