The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1878-01-10

! turned on a pile of coal, brushed out
! the oven and tumbled in half dozen or
more potatoes. From suspicious-look
ing depths beneath the table he drew
forth a gridiron, which he began scrap
ing vigorously, meanwhile talking
| briskly-whether to himself or Uncle
| William it would have been difficult to
| decide.
"It's miserable way to leave a grid
iron, without cleaning; but what can a
| fellow do who has as many irons in the
fire as [ have ?-breakfast to get and
clear away, rooms to tidy up, dinner to
be laid out, Mrs. Dowd's water to be
| brought, Uncle Williams feet and legs
to be bound up, and may be a run to
the druggists or the doctors. Hang it
! all fellow can't be as nice about all
these little particulars as he'd like to be-.
| gridirons.
Joe soon had his steak sputtering on
the iron, it's grateful odor ming ling
with that of the coffee on the stove, and
overpowering the perfume of Uncle
Williams liniment He then jerked the
table few inches from the wall, spread
over it stiffly- starched and highly blued
"best" tablecloth, set on the dishes
spasmodically, and, just as the little
mantel-clock rang out -, he announced
| dinner, and offered to assist Uncle
William to the table.
The process of getting Uncle William
to the table in good order was no mean
one. First, the two chairs in which his
limbs reposed were one after the other
moved slight distance; the large chair
in which he sat followed them carefully;
then the small chairs made another for
ward move, and by degrees the entire
establishment was brought alongside
the table.
"It's all piping hot, and I've had
splendid luck with the gravy p cried
Joe, sitting down and helping Uncle
| William with liberal hand.
"Joe," said Uncle William, peevishly,
:" I amt up near enough"
Joe hoped up, and drew the three
chairs gently, one after another, an inch
or two nearer the table, then boobed
| down IL his place again.
:" You'll take two potatoes, I think,
| Uncle William, and"
"Joe," interrupted Uncle William,
"won't you just hist up those pillows
| bottom and the little one at the top p
at the pillows. Chow careless 1 am !!
It seems to me never shall remember
about those pillows. You see I'm think
ing so much as to whether you'll like
the dinner or not the pillows slip my
mind"
"Joe,'' said Uncle William, as soon as
Joe was again seated, 81 wish you'd
Just take that cushion out from under
! 1of4 c1i II r l,A
right one"
Joe dropped his gravy-ladle and
whisked around to the cushion.
" Careful. now-carefu1, Joe, said
Uncle William, dividing his attention
between Joe and the forkful he was
making up. "Now, under the other
one-not so high up-a little lower down
oh, dear Can't you get it right !?
There, now! And won't you Just wrap
! that corner of the shawl around them
| again?"
! Back came Joe, and, not in the least
/ discouraged, began his dinner.
Uncle William, as he the second time
passed his plate, groaned 6" [ can't
! help thinking of the New Years dinners
/ I've eaten in years gone by-such din
neIs as you never dreamed of, Joe. Lit
tie did I anticipate I should ever come
! to this"
ssBut just think how much better
| this is than nothing! We're going to
have biscuit and grapes for dessert; and
you've the best thing yet to learn, un-
Gle, ;" cried Joe, exultantly. "This ism t
/ our regular New-Year's dinner. This is
only an installment. We're going to
have another after I get cleaned up"
| And Joe's face fairly beamed.
Il ". IL
appeared interested.
Z" Just look here, will you?" Joe
drew up from beneath the table little
oyster-keg. "These aren't your COM
mon everyday sort of oysters. These
are an extra, prime, extravagant kind
/ kind the big-bugs use. Pass me that
saucer, please. I'll turn you out two or
three, just enough for a trial taste.
| There, amt they beauties? Have n
little pepper and vinegar with them.
Aren't they delicious? And those aren't
ALL
| the oysters, while Joe raped the bung
| in his little keg and brought his market
| basket up from beneath the table,
ssSee there, will you?" triumphantly
producing a handsome plum pudding
ssAnd there, too % with much rustling
of tissue paper bringing forth and pois-
ing on his hand a frosted and howered
cake. "Then there Will be grapes
enough for the second meal. You didn't
| expeot all this, did you? Say, now, did
YOU? You've been pleasantly surprised
for once in your life, haven't you 2"
cried Joe, playfully pinching Uncle
Williams arm, ehciding only sharp
yelp.
GIVE doae with all expectations of
anything good, joe"
"How delighted you must be with
these things, then. You'll taste the
pudding, aud fad out you're going to
have one good thing, any way. won't
you ?" said the Undaunted Joe, slashing
into the pudding with his "sharp
knife then depositing a thick,
fruity slice before Uncle Will
| lam "Here's the cake. You'd like TO
know how this looks on the inside. I
would, any way It tseems almost pity
to cut it. That's what It was made for,
| though. Isn't that cherubim-I mean
that cherub-a nobby little fellow +?
How the sugar-works crackle Have a
bit of this, uncle %
Uncle William nodded, and eyed the
| cake approvingly.
"Ohl know what I'll de-" cried Joe,
jumping up again; I'll carry q part Of
my share doYn to Mrs. Dowd. She's
always washing and washing, until it
seems as if she'd wash the soul out o.
her; yet, with those five children to
keep in bread and meat, she never has
any treats. y
Joe cut out quarter OF the pudding
and the cake, and whisked out. In a
| few seconds he returned, singing iubi-
I IantIy through the hall