James Fenimore Cooper The Pioneers, Volume 1

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eventful day, were seen to issue from the woods in the neighbourhood of the
village, each bearing on his shoulders a large bunch of evergreens. This
worthy pair was observed to enter the academy, and carefully to fasten the
door, after which their proceedings remained a profound secret to the rest of
the village; Mr. Jones, before he commenced this mysterious business, having
informed the schoolmaster, to the great delight of the white-headed flock he
governed, that there could be no school that day. Marmaduke was apprised of
all these preparations, by letter, and it was especially arranged, that he and
Elizabeth should arrive in season, to participate in the solemnities of the
evening.
After this digression, we shall return to our narrative.
CHAPTER IX.
Now all admire, in each high-flavour d dish.
The capabilities of flesh--fowl--fish;
In order due each guest assumes his station.
Throbs high his breast with fond anticipation,
And prelibates the joys of mastication.
Heliogabaliad
Theapartment to which Monsieur Le Quoi handed Elizabeth, communicated with the
hall, through the door that led under the urn which was supposed to contain
the ashes of Dido. The room was spacious, and of very just proportions; but in
its ornaments and furniture, the same diversityof taste, and imperfection of
execution, were to be observed, as existed in the hall. Of furniture, there
were a dozen green, wooden arm-chairs, with cushions of moreen, taken from the
same piece as the petticoat of Remarkable. The tables were spread, and their
materials and workmanship could not be seen; but they were heavy, and of great
size. There was an enormous glass, in a gilt frame, hung against the wall, and
a cheerful fire, of the hard or sugar-maple, burning on the hearth. The latter
was the first object that struck the attention of the Judge, who, on beholding
it, exclaimed, rather angrily, to Richard--
How often have I forbidden the use of the sugar-maple for fires, in my
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dwelling. The sight of that sap, as it exudes with the heat from the ends of
those logs, is painful to me, Richard. Really, it behooves the owner of woods
so extensive as mine, to be cautious what example he sets to his people, who
are already felling the forests, as if no end could be found to their
treasures, nor any limits to their extent. If we go on in this way, twenty
years hence we shall want fuel.
Fuel in these hills, cousin duke! exclaimed Richard, in derision-- fuel
for our fires! why you might as well predict, that the fish will die, for the
want of water in the lake, because I intend, when the frost gets out of the
ground, to lead one or two of the springs, through logs, into the village. But
you are always a little wild on such subjects, Marmaduke.
Is it wildness, returned the Judge, earnestly, to condemn a practice,
which devotes these jewels of the forest, these precious gifts of nature,
these mines of comfort and wealth, to the common uses of a fire-place? But I
must, and will, the instant that the snow is off the earth, send out a party
into the mountains, to explore for coal.
Coal! echoed Richard; who the devil do you think will dig for coal, when
in hunting for a bushel, he would have to rip up more roots of trees, than
would keep him in fuel for a twelvemonth? Poh! poh! Marmaduke, you should
leave the management of these things to me, who have a natural turn that way.
It was I that ordered this fire, and a noble one it is, to warm the blood in
the veins of my pretty cousin Bess.
The motive, then, must be your apology, Dickon, said the Judge.-- But,
gentlemen, we are waiting. Elizabeth, my child, take the head of the table;
Richard, I see, means to spare me the trouble of carving, by sitting opposite
to you.
To be sure I do, cried Richard; here is a turkey to carve, and I flatter
myself that I understand carving a turkey, or, for that matter, a goose, as
well as any man alive. Mr. Grant! where s Mr. Grant? will you please to say
grace, sir? Every thing is getting cold. Take a thing from the fire, this cold
weather, and it will freeze in five minutes. Mr. Grant! we want you to say
grace. For what we are about to receive, the Lord make us thankful. Come,
sit down, sit down. Do you eat wing or breast, cousin Bess?
But Elizabeth had not taken her seat, nor was she in readiness to receive
either the wing or breast. Her laughing, dark eyes, were glancing at the
arrangements of the table, and the quality and selection of the food. The eyes
of her father soon met the wondering looks of his daughter, and he said, with
a smile--
You perceive, my child, how much we are indebted to Remarkable, for her
skill in housewifery; she has indeed provided a noble repast; such as well
might stop the cravings of hunger.
Law! said Remarkable, I m glad if the Judge is pleased; but I m notional
that you ll find the sa ce overdone. I thought, as Elizabeth was coming home,
that a body could do no less than make things agreeable.
My daughter has now grown to woman s estate, and is from this moment
mistress of my house, said the Judge, sternly; it is proper, that all, who
live with me, address her as Miss Temple.
Dotell! exclaimed Remarkable, a little aghast; well, who ever heerd of a
young woman s being called Miss? If the Judge had a wife now, I shouldn t
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think of calling her any thing but Miss Temple; but--
Having nothing but a daughter, you will observe that style to her, if you
please, in future, interrupted Marmaduke.
As the Judge look d seriously displeased, and, at such moments, carried a
particularly commanding air with him, the wary housekeeper made no reply; and,
Mr. Grant entering the room, the whole party were soon seated at the table. As
the arrangements of this repast were much in the prevailing taste of that
period and country, we shall endeavour to give a short description of the
appearance of the banquet.
The table-linen was of the most beautiful damask, and the plates and dishes
of real china, an article of great luxury at this early period in American
commerce. The knives and forks were of exquisitely polished steel, and were
set in unclouded ivory. So much being furnished by the wealth of Marmaduke,
was not only comfortable, but even elegant. The contents of the several
dishes, and their positions, however, were the result of the sole judgment of
Remarkable. Before Elizabeth, was placed an enormous roasted turkey, and
before Richard, one boiled. In the centre of the table, stood a pair of heavy
silver castors, surrounded by four dishes; one a fricassee, that consisted of
gray squirrels; another of fish fried; a third of fish boiled; the last was a
venison steak. Between these dishes and the turkeys, stood, on the one side, a
prodigious chine of roasted bear s meat, and on the other a boiled leg of
delicious mutton. Interspersed among this load of meats, was every species of
vegetables that the season and country afforded. The four corners were [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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