The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-02-13
SELECTED.
MRS. BuRKE'S PUDDING.

1t had always been the custom in Mrs
Capulets day to bake one of her best
plum buildings during Christmas week for
the char-woman, Mrs. Burke, who was
never likely to taste such a dainty at
other seasons. "Why should we keep all
the good things to ourselves" she used to
ask, ''eat plum pudding whenever we
fancy 1t, and this poor, Woodworking
woman never know the taste of such Il
morsely' 1t was also the custom of the
house ITO build" as Harry Capuet used
to say, several of these rich puddngs at
the same time; they would keep for weeks
or months without spelling. and there
they were. at moments notice, IL din
ner company arrived Unexpectedly on
washing or ironing days, when it was in
convenient to COncoct nice desserts.
When Mrs Harry Capulet took the mana
cement of affairs after his mothers death,
her husbands cousin, who had been re-
gent during the interregnum said to her
at Christmas.time II hope. dear, you
will continue Mrs. Burke's pudding; she
has received it for so many years, she
will feel injured, I'm afraid, unless you
do"
,Oh, certainly answered Mrs. Harry,
who was of an economical turn of mind !;
Il shall give Mrs. Burke a pudding, but
not one of these, What are you think
ing about-waste all these delcacies on
char woman"
| "Gingerbread pudding, with a few
raisins added, will satisfy her quite
| well, put in Mrs. Harry's sister.
What they call poor mans pud-
dingf' asked Mrs Harry.
"Yes the very thing
'But, my dear" expostulated Sue Cap
ulet, Mrs Burke will know; she has
been accustomed to the best. | have
made it principle to send her as good as
| kept; hated to scrimp her at Christ
mas time"
"Oh, you're too extravagant, Cousin
Sue. Besides. you give an old ignorant
char-woman credit for all your own Writ
ues and tastes. l don't think it worth
ahile to waste so much money upon hers
poor mans pudding is more appropri-
ate for the circumstances
'Noblesse oblige," insisted Sue. But
Mrs. Harry laughed, and ordered the
poor mans pudding to be baked the same
size as her own plum puddings.
81 can hardly tell them apart, cook has
given them all such rich brown. Surely
the proof of the pudding is in the baking
as well as the eating"
lisb. You won't be able to deceive her
about an English plum pudding"
lin not going to label 1t and she can
take it or leave it. Beggars shouldn't be
choosers, I've hesrd,' cried Mrs, Harry,
who couldn't keep her temper as well as
she could keep other things.
That was pudding" said Mrs.
Burke, one morning after Christmas, hav-
ing come in for some work. Mrs. Harry
looked at Sue. IL .hink," continued Mrs.
Burke, they grower nicer every year,
Mrs. Capulet. This one just melted in
your mouth; 1t was too good for poor
folks"
There :" cried Mrs. Capu'et, as soon
as Mrs Burke's back was turued. what
did tell you, Sue After educating Mrs
Burke up to the English plum pudding
This is all the good it does to educate the
lower classes, you see
81 hope 1t isn't blarney in Mrs. Burke"
hazarded Sue.
"A man convinced against his will,
Is Of the Fame 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 thought of it again If Mr..
Gus Blake hadn't happened to drop in up.
on them. Now, MIR. Rlake was some
body worth while in Miss Lily's eyes.
She had met him as germans, yachted
with him, picnicked with him, luuched
with him once he had even sent her some
flowers; she had some of them now,
pressed in a DO * of love sonnets. He was
one of those cordial people who shake
hands as it they were making love Miss
Lily was more than fond of his society;
she intended marry him. But 1t was a
pity that he should arrive on tt e only dav
in the week when they had a picked-up-
dinner.
There is one of the Christmas pud-
dlngs left, at any rate" said Mrs Harry;
that will redeem the dinner"
Mr.. Gus Blake was very affabe as us
ual. He and Lily sang duets together be-
fore dinner; she had also to show him
over the grounds, the view of the river,
the eagles nest; they hunted for four
leaved clovers together and she told his
name with daisy. He was compliment
tary and gallant. Lily felt as If crisis
was at hand. They met Sue, with her
hands full of wild flowers, coming from
school
"A neighbour he asked with his most
indifferent manner, as she just nodded
and hurried by
''Oh, no. That is Sue Capulet, Harry's
cousin. She used to keep his house be-
fore he married"
"Indecd."
Eyes. She Is rather prim In her ways
and opinionated, like all country people"
.'Ah she must be very disagreeable.
perhaps; but one needs TO live with
her to find 1t out"
"And you live with herr"
Yes. She will live here suppose til
somebody marries her."
"Then she has loveI?'
II never heard of one"
"And yet she IL not precisely ugly"
with wicked twinkle In his eyes.
me. not all; only commonplace. con-
coded Lily.
The dinner progressed ~ far as the
dessert. 1t Was . picked.up one, to be
sure; but what could any ooe expect who
came without announcing himself, Mrs
Harry assured herself. Mr.. Blake was Z
famous diner.out; he knew, moreover
how 70 make himself agreeable over I
dinner Of herbs. and then there Was hel