New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-12-22
MRS. BURKES PUDDING.

MRS. BURKEs PUDDING.
BY MARY n. PRESCOTT.
From Harper's Bazaar.
It had always been the custom in
Mrs; Capulet's day to bake one OF her
best plum-puddings during Christmas
week for the char. Mrs. Burke,
who was never likely to taste such q
dainty at other seasons. "Why
should we keep all the good things to
ourselves" she used to ask, 'teat
plum-pudding whenever we fancy it,
and this poor working woman
never know the taste of such q NOR
SELF" 1t was also the custom of the
house ''to build" as Harry Capulet
used to say, several of these rich pud-
dings at the same time; they would keep
for weeks or months without spelling,
and there they were, at a moment s no.
tice. if dinner company arrived unex-
pectedly on washing or ironing days,
when it was inconvenient to concoct
nice desserts. When Mrs. Harry Cap.
ulet took the management of affairs
after his mothers death, her hus-
bands cousin, who had been regent
during the interregnum, said to her
at Christmas-time: II hope, dear,
you will continue Mrs. Burke's pud-
ding; she has received it for so many
years, she will feel injured, I'm afraid,
unless you do"
ooh, certainly" answered Mrs.
Harry, who was of an economical turn
Of mind; ~ shall give Mrs. Burke a
pudding, but not one of these. What
are you thinking about-waste all
these delicacies on char-woman?"
Gingerbread pudding, with few
raisins added, will satisfy her quite as
well" put in Mrs. Harry's sister.
"What they call a poor-man's pud-
dingW asked Mrs. Harry.
"Yes-the very thing"
"But, my DEAR" expostulated Sue
Capulet, "Afrs. Burke will know; she
has been accustomed to the best. 1
have made it principle to send her
as good as | kept; l hated to scrimp
her at Chr1stmas-ti time"
"Oh, you're too extravaganza Cousin
Sue. Besides, yougive an old ignorant
char-woman credit for all your own
virtues aud tastes. I don't think it
worth while to waste so much money
upon her; a poor-man's pudding is
more appropriate for the circumstan-
ces."
"Noblesse oblige,' insisted Sue. But
Mrs, Harry laughed, and ordered the
pOor-man's pudding to be baked the
same size as her own pium-puddings.
Il can hardly tell them apart, cook
has given them all such q rich brown.
Surely the proof OF the pudding is in
the baking as well as the eating"
But Sue sighed. ''AIrs. Burke is En-
glish. You won't be able to deceive
her about all English pIum-pudding."
"pm not going to label it, and she
can take it or leave it. Beggars
shouldn't be choosers, I've heard, :"
cried Mrs. Harry, who couldn't keep
her temper as we'll as she could keep
other things.
"That was a pudding!" said Mrs.
Burke, one morning after Christmas,
having come in for some work. Mrs.
Harry looked at Sue. II think" con
tinued Mrs. Burke, 'tthey grow nicer
every year, Mrs. Capulet This one
just melted in your mouth; it was too
good for poor folks.'
There" cried Mrs. Capulet. as soon
as Mrs. Burke's back was turned,
what did tell you, Sue? After edu-
eating Mrs. Burke up to the English
plum-pudding! This is all the good it
does to educate the lower classes. YOU
see."
II hope it isn't blarney in Mrs.
Burke hazarded Sue.
"A man convinced against his will,
Is OF the same opinion still"
quoted Mrs. Harry.
After this, whenever Sue and Mrs.
Harry disagreed, her sister would say,
Remember Mrs. Burke's pudding,
Sue" However, the matter faded out
Of their minds in time, and perhaps
they would never have thoug ht of it
again if Mr.. Gus Blake hadn't hap
pened to drop in upon them. Now
Mr.. Blake was somebody worth while
in Miss Lily's eyes. She had met him
here and there danced with
him at germans, yachted with
him, picnicked with him, lunched
with him; once he had even sent her
some flowers; she had some OF them
now, pressed in q book of love SON
nets. He was one of those cordial
people who shake hands as if they
were making love. Miss Lily was more
than fond of his society; she intended
to marry him. But it was a pity that
he should arrive on the only day in
the week when they had a picked-up-
dinner.
"There is one of the Christmas pud-
dings left, at any rate" said Mrs.
Harry; call that will redeem the din
ner."
Mr.. Gus Blake was very afable as
usual. He and Lily sang duets togeth-