The San Francisco call., 1904-12-18

Il feel ike the biggest Indian in the
camDOdee-I could whOOp for joy This
is the prOudest moment OF my life; yes.
even DrOuder than the time they didn't
lynch me for mule stealing, for my
soul warns to the bushes of a certain
fair one; my heart thrills to the music
Of her laughter, and when the time
comes for her to poke her little hand IN
mine and whisper yes I'll have TO
wear high-tOD gum-bOOts to wade
through the oceans of my JOY il 1 want
10 keep my feet dry. And when that
there will be a barbecue in this camp
you can smell from Tribulation Canyon
TO the foothills. (Frantic cheers from
the TribulatiOn Canyon Gelegates)
Now, good friends. 1 again wish you a
merry Christmas, and if your appetites
remain with YOU so long as the table
remains with your apps-ites, Wen
have one"
Doc bowed to his cheering admirers
and then led the way to the dining
hall.
And such a dinneri A half-dozen OF
Wilson's men acted as walters, and
although they had an occasional fowl
rolling over the floor like a football,
they did fairly well. and landed most
of the things on the table. No cere-
mOny was the order Of the day but
no kicking under the table. The hum
and buzz of the conversation would
have made DhOnOgraDh stutter to
catch it, Irish. Dutch, Scotch, Ger
man and French. with now and then a
dash of Chinese from the kitchen.
whenever the cook burnt himself And
mingled with this potpourri OF sound
could be heard the steady grind OF
hungry jaws, accompanied by the me-
tallic click and rattle of knives and
forks.
a dozen or so dogs had sneaked in
under the banCueting board, and as
the youngsters persisted in feeding
them bones. they soon got to fighting
over the choice mOrsels. This tickled
the young people immensely, and no
doubt gave a baronial touch to the
scene; but when the ladies found their
ankles were in danger from the snap
ping teeth, they appealed to Doc, who
forthwith proceeded to kick the very
last cur of them into the street.
But at last a sigh of repletioa went
round the board and Doc ordered in
the pudding. 1t took two Of them to
muster il into position on the table and
when it was properly fanked by two
bowls Of brandy sauce it made the
Tribulation Canyon contingent sigh for
more stomachs.
Good heavens." gasped the widow,
its the most stupendOus affair / ever
saw; you must have boiled it in the
reservoir
Doc grinned eomplacentIy. IT'S nv
first effusion." he said modestly, and
before 1 carve it I'll say right here that
there is one quality it sure don't lack
and that is-quantity."
My conscience" exclaimed Sandy
Furgeson. but it's a grand sight for
hungry cen, Doc. That must surely
be the chieftain o. the puddin' race
that BObbie Burns teels aboot in ane
o his poems. / suppose it's superfiuOus
to inquire if it raised weel?"
Raised?' said Doc: why / had the
Chinaman setting on the boiler two
thirds the time to keep it from rails
ing the roof of the kitchen. But it's a
sin against nature to keep so many
Christmas appetites In suspense. so
here goes"
Doc made a lunge at the pudding
with a huge carving knife and every
one held his breath. The knife pene-
trated for about two inches and
stopped Dec looked puzzled and shook
his head
II must have struck change in the
formation he remarked, pulling out
the knife and looking at it critically
Then he lunged again. This time the
knife penetrated clean to the hilt. Doc
smiled and started to cut on a slice,
CRATE. He bore down hard and sawed
at it. but the pudding seemed to have
the tenacity OF a bulldog and hung on
TO itself with a determination that
stirred the bOsOms Of the spectators
to strange throbs.
Better give her a sack OF giant
powder and loosen her up bit" some
one suggested; but Doc was beyond the
reach OF suggestions.
Probably you struck a bone" the
widow remarked sarcastically. her nose
reaching for higher atmosphere
Doc looked at her helplessly, then
started digging at the pudding until he
uncovered the obstruction and held il
up in full view OF everybody.
"A sock! sock!" resounded from
one end of the table to the other and
the din OF the commotion rattlsd the
very shakes on the roof.
That's what it is said Doc grin
ming sheepishly. and a damned old
gum-bOot sock at that, Judging BY the
heel Of it. Now. il it only had been a
nice lady's sock it wouldn't have been
so bad, but"
Ladies' don't wear socks" snapped
the widow. viciOusly.
Don't they2" said Doc, innocently:
II thought they did. At least. all the
ladies ever saw wore socks Or
You mean stockings-yOu great ig-
noramus-long stockings!" The widow
was using the loud pedal with both
feet
We'll, then" replied Doc, let as give
thanks that it's sock instead OF stock
ing. fOr, being a sock, there isn't so
much of it and the less the pudding
is favored with"
Il didn't come here to be insuItedl"
screeched the widow, jumping 70 her
feet and kicking her chair over back
ward You will be saying next that
it's a clean sock and will aid digestion
when everybody knows there isn't such
a thing in the camp after Thompson's
mules stripped Ben HOy's clOthesline."
This last shot settled the argument.
Doe didn't say boo. so the company
broke ranks to follow the widow The
Tribulation Canyon boys did remain TO
sympathize with their fellow towns
man and help finish the punch and
brandy sauce. but somehow the flowing
bowl had lost it's sparkle.
Doc went cunning for Larry Donavan
the next day, but Larry had left the
county the night before, taking the
bIushing Bess with him.
Nevada City. Cal