The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1889-01-18
A Christmas Dinner in Wash.
inOtO0


In was dinner time ON Christina
day. The senator's. Representatives
and secretaries of legation, wearied
with the business OF the special session
OF congress-, together with many other
| distinguished visitors TO the capital.
were ~nastening to the Alexandria Hotel
to dinner; for Washington was then
'sthe city of magnificent distances" and
its only good hotel was in the adjoining
town.
As the music OF the gong was heard
and the doors opened, the wellsdressed
and highly intelligent assemblage
quietly and somewhat haughtiiy seated
themselves at the two long tables that
filled the dining-room; some one in q
white cravat pronounced the words.
'For these Christmas favors we are all
truly thankful when a walters voice
was heard: walk right up this way,
gentlemen" and after considerable
noise and shutting, the I'VE new corners
were seated near the centre of m OF
the tables. No hayseed was visible in
their hair; no cuckle-burrs fringing
their new clothes, yet they were evident
ly from Wayback county, and
had never before seen a city.
''Gosh! Dad, did you ever ses such a
table as this?" said the younger of the
two, n thin, gawky lad of seventeen,
.'These vittles has got to be paid for.
Zeb, an you can eat all OF 'em you've
a mind to-" said the older man. as he
drank the water from the finger-bowl
and put a napkin into his pocket.
For the next half hour these two were
the centre of attraction. Vt was mys-
terious as well as amusing to watch the
sudden disappearance of turkey, chick
en- pie, vegetables, pickles and j%ellies.
and an audible smile went round the
room, when a grinning waiter at last
found the old mans plate empty, and
started to carry it away.
Here! Where in time arc you goin'
with my plate? l amt lone yet.
I'm just going to get you a clean
plate, sir, for the DESSERT
''Clean plate be hangedi This I'm
amt dirty. Let mis- alone, too" as the
waiter touched the boys plate.
Near the old man was u bottle Of
wine ordered by his right-hand neigh
Dor, but just as he was going to fill
Zeb's glass and his own out of it, the
gentleman moved the bottle and said
icily, Stop! sir. This is private wine.
Order some for yourself if you wish it,"
The old man glanced around in "a
puzzled way, then reached across the
table to another glass of wine.
Guess you'd better let this alone"
said its owner; Its private wine, sir"
Gosh, Dadr' said Zeb, don't they
beat all creatiOn?a Seemst to me they're
awful upplsh."
'Hev some pie, Zeb?" said his faith
er, quartering a mince-pie and putting
a piece on his own plate. The gentle
man across the table reached for
some. The old man jerked the plate
away. NO you DON'T" said he, that
is private pie, an you let it alone"
There was little eating and much
laughing at the tables, while those
two, blissfully unconscious of the notice
they were attracting, continued to
stow away all the food within reach.
dad" at last said the boy, in a
hoarse whisper, don't you reckon you
could eat half o'my plum puddin?"
Don't be a fool, Zeb," growled the
father, ''eat it up an have some more;
we've got it to pay for"
WELL, Dad, 1 know III bust, but I'll
try it."
But when the fruit and nuts were
passed to- him he gave up. Can't come
it," said he to the ~obsequious waiter
who insisted on his taking an orange.
II couldn't swaller one o them things
if they wasn't any bigger'n q pill; but
I'll take two O them biggest ones home
to Mary Lizbeth, an Dad can Fl IL his
pockets with nuts for the young 'uns.
1 do hate to leave EN-"
That's just me, Zeb," said the old
man, with a sigh, I'D be proud to take
some O. these pies an chicken-fxin's
home, but l don't reckon we could
carry EN-"
Zeb gave a loving, lingering look at
the table, and as he followed his father
from the room, said spasmodically:"
Twas the beatin'est dinner | ever
but gosh. Dad! 1 do beiieUe /
shall dietMary A. Benson, Texas
Siftings.