The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-01-12
|. Tough Morsel for Editorial Jaws.


the way, all the principal hotels of Bos'
ton were then either on Brattle or Elm
streets, with the exception of the East
ern Stage House on Ann street, the
Marlboro-still on the same site-and
the Lion and the Lamb Tavern, which
stood on the lot on Washington street
now occupied by the Adams House.
The Suffolk was kept by John Hast
ings, bachelor, and about forty bache.
lors boarded therein fact there was
not married person in the house, and
for that reason 1t was commonly known
as the Bachelors Hotel. The ground
floor and the basement were occupied
by a market and grocery store. The
dining hall was in the second story, in
that part of the building on the corner
of the lane leading from Dock Square
to Elm street. and its windows over
looked what is now Doolittle's stables
The younger members Of this singular
community who breakfasted, supped
dined and wined here-among whom
were some of the ablest business men
in the city-were much addicted to
practical joking; and one joke of that
sort inflicted on one Of the wittiest of
them-one Adams-whowa was, if rightly
remember, then editor of the Boston
Courier.
Adams was almost invariably late to
breakfast, coming in after most Of the
boarders had finished and gone to their
places Of business, ana as | could not
leave my brothers office, it frequently
occurred that | took my morning meal
Adj | | FL 81
regret it, though | was often repri-
manded for overstaying my allotted
time to listen to those witty stories,
fresh relations and curious ex periences
that members Of the editorial fraternity
always seem so full OF.
On this particular morning-it was
bitter cold, and | remember | ran all
the way to the hotel-Olive, fresh.
looking Vermont girl who tended the
table, was the sole occupant Of the hall
when | entered it, and as she turned
to 90 for my coffee and hot biscuit
| asked her if Mr.. Adams had come in
yet.
"No, sir, he has not,n she answered :;
you and he are the last this morn.
ing; but | have put nice steak for
then hurried away on her errand to the
kitchen.
The floor of the dining hall was al
ways copiously sprinkled with sand, and
midway between the two extremities of
the hall stood large stove which
warmed the apartment; beneath this
Olive used to place the chops or steaks
for late corners, in a covered dish TO
keep hot. Being ravenously hungry ]
did not stand on ceremony. but seating
myself at the table close 10 the stove |
leaned back, fork in hand, and drew
the platter from under it; lifting the
cover | saw two juicy steaks half buried
in rich gravy.
Thrusting my fork into one, | turned
to put it on my plate, but on the pas
sage from the platter TO the plate it
slipped off my fork and fell on the
sanded floor Just then | heard foot
steps, and it flashed through my mind,
the other steak OF no steak. Quick as
thought the other steak was transferred
to my plate, the dish and the sanded
steak were replaced, the cover put on,
and the platter pushed back under the
stove.
/ had barely accomplished this when
Adamss rosy, smiling face appeared at
the door. He came briskly in, and
coming to the stove, stood rubbing his
hands and warming himself while
he talked with Olive, who had followed
him in with the coffee-pot and plate
Of hot biscuit.
"Got a nice breakfast for you, Mr..
Adams" said Olive, with whom he was
a great tavorite.
=" incest thing in the world is nice
breakfast, Olive, especially if one has q
nice girl 10 serve it nicely" he replied,
beamng pleasantly all the while.
Don't you think SOP he asked, APP
pealing to me.
Certainly" | replied, feeling rather
dubious, however, about his nice break
fast.
He took his scat beside me, and Olive
spread the biscuit, coffee and steak
temptingly before him.
"Nice enough for prince, Olive;
The steak, mean," he said, sailing and
peppering it to suit his taste, but not
turning it over. "Done to a turn
cutting a long, thin portion. "Ele.
ganII sOpplHS IL III Vie gravy tneH ne
calculated, " Nice !" and popped it into
his open mouth.
His jaws -twice-a shud-
der, and they slowly relaxed; then he
meekly took the unmasticated morsel
from his mouth and laid it tenderly on
one side. Solemnly he cut another
from the other end, and silently tried
that. ugh u he gasped with the first
attempt. Olive, for heavens sake
where did this steak come from ??''
4" From the market down stairs, Mr..
Adams"
"Ah, curse the grit; should think
it came from Sandy Hook"
| could hold in no longer, and laughed
till the tears streamed down my cheeks,
while Olive looked on in bank amaze
ment; but it was not till years after,
and until was full-grown man, that |
dared tell Adams the truth about that
"sanded steak"
Brandy.
Brandy may be a very good thing in
its place. but one ought to feel sure that
he or she is getting the genuine article.
| IL - not altuoVc oOncoli,c 70 . a..