Year: 1873

ed himself as very glad to see some
thing to eat, As he had partaken of no
food since an early dinner. The pros
pect of having him for a guest put
rather q damper on the spirits of the
company, for he was nothing as "a gay
and festive cuss," being as great a
Journalist, rs the Scotch covcnanter
who asked 4 blessing on being about
To KISS his sweetheart. Opportunity
was taken to covertly smuggle the
bowl of egg-nog into the back room,
and as it was, the only contraband
article present. serenity was restored
aS soon as 1t WAS out of the way.
After the solemn invocation of bless
ing by the deacon, the feast began, and
progressed as satisfactorily as could
have been expected with such 4 skele-
ton in the closet. But the bowl of
egg-no. stuck in every gizzard. 1t
was too bad that it should remain in
the back room wasting its sweetness
on the desert air.


AT length one Of the clerks, with a
knowing wink, asked the chief if there
was not bowl of cold custard in the
back room. He WAS answered by n
deprecatory and cautionarv look, but
1t was too late. The deacon had
heard the question and answered, "If
you have, bring it in, for am particu-
larlv fond Of custard.' OF course there
was no backing out possible now, and
ct
and with much misgiving served ont
to the company. Every one expected
that the deacon would instantly detect
what 1t was, when there would have
been big rumpus and no mistake;
but he was more unsOphisticatcd than
they suspected, for he had never tasted
cTg-nog in his life. Some consterna-
ton was experienced when he passed
up 4 bowl for his rations, saving he
liked to soak bread in it and eat it with
aspoon, for while they imagined he
might ultimately be paciticated rs to
I'll" mere presence of the insidious
iluid, they knew he would never for
give their allowing him to get drunk
on 1t unwlttingly


This seemed likely to be the ine,i-
table result, however, AS when he had
finished his bowl lie passed it up for
second deal, saving that it was the
best custard he had ever tasted in his
life. W hen lie got through he sat
down bv the hot stove. and as he had
been riding all day IN the cold and
was chIllci u ms bones, he soon be-
gan to experience the combined in
llucnce "i thawing out and becoming
perlneatcd with a large dose of an uu-
accustomed stlmulant. "llow strange
Iy feel hc said; 1t is astonishing
what L curious effect IS pro lucci by
sitting at = hot fire after getting chill
led through hy riding All day ia the
cold, finishing hi, sentence by very
fallen on the floor had not one Of the
clerks held him up, and then with a
long pull. a strong pull, and q pull
altogether, a successful effort was
made 10 get him on II lounge in the
back room, where he instantly sank
INTO drunken stupor. 1t Is scarcely
necessary TO say the boys took advan-
tage OF the circumstance TO have their
hugh ult time 10 their heart content


The deacon failed to put in his APP
pcarance next morning ut his fayoritc
church, being too buslly engaged in
sleeping Off the effects Of cold custar,l,
a JOB which he did not get through
with till late in the afternoon lie
never suspected the cause of his long
slumbcr, but attributed it to the effect,
OF cold and fatigue. Finding, on en-.
uurv, that the custard had been mate
in the store, he asked for the receipt
for making it, As he wished his sister
to make some at home, ami formula
was given him selected from a cookery
book. tut She never was able to make
any to suit him. He said it didn't
taste At all like that he had eaten at
the store, rs it was not likely it would
seeing tnat there was no liquor in it,
II was a tlvoritc boast Of his that clur-
lng his entire life not drop OF spi -
uous liquor had ever entered his IN ,ut /.
and the worthy deacon died with that
dclusion. And this is the true story
of how a deacon got corned