Read by the Landlord.
| "A jolly negation, who took upon |
| him the ordering of the bills of |
| fare." |
| Lamb. |
MR. GRAPEWINE'S CHRISTMAS DINNER.
"My dear," said Mr. Grapewine, over the dinner-table, about a fortnight before Christmas,—"how many days to Christmas?"
Mrs. Grapewine counted on her fingers; looked a little uncertain up towards the ceiling, and at last applied to the calendar on the wall behind her, exclaiming, when she had mentally calculated the time,—
"Week and six days; comes on Thursday."
"True," said Mr. Grapewine, and he fell to devouring the residuum of his meal, a very savory mixture, which he swallowed with an amazing relish.
"There!" said he, after the last sip of coffee, "I believe I don't want another thing to eat till Christmas-day. Mrs. G., you have the art of concocting the most appetizing meals. I never seem to get enough of them."