Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-09-29
A DISH OF SAUSAGES.
(Translated by Susan II. Taber)

They were brought upon the table. crisr
and brown and smoking hot. filling the
room with their spicy odor.
'I'll wager that these sausages came
direct from Cambria" cried my uncle Van
Roben. shifting them eagerly. To him.
there was nothing more to be desired
in the world than a dish OF Cambria sau-
s1gcs; indeed. it was a taste that ran
through the whole Of our family and
never a Sunday passed that they were
not placed upon our table.
'Thcy remind me of a story my grand
father used to tell" my uncle continued.
smacking his lips with delight. And as
You have never heard it. | shall tell you
about it so that, when the time comes.
you may tell it to your grand -ncphcws
and nieces"
Settling himself comfortably in his big
armchair and with one last rcgretful
look at tho now empty dish, uncle Van
Robcn began:
My praudfatter, Jean Colcstin Van
Hoben, kept large store in Lille, full of
dry goods. ana laCes, and silks, and
once or twice n year, it was his custom
TO 90 on a journey, either to Nalonciennes
or Cambria to replcnsh his stock. And
whenever he did so. being n. great cpicure
and fond of good eating. he never failed
TO bring back with him a quantity Of
sausagcs, for which Cambria was famous.
WELL it happened one day, that AS he
was returning from one of these Journeys
10 'amhrai laden with a. generous parcel
OF SauSagcs, tho chaise in which he
travelled, in company with six other
companions, broke down one wheel being
broken off at the axle It had been a
heautii u morning when they left Cam
hral but now tho clouds had grown dark
ana timex and presently it began to rain
rot lightly and softly. but in torrents
and buck"tfus
what should they do? To return on
loot was impossible, for they were far
p'yofri the outskirts Of the city. There
Was nothing for it but to push on. through
the mud to the inn in the little village
o. Raquct and wait there until the chaise
could be moudcd
Accordingly. with many n nuttered
exclamation upon tho weather and
chaises, the little group Of men made
their way to the village tavern. where.
soon after, they were contontedlv discuss
ins'the accident over foaming not of
beer
AT length tho tempest abated and tho
rain ceased but as the position demanded
an hour longer in which TO repair the
broken axle, the men began to feel anx-
ious for tn" dinner which they were tn
have had at the next stopping place on
their journey
There were fowls indeed. In tho hon
yard OF the inn; but. although there would
be time TO Kill and cook them, thcrc
would be no time to eat them if they
were 10 reach Lille that night. Conc
qucntlr they were forced to oonten,
themselves with eggs and a bit of cheese
when one of tn" men, named Marmcliu
exclaimed with a burst Of inspiration:
What fools We are to cat this stuff
when there is A fine dinner right before
our eyes
II forgot To tell you that my grand.
father. instead Of joining the others over
their beer had retired to the chimney
corner and after placing his precious par.
eel Of sausagos on the table beside him
had fallen asleep.
What do you mean cried the others
eagerly
"Marmcln pointed to grandfather Var
Robens sausaccs.
What, do you suppose ne would let
us have them? they cried.
Il shant ask him Marmelin replied
i shall simply take them. He dned So
well last night that he isn't hungry
to-day, as you can soc by the way he
has gone to sleep instead of joining us
Besides, he can have some if he wakes
up
Hunger justifes all things said an
other, solcmnly, and Marmelin without
waiting for anything further, tip-toed
over to the table and took possession Of
tn" sauSagcs. 1t was not long before they
We're sizzling merrily over the glowing
Goals and filling the low room with a
delicious odor.
"'rhe Cunspirators needed no further in
ducemeuts. With one accord they gath
cred around the table. scarcely able tc
restrain their impotence.
Now lust OF this moment r. 4.
father woke up. suddenly the onticinG
smell Of the Sausa gcs struck his nostrils
and in a moment ho OWNED the trick that
his fellow travellers had played upou him
Iialf-onening one eye, l." glanced at the
table and saw the mon remorselessly
doVouring the stoien dainties.
Anyone else would have jumped VI
with wrath, but grandfather Van Rober
was man OF common sense and much
reflection. He would be revenCed IN a
moment a Ma chiavelic plan had unfoldoJ
itself in his brain.
All ha" he thought Eaiy, YOU viii
pay dearly for my sausaGcs voting mon
Then, with the air Of man who Ia,
slept long. he began 10 stretch his arms
and yawn violently. rubbing his eyes
! have slept well he said IN his most
natural tones. now am quite ready t.
eat something
"Tho six men. with their noses in the
row almost empty plate of sauSaScs. did
not say word.
My grandfather approached the table.
on sauSagcs" said no. were they good 90
Delicious, replied Marmelr. burst.ne
with laughter.
Just then my grandfather appeared
to remember something and looking on
the tatle where he had left HIS bundle.
he eXclaimcd
" An sec, they were mino by chance" 90