Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-02-06
ENJOYED HIS DINNER
REAL SOUTHERN FEAST SUR,
PRISE FOR coLoRED MAN.
Probably Appreciated spread" Of
fered by Disappointed Hostess
More Than the Expected Guest
Would Have Done.

One evening my husband came
home with the news that DR.. Baird Of
North Carolina was in town | was
delighted at the thought of seeing an
old friend from my native place: so
we called at once and asked him to
stay with us while he was in the city.
He could not conveniently accept the
invitation, but as he expected to re-
main in town over Sunday he prom
ised to dine with US on that day.
The thought of entertaining my
good old family doctor filled me with
happiness. l was determined to show
him that l had not forgotten the art
of southern cookery, although l was
married To a northern man and lived
simple, old-fashionedd Carolina din
nes, and soon had grocers and butch
ers at their wits ends trying to find
me a genuine country-cured ham,
white corn meal and real Virginia
sweet potatoes.
Frieda, my cook, yielded her place,
and | took entire charge. On Satur-
day l boiled the ham, and cooled it
in its own liquor, into which l had
dropped gill of molasses and hint
of spices; it was delicious. On Sun
day morning l did the rest of the
cooking; the batter bread Drowned
beautifully; the grated sweet potato
pudding, with its quart of rich cream,
was excellent; l did not forget the
doctors taste for gravy with rice, or
his favorite lettuce salad.
When the table was set l was proud
of it; the snowy linen, the shining sill
yer and the pretty china and glass
were certainly attractive. And then
we sat down to watch for our guest.
Noon came, one o'clock, two o'clock
and still no DR.. Baird. But at 2:15
o'clock a leisurely messenger boy
sauntered up and handed us hastily
penciIed note. A telegram had come
from home urging DR.. Baird's immedi-
ate return. In fact, he had left.
We ate in disappointed silence, and
after dinner my husband went out for
few minutes walk. | went out to
the porch, and as i stood there / saw
a rather dilapidated old colored man
come up the street, picking his way
carefully over the icy sidewalk. He
stopped and l heard him ask my hus-
band:
"Sah, ken you tell me whah a pusson
| might git bite to eat? rs stranger
in this heah town"
Well" my husband said. at de-
ponds on whether a 'pusson' likes rice
and gravy and boiled sliced ham-do
your"
The old man took off his hat THAT
does, sab; yes, sab"
And Virginia batter bread?"
Virginia batter bread?" the strang-
er repeated, gently why, boss, l
was brung up on that. Co'se l does. "
How about sweet-potato pudding?"
At this the old man laughed and
shuffied his broken shoes in the snow.
Boss, you's just foolin-I knows you
| is"
mo, am not" my husband replied
See that house? Go round to the
back door aud ask the lady for a bite
its all there waiting for you"
turned and ran back to the dining
room. 'Frieda," l said, make a cup
Of hot coffee" Then l added, Man
proposes but God disposes. Frieda
did not understand, but I couldn t
help saying it. In a moment I heard
the old mans timid but hopeful rap.
| I asked him in called him E~i,0cle -
after the southern fashion, and babe
him sit down and have his dinner. |
shall never forget the bewildered ex-
preston on his face as he dropped
his shabby old hat on the floor beside
his chair and looked over the table.
AS l beckoned to Frieda, and we left
him to his feast, heard him say:
We'll, bless Gawd!"-Youth's Com
panion.