Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-12-29

onier. the whole hlandreA AAd stWenty
voices and the twenty Or thirty guests took
mn the chorus. and finished IL hymn in
fine style Ca,chitt, who sang bass, throw
ING the whole power Of his lungs into the
song. and Crabb. who had fine falsetto,
which he cultivated at the Tulse-hill Sofia
Union, creating quite sensation.
Then Jobson, in the silence which en-
sued took a Din out of the band Of his
cassock. and said, Children and brethren,
| / want to hear pin drop" And he did
| hear il drop: and so did Crabb, and Cat
| chit. and Symes, &C, who was looking
down his line like drill sergeant, won
! derfully amused with the scene.
| After the silence, Jobson wished all his
guests a merry Christmas, and explained
| how it was--but this was pious fiction
! that the ladies' and gentlemen present had
! provided the feast, ard how they did SO in
name of the holy Founder Of greater
| feast, and that he wanted to show how or
derly awe" Che never once said they"
making himself entirely one OF them)
could be: and then he knelt reverently
! down, and all followed his example, Ser
geant Symes' troop going down like one
| man; and then the good Citrate offered up
a prayer, SO true, so full OF feeling, and SO
| beautiful, that more than one eye-and
Katie Brownjoln's two eyes in particular
/ filled with tears Then, after deep
Amen" to the Lords Prayer, which all
! Joined in, even Crabb, who was supposed
to be a Positive Philosopher, and who
took in the Fortnighay Rsrien, and had
subscribed to the Womans Post-mortem
and Surgical Society, also TO the move
ment for granting equality tothe sexes by
making Women butchers After the prayer,
Jobson symbolically took of his coat and
said, "Let us begin.-Symes, my good
friend"
"Sir," said the sergeant, saluting.
"Take your two most efficient aids TO the
end Of those tables"
"Yes, sir" said Symes. And in a
"jiffy" Crabb and Catchitt were marched
! off, and placed az carvers at the tables
! "Mr. Bolter," cried the Citrate and a
white headed old gentleman, q deeply
penitent but once fraudulent bankrupt,
came forward please take the end of the
centre table. Mr.. Symes, you will be my
aide de-camp Mr. Brownjohn and Mr..
| Boldero, you are at present the head
walters zoe shall not dine till seven And,
| ladies, YOU will attend to the children, and
|
| Away went Mrs BrownJOhn, Patty
Parkyns, Maggie Symes, brimming over
| with happiness at being useful, and tuck
ing and turning up their fine dresses so as
to wait with more case. At it went Crabb
and Catchitt, each furnished with huge
napkins TO cover their best black, and in
marched file Of cook-shop men with
roast and boiled fowl and flesh, and vose-
| IL II. L.. ss.sv.s ~ hnd N
knife as sharp as razor, carved like the
professional and pasty-fa gentlemen
who, by living in the neighborhood of
boiled pork and peaspudding, grow like
them. Mr. and Mrs. Boldero were alb
sorbed in looking after the little children,
| Symes was ubiquitous, and all were so
anxious to please and to serve, that after a
most desperate engagement, in which
! Brownjohn came up out Of breath with
| delight and wonderment, and said, "By
Jove, Mr.. Jobson, never saw people eat
SO much in my life!"
"Ah, sir" said the Curate, remember
this is their one feast; many have not
eaten their fill for weeks, and some have
tasted for day or so previously
"You're a good man, Mr.. Jobson," said
Brownjohn; "put me down for ten pound
towards expenses.
"Sir!' cried the Citrate with delight
II beg pardon for offering SO little !;
make it twenty-five, if you please. Halo |!
! why, what's that, Can / believe my
eyes' Why, they have not spoken for six
monthsp'
Yes, it was actually the case there were
Crabb and Catchitt shaking hands. The
occasion was this Crabb, after winning a
Victoria Cross symbolically at carving the
beef, had felt his occupation gone with the
buildings and Christmas pies, and had
deserted his post--no longer usefully to
be held-and had constituted himself as
waiter, still under the watchful eye Of
Symes, &C, who, having bet his daughter
| Maggie that certain Bob Swallow would
eat more pudding than. Ben Bolt, was
careful to encourage Swallow for the sake
Of winning the bet Give kisses against one
pair of Jouvin's best No. 81. As Catchitt
had also constituted himself waiter and,
selling a plate of pies, moved hastily to
the left, where he espied temporary lull
in the battle, while Crabb, with huge
pudding, moved eagerly to the right, the
consequence was, that Catchitt sent one
or two mince-pies over Crabb's head,
being the taller man, and Crabb de-
posted the pudding In Catchitt's manly
| bosom.
"Beg pardon, Pm sure" said Mr..
Catchitt, who was a gentleman, and quite
ready to take the fault on himself
Whats that you saids' cried Cmbb.
~ said that begged your pardon,
and l do" said Catchitt somewhat
stiflly.
And I grant it, my boy, a thousand
times over; give me your hand" and
Crabb, who had only waited for the OPP
portunity, and was longing for the com
mencement to be made by partner who
was his junior, caught hold of the hand
that was about to pick up pie, and shook
1t with fervor
Thanks, Crabb my boy" said his
partner, quite delighted; "and now I'll
thank you for those pies Hurt my shirt
front mo; damaged the napkin, that's
all. | say, isn't it jolly!" ~
Wonderful, is 1t nots say, got any.
thing to drink! Sharp work that carving
You and had all the work, Catchitt."
"Here you are, gents Walters In the
room" said little Boldero, who, with his
wife, had taken charge of tho canteen
Brownjohn was on the spot, by marvel OF
course, and clinking their glasses like
stage conspirators, the three partners
poured down their Threats what seemed