The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-18

be let out and peeled.
Such a hustle ensued that you might
have thought a goose the rarest Of all
birds; a feathered phenomenon 20 which
a black swan was q matter Of course
and, I'm truth, il was something very ike
il in that house Mrs Cratchit made the
gravy Teady beforehand in little sauce
PAM Kissing pot; Master Peter mashed
the potatoes with incredible vigor; Miss
Belinda sweetened up the apple sauce;
Martha busted the hot plates; Bob took
Tiny Tim beside him in tiny corner at
the table; the two young Cratchits set
chairs for everybody, not forgetting them
selves. and mounting guard upon their
pests, cramned spoons into their mouths,
lest they should Shrek for goose before
their turn came to ne helped At last
the dishes were set on and grace was said
lt was succeeded By GREATNESS pause.
az Mrs Cratcht, looking slowly all along
the carving knife prepared 10 plunge II in
the breast, but when she did and when
the long expected gush of stuiiing issued
forth. one murmur OF delight arose all
round the board, and even Tiny Tim. ex-
cited by the two young Cratchts, beat on
the table with the handle Of his knife and
feebly cried "Hurrahl"
There never was such a goose. Bob
said he didn't believe there ever Was
such goose cooked. It's tenderness and
flavor, size and cheaDness. wore the
themes of universal admiration. Fixed
out by apple sauce and mashed potatoes
# was sufficient dinner for the whole
family. indeed as Mrs Cratchit said with
great delight surveying one small atom
of bone upon the dish they hadn't ate
Il all 40 last. Yet every one had had
In f.1tf O.,
particular were stepped in sage and onion
to the eyebrows! But now, the plates
being changed by Miss Belinda, Mrs.
Cra,chlt left the room aione-tOO nervous
to bear witnesses-to take the pudding up
and bring il in.
Suppose it should not be done enough!
Suppose it should break in turning out!
Suppose somebody should have got over
the wall of the back yard and stolen it
while they we're merry with the goose
q suppOsition at which the two young
CratcMts became hyid! All sorts OF hor-
TOrs were supposed.
Hallol 4 great deal Of steami The
pudding was out Of the copper 4 smell
like a washing day! That was the cloth.
A smell like an eating house and a pastry
cooks next door 70 each other with a
laundress' next door 10 that That was
the puddingl I'm half a minute Mrs.
Cratchit entered-hushed but smiling
the pudding Ike aFpeckled
cannon ball, so hard and firm. blazing I'm
half of half a Quartern Of ignited brandy.
and bedight With Christmas holly stuck
into the top.
Oh, a wonderful puddlngi Bob Cratchit
said. and calmly, too. that he regarded IL
as the greatest success achieved by Mrs.
Cratchit since their marriage Mrs.
Cratchit said that now the weight was
of her mind she would confess sine had
had her doubts about the quantity OF
-four Everybody had something 20 say
about IL. but nobody said or thought it
was at an small pudding for large
family. 1t would have been fat hercsy
10 DO so. Any Cratchit would have
blushcd 10 hint at such a thing.
- last the dinner was all done the
cloth was cleared. the hearth swept and
the fire made up. The compound IN the
ing being tasted and considered perfect,
apples and oranges were put upon the
tstle and a shovelful of chestnuts on the
fire. Then an the Cratchit family drew
round the hearth, I'm what Bon Cratchit
called circle. meaning half one,
and at Bob Cratchits elbow stood the
family display of giass-twO tumbiers and
a custard cup without handle.
These held the hot stuff from the jug,
however. as golden goblets would have
done and Bob served It ont with beaming
looks while the chestnuts on the fire
and cracked noisily. Then Bob
proposed;
"A merry Christmas to US all, my dears.
God bless u.s."
Which all the family re-echoed.
"God bless us every one!' said Tiny
Tim the last OF all.