The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-01-01
[For the Press.l
Centennial ViSitants.

II was the 31st of October and quite late at
night, cold night too, which was probably
the reason why was sitting in my big
sleepy-hollow chair before the fire, with my
feet on the fender, and toasting myself in the
cheerful blaze of Pictou coal while 1 smoked
my big meerschaum. 1 had just put little
teakettle on the gas fixture to heat some
water, and congratulated myself that my
room looked very cosy and comfortable. 1t
occurred to me also that it was Halloween.
As that thought flashed across my mind in
walked two visitors, unannounced, but so
quietly that should not have noticed their
entrance from any noise that they made, nor
indeed could I have said whether they came
in by the door or through the side of the
room. Both were old gentlemen; one, tall
with military air, and dressed in clothing of
the time of the revolution, now so familiar to
us, the other stout figure with the air of an
old farmer, and dressed in clothing that
seemed to me of much older fashion, though
it was coarse and homespun, the breeches
not coming down below the knee, and being
pulled out loosely and rolled under instead of
buttoning closely down like his companions.
He also wore a doublet and cloak instead of
the more formal coat of the taller man, and
while the first had three ccrnered chapeau,
the latter had. a tall sugar loaf felt hat that
gave him very ancient appearance.
Excuse me, gentlemen" said l Using,
"not expecting company"
'Mr. Newbegin," interrupted the military
looking gentleman, 'pardon us; this is Mr..
George Cleeves, and my name is Preble,
Jedediah, and we know that you will well
come us in consideration of the infreqUency
of our visits to our old home"
An indistinct dislike to the feeling of a
z hostly hand prevented me from offering to
shake hands with them, but l begged them
to sit down, and after laying aside their hats
and overlooking they were soon seated before
the fire and expanding in its comfortable ra.:
dance.
sfMaster Newbegin," said the more ancient
visitor, Zone hundred years ago in the sum-
mer of IT'S revisited this place, it being then
a century since my-in fact, after century's
absence, and called on my friend General
Preble here, who, am pleased to say, re-
ceived me without any unreasonable ques-
tions, as might be expected from man of
his sterling character; and on that occasion
we agreed to come again together after
another century and see how the old town
was getting Cd, and after looking about the
place all day, we decided to call on you before
our departure, and propose a similar visit
with you in 1875"
Having expressed my qualification at their
fattering choice, l suggested tobacco to them,
which was most graciously received. Master
Cleeves choose Dutch porcelainspipe, while
the General took the bic meerschaum which
he examined with much interest, and filling
them with Virginia tobacco from bowl on
the little table, they were quickly surrounded
with fragrant cloud. The teakettle now
began to hiss, at which removed it from the
gas jet, lest the water should spoil by boiling
This seemed to excite double interest in the
old gentlemen.
ga most ingenious continuance, Master
Newbegin," said Mr.. Cleeves, while the Gen.
"Toddy?
''If agreeable 10 you, gentlemen," I re-
piled. A smile of satisfaction glowed in
their faces, and set tumblers and decanter
upon the table.
with your permission" said the General,
II will mix" I handed him the kettle with
which he filled the glasses. "That is to warm
the glasses" he explained. Then he careful
ly measured out three half tumblerfuls of
rum, which he poured into little copper ket-
tie and placed upon the Goals to heat. CAL
ways heat your rum," said he, inhaling the
fragance from the decanter as he replaced it,,
"Jamaica?"
''No," replied, "Gaudaloupe."
"That is not familiar to me-" said he with
an air of gravity, "but it certainly has a del
icate favor. Jamaica was the favorite drink
in my day sir, though there was great deal
of poor liquor drunk"
''People are fond of saying nowadays,
gentlemen, that people drank only good liz
ours in the old time, and that it is the poor
quality which does the mischief now"
"Quite a mistake, sir, quite mistake" re-
piled the General, "our people drank fiery
article and plenty of it, and it did much mis-
chef.'
"Brandy and wines were our tipple," said
the elder, "and most of the money went
that way in my day."
By this time the tumblers were hot, and,
pouring out the water, the General put three
large Jumps of sugar into each tumbler and
carefully poured in enough hot water to COW
ho
he directed me to cut some thin slices of
lemon peel, 'without cutting into the white,
my friend, or you will get bitter favor'' he
added. These peelings he twisted and put
upon the sugar. "Now the rum to bring the
lemon flavor out" said he, smacking his lips.
The rum was carefully divided between the
three glasses: then the General requested me
to fill them up with hot water. "The philoso-
ply of it is" said he. "that hot drink must
be blazing hot to bring out the flavor" 1
poured into the tumblers and he held up his
fOrefnger as a sign when they were full
enough. l could not resist the opportunity
penetrating the mystery that surrounded
them, and contrived to pour the scalding wa
ter upon the extended finger, but he did not
appear to notice it. A dash of nutmeg COM
pleted the mixture, which proved excellent.
The old gentlemen mellowed under its balmy
influence. "You are singularly favored in
being able to obtain such fine article as this
Guadaloupe," remarked the General. I mod
estly confessed that it was privilege con-
fined to the favored friends of sagacious
citizen, who had secured an importation.
''Verily," said Master Cleeves, as he tasted
again, ''the spirit maketh alive, 1t brings with
it the sweet odors of tropical islands,
"That is the way we used to mix it at
Black Point" explained the General, evil
IDENTIFY fattered at the appreciation of his tai
ents. There is probably no point in the male
character SO open TO fattery as thfs gift of
mixing seductive beverages, perhaps, because
the possesSor is aware that it is akin to gent
us.
(which Of your landlords mixes the best
toddy now-a-days?" asked the General, as he
softly stirred the mixture in his glass. L ex-
planned to him at length the progress of the