“‘Oh, Missus,’ sais I, ‘dat is plaguy trong water, dat are a fac, and bery nice flavoured. I wish in my heart we had a nice spring ob it to home. Wouldn’t it be grand, for dis is a bery thirsty niggar, dat are a fac. Clam pie, Massa, is first chop, my missus ambitioned it some punkins.’
“Well, how do you make it?”
“Dere is seberal ways, Massa. Sometime we used one way and sometime anoder. I do believe missus could do it fifty ways.”
“Fifty ways!” said I, “now Sorrow, how can you lie that way? I shall begin to think at last you never had a mistress at all.”
“Fifty ways! Well, Massa, goodness gracious me! You isn’t goin’ to tie me down to swear to figures now, any more nor identical words, is you? I ab no manner o’ doubt she could fifty ways, but she only used eight or ten ways which she said was de best. First dere is de clam bake.”
“Well, I know that,” sais I, “go on to the clam pie.”
“What is it?” said the doctor, “for I should like to know how they are prepared.”
“This,” said I, “is the most approved mode. A cavity is dug in the earth, about eighteen inches deep, which is lined with round stones. On this a fire is made; and when the stones are sufficiently heated, a bushel or more of clams (according to the number of persons who are to partake of the feast) is thrown upon them. On this is put a layer of rock-weed, gathered from the beach, and over this a second layer of sea-weed. This prevents the escape of the steam, and preserves the sweetness of the fish. Clams baked in this manner are preferred to those cooked in the usual way in the kitchen. On one occasion, that of a grand political mass-meeting in favour of General Harrison on the 4th of July, 1840, nearly 10,000 persons assembled in Rhode Island, for whom a clambake and chowder was prepared. This was probably the greatest feast of the kind that ever took place in New England.”
“Zactly,” said Sorrow, “den dere is anoder way.”
“I won’t hear it,” said I, “stiver now, make the pie any way you like.”