Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-10-22
MRS. BURKE'S PUDDING.
Oh. memories.
oh, past that Ii
[George Eliot.

1t had always been the custom in Mrs.
Capulet's day to bake one of her best
plum pudlings during Christmas week
for the charwoman, Mrs. Burke. who
was never likely to taste such dainty at
other seasons. aWhy should we keep
all the good things to on selves, she
used to ask; eat plum pudding wien
ever we fancy it. aud this poor hard
working woman never knew the taste of
such morsel?" 1t was also the custom
of the house ito build, as Harry Cap
ulet used to say, several of these rich
puddings at the same time; they would
keep for weeks or months without spoil
ing. and there they were, at a moments
notice, if dinner company arrived unex-
pectediy on washing or ironing days,
when it was inconvenient TO concoct
nice desserts. When Mrs. Harry Cap
ulet took the management of affai S after
his mothers death. her husband cousin,
who had been regent during the irtrrreg-
mum, said to her at Christmas time: Il
hope, dear, you will CONT u, Mrs
Bur ke's pudding; she has received it for
so many years she will feel injured un-
less you do
"Oh, certainly, answered Mrs Harry,
who was OF an economical turn of mind;
Il shall give Mrs. b Ike pudding. but
not one of these. What are you think
ing about-waste all these delicacies on
charwoman?
Gingerbread pudding. with few
raisins added, will satisfy her quite as
well, put in Mrs. Harry's sister.
@What they call poor mans pud.
ding2" asked Mrs Harry.
"Yes, the very thing.
"But, my dear, expostulated Sue
Capulet, Mrs. Burke will know; she
has been accustomed to the best Ihave
made it a principle to send her as good
As kept; hate to scrimp her at Christ
mas time.
@Oh, you're to extravagant. Cousin
Sue. Besides, you give an old ignorant
charwoman credit for all your own
virtues and tastes. / don't think it
worth while to waste so much money
upon her; poor mans pudding is more
appropriate for the circumstances.
@Noblesse oblige," insisted Sue But
Mrs Harry laughed, and ordered a poor
mans pudding to be baked the same
size as her own plum pudding.
II 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
But Sue sighed. MRS. Burke is Eng
l,., 4, - H..
about an English plum pudding.
I'm 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 well as
she could keep other things.
That was a puddingi" said Mrs
Burke, one morning after Christmas,
having come in for some work Mrs
Harry looked at Sue. II think, con-
tinued Mrs. Burke, they grow nicer
every year, Mrs. Capulet This one Just
melted in your mouth; it was too good
for poor folks.
~Therel cried Mrs Capulet, as so IN as
Mrs. Burke's back was turned, what
did / tell you, Snei After educating
Mrs. Burke up to the English plum pud-
dingl This is all the good it does to ed
ucate the lower classes, you see.
Il hope it isn't blarney in Mrs. Burke,
lazarded Sue.
"a man convinced against his win,
is Of the same opinion stiIL"
quoted Mrs Harry.
After this, whenever Sue. and Mra
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 hap .,ened to drop in
upon them. Now, Mr.. Blake was some
body worth while in Miss IiIy's eyes
She had met him at germans, yachted
with him, picniced with him, lunched
with him; once he had even sent her
some flowers; she had some OF them
now, pressed in book Of love sonnets
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 she should arrive
on the only day in the week when they
had picked up dinner.
There IS one Of the Christmas pud-
dings left, at any rate, said Mrs. Harry;
that viii redeem the dinner
Mr.. Gus Blake was very affabIe as
usual. he and Lily sang duets together
befpFe dinner; she had also 20 show him
over the grounds. the view Of the river,
the eagles nest; they hunted for four
leaved cIovers together and she told his
name with q daisy. He was compli-
v.nankaru ana uaIlamA I.EIv ea1k - a