Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-12-24
Mrs. Burke's Pudding.
BY MARY n. PRESCOTT.


1t had always been the custom il
Mrs. Capulet's day to bake one Of he
best plum-puIdings during Christina
week for tie char-woman, Mrs Burke
who was never likely to taste such
dainty at other seasons. "Why shoulo
we kecpal the good things to ourselves,
she used to ask, ''eat pudding
whenever we fancy it, and this poor
harlworking woman never know th'
taste Of such u morsel2n 1t was als) tae
custom of the house ito build" a
Harry Capulct used to say, several O
these rich puddings at the S me time
they would keep for weeks or months
without spelling, and there they were,
at a moments notice, if dinner company
arrived unexpectedly on washing or iron.
ing days, when it was inconvenient tc
concoct nice desserts. When Mrs
Harry Capuet took the man
agement Of affairs after hi
mothers death. her husbands cousin,
who had been regent during the inter.
regnum, said to her at Christmas-tim
81 hope, dear you will continue Mrs.
BurIes pudding; she has received it for
SO many years, she will feel injuled, I'm
afraid, unless you do"
"Oh certainly" answered Mrs. Harry,
who was of an economical turn Of mind;
81 shall give Mrs. Burke a pudding, but
not one of these. What are you think.
ing about-waste all these delicacies on
a char-woman2'
"Gingerbread pudding, with few
raisins added, will satisfy her quite as
well, " put in Mrs. Harry's sister.
"What they call a poor mans pud-
dings" asked Mrs. Harry.
"Yes-tho very thing"
"But, my dear" cxpostulated Sue
CapuIct, 'Mrs. Burke will know; she
has been accustomed to the best.
bave made it a principle to send her as
good as | kept; ! hated to scrimp her at
Christmas time"
"oh, you're too extravagant cousin
sue. Besides, you give an old ignorans
shar- woman credit for all your own yir-
ues and tastes. don't think it worth
while to waste SO much money upon her.
poor mans pudding is more appropri-
lte for the circumstances.
"Noblesse ob.ige," insisted Sue. But
Mrs. Harry laughed, and ordered the
'oor mans pudding to be baked the
anne size as her own plum buildings.
~ can hardly tell them apart, cook
las given them all such rich brown.
surely the proof of the pudding is in the
,aking as well as the eating"
But Sue sighed, "Mrs. Burke is
english. You won't be able to deceive
Ter about an English plum pudding"
'Tm not going to label it, and she
AN take it or leavei it. Beggars shoul Int
'e choosers, I've heard" cried Mrs.
Harry, who couldn't keep her temper as
veil as she could keep other things.
'That aoas puddingp said Mrs.
Burke, one morning after Christmas,
aving come in for some work. Mrs.
larry looked at Sue. 81 think, /" con
inued Mrs. Burke" "they grow nicer
very year, Mrs. Capulct. This one
ust melted in your mouth; it was too
.ood for poor folks"
"Therel" cried Mrs. Capulet, as soon
$ Mrs Burke's back was turned, "what
i'd tell you, Suel After educating
Irs. Burke up to the English plum
This is all the good it does
o educate the lower classes, you see"
81 hope it isn't blarney in Mrs.
BURKE" hazarded Sue.
"A man convinced against his viii,
i of the same opinion still"
uoted Mrs. Harry.
After this, whenever Sue and Mrs.
larry disagreed. her sister would say,
Remember Mrs Burke's pudding,
ue." However, the matter faded out
+ their minds IN time, and perhaps they
5ould never have thought of it again if
Tr. Gus Bake hadn't happened to drop
a upon them. Now, Mr.. Blake was
worth while in Miss Liy's
yes. She had met him here and
here, danced with him at germans,
achted with him, plcnicked with him,
lnched with him; once he had even
ent her some flowers; she had some OF
hem now, pressed in book of love
onnets. He was one of those cordial
eople who shake hands as if they were
laking love. Miss Lily was more than
ond Of his society; she intended to
larry him. But it was pity that
e should arrive on the only day in the
Ieek when they had picked-up din
er.
There is one of the Christmas pud-
ings left, at any rate, " said Mrs. Harry
that will redeem the dinner"
Mr.. Gus Blake was very affable as
sual. He and Lily sang duets together