Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1868-08-26
DIR. JoHNsoN's PUDDING.

son and Boswell. am in the habit OF ta-
king very long walks on these occasions;
perceiving a storm threaten, [ made the
best of my way to a small inn, and was res
ceived by respectable looking man and
his wife, who did all in their power to make
me comfortable. After eating some excel
lent fried mutton chops, and drinking a
quart of ale, asked the landlord to par
take Of bowl of wiskey punch. | found
him, as the Scotch GENERALLY are, very in
telligent and full OF anecdote, of which the
following may serve as specimen:
Sir, said the landlord, this inn was for
merry kept by Andrew Macgregor, a rel
ative Of mine; and these hard bottom chairs
lin which we are now sitting) were, years
ago, filled with the great tourists, DR.. John.
son aud Boswell, travelling like the lion
and jackal. Boswell, generally preceded
the Doctor in search of food, and, being
now pleased with the looks Of the house,
followed his nose into the larder where he
saw fine leg of mutton. He ordered it to
be roasted with the utmost expedition, and
gave particular orders for nice pudding.
Now" says he, make the best of all
puddings."
Eated with his good luck, he immedi-
ately went out in search Of his friend, and
saw the giant of learning slowy y advancing
on a pony.
"My dear sir" said Boswell out of
breath, " ood news have just bespoke
at a comfortable and clea an inn here, de-
licious leg of mutton; it is now getting
ready, and fatter myself that we shall
have an excellent mcal.''
And hope said he, "you have be-
spoke pudding"
"Sir, yon will have your favorite pud
ding" replied the other.
Johnson got of the pony, aud the poor
animal, relieved from the giant, smelt his
way into the stable. Boswell ushered the
Doctor into the house, and left him for his
| de.icioGs treat. Johnson feeling his coat
rather damp, from the mist of the noun
tainS, went into the kitchen, and threw his
| upper garment on chair before the fire
! be sat on a hob, near little boy who was
busy attending the meat. johnson occa-
| sionaily peeped from behind his coat, while
the boy kept basting the mutton. john
son did not like the appearance of his head;
when he shifted the basting ladle from one
/ hand. the other haud was never idle, and
the Doctor thought At the same time he
saw something fall on the meat; upon
which he determined to eat no mutton on
that day. The dinner announced, Boswell
exclaimed:
"Mv dear Doctor, here comes the NUT
ton What picture Done to turn,
and looks so beautifully brown" J"
The Doctor Uttered. After a. short
grace. Boswell said:
II suppose am to carve, as usual what
part shall help you to?"
The Doctor replied
My dear Boy, / did not like to tell you
before, but l am determined to abstain
from meat to-day"
80 dear this is great disappointment"
said Bozy.
"Say no more; shall make myself am
pie amends with the pudding"
Boswell commenced the attack, and
made the first cut on the mutton.
"How the gravy runs; what fine flavor
ed fat: so nice and brown, too. Oh, sir,
you would have relished this prime ece
| of mutton"
| The meat being removed, in came the
| long withed for pudding. The Doctor
! looked joyous, fell eagerly to, and in few
moments nearly finished the pudding
The table was cleared and Boswell said;
"Docter, while was eating the mutton,
You seemed frequently inclined to laugh;
pray, tell me what tickled your fancy"
The Doctor then literally told him all
that had passed at the kitchen fire about the
bow and TIE bastIug. Boswell turned white
as parsnp and, sick of himself and the
company, darted out Of the room. Some
what relieved, on returning, he insisted on
seeing the dirty little rascally boy, whom
he severely reprimanded before johnson.
The poor boy cried-the Doctor laughed
"You little, filthy, snivelng hound"
said Boswell "when yon basted the meat
why did YOU not put on the cap saw yon
in this morning Z"
81 couldn't sir" said the boy.
"Nol Why couldn't yon 2" said Boswell.
"Because my nanny took it from me
to boil the pudding in p
The Doctor gathered up his hercnlean
frame, stood erect, touched the ceiling with
his wig stared or squinted; indeed, looked
any way but the right way. At last, with
mouth wide open (none of the smsllest)
and stomach heaving, he with some diff
Guilty recovered his BREATH and, looking at
Boswell with dignified contempt, he loared
out with the lungs of a stentor,
"Mr Boswell, sir, leave off laughing, and
under pain of my eternal displessure, new
er utter a single syllable of this abomina-
bic adventure to any soul living while you
breathe"
And such, said mine host, you have the
positive fact from the simple mouth o
your humble servant.