The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-01-17

while Mr.. Clifford told me an anecdote
that was worth it all. Then commenced
the grand business. Who would have
turkey, who would have chicken ?
Light or dark meatp Oyster sauce, of
course. Ham, certainly. You did not
know what you had asked for, nor what
you were going to get. But some way
it all came. Then there were vegetables,
cranberry sauce, jelly, condiments Of
various kinds. What mess it was
when you had it all therel The turkey
was elegant, but you wanted to taste of
the chicken and the oyster sauce. Mr..
Palmer had been ill with the dyspepsia
not month ago, I knew. Mrs. Henry
was not very strong either-in the doc
tors hands half the time. But every
body had to eat, or to taste, for it could
not be much more than that. 1t was
growing very warm in the room, and
was glad to get hold of some refreshing
celery.
Mr.. Gifford's plate was out, and the
waiter carried it up for another helping.
mo, thank you," said Mr.. Clifford.
YES" said Mr.. Mason. Another
bit of this chicken. And you had no
ham before; you must taste it. Those
are Longworth's hams, Palmer, do you
ever try them? Two cents more a
pound; but they are just delicious. We
never use any other. Now send up
your plate"
Just the merest slice; it is very fine. :"
Both plates came back nearly full.
The gentlemen minced little. Every
body was coaxed to take a trifle more;
it was even urged upon those who had
partially emptied their plates. There
began to be some long-drawn signs, and
a tendency toward conversation. 1
think we should all have risen at that
moment and returned to the drawing
room. It would have been healthier,
wiser, more rational. We had eaten
enough, surely. Or at the utmost one
light dessert would have proved suffi-
cient.
The plates were taken away again.
While the table was being cleared the
gentlemen told jokes in mellow after
dinner mood. Gertie and Mrs. Wyllis
began to discuss Parepa and music, and
I wished I were beside them, for Mrs
Henry was not much Of talker, except
upon two fruitful topics-dress and
servants.
Then followed the next course. Snowy
white stems of macaroni floating in
cream gravy, oysters fried to the most
delicious crisp and shade of brown
pressed beef III delicate slices and wine
Jelly. One and another declined; but
Mr.. Mason insisted, Mrs. Mason insist,
ed, and the plates were passed. Every
body minced and dawdled, laughed,
talked, made pretence of eating, and
presently these plates were sent away.
1 thought of the old injunction about
gathering up the fragments that moth.
ing might be wasted" No well-bred
servant condescends to fragments now.
a-days. And all that delightful maca
roni, those crisp, lovely oyateEs to be
thrown out as waste, when hundreds Of
poor and sick were perishing for food
or getting barely enough to keep SOU
and body together. 1t frightened me.
Oranges sliced with a powdering Of
cocoanut and sugar, and canned pears
luscious, tempting. A beautiful pyra
mid of cream to be dished out in elegant
china. Oh, how could we eat it all.
OF course we did not: We slipped z
little of this and a little Of that, spoiled
the symmetry Of the beautiful pear
played with the cream. Then the or,
anges and the jellies were whisked off
pretty colored napkins, fruit-knives and
nut-picks brought on. Two lovely sill
yer flagree baskets of nuts of variou:
kinds were placed at either end Of tht
table and dished out. Then the fruit
was passed.
"Oh, you must try those grapes-pre
served by a new process. And these
figs are fresh, delightful. A cluster o.
raisins then-lo? An apple then P
they are very small. Some of this pre-
served italian fruit them" and dow1
something came on your plate.
I was dreadfully tired. I felt sur
that Mr. Clifford was getting sleepy
Gertie looked as if she could drop dow1
anywhere. Mrs. Wyllis seemed thu
brightest of all, l thought.
i At length we rose and returned to th'
drawing-room. The cooler air felt yer,
agreeable, but we were too much ex
hausted to talk brilliantly. We lounget
and yawned a little, am afraid. I
was eleven, and our dinner had occupied
two hours and half.
! Did we feel The better for the feast
ing? am afraid not. I for one wishei
myself home and in bed, being convinced
that I was not made for stylish living.
Mr.. Keith played again, Gertie SAM
once, but her voice was no longer clea:
and fresh. Then everybody besieget
Mrs Nyllis to read.
''1 really haven t any voice. "she said
, laughingly. ut is cruel to ask me-"
but I sang without any voice." re
turned Gertie.
After considerable coaxing sheessent
, Cd. The truth was, she had eaten alto
; gether too much, and felt lazy ant
sleepy. What she might have been un
der other circ11mstannes csnp0t fall