said."

"Just so," says I. "Sprucehill. Let me help you to a little of this
roast beef, if I may call it so."

"Thank you," says he, and that funny smile crinkled his lips again, "I
am well served."

It struck me as rather singular, that he, being a gentleman, didn't
offer me any of the dishes on his side of the table; but he didn't, and,
as a gentle rebuke, I said to the young man who stood behind him:

"Please to pass some of those dishes this way!"

The fellow blushed and hesitated, and looked at the gentleman in gold
spectacles, who blushed a little, too, but said to the young fellow:

"Certainly; why don't you pass them over to the lady?"

There was something in a dish that looked a little like mashed potatoes.
I helped myself with a spoon, and tasted it.

"What is this?" says I. "Your potatoes taste awful cheesey."

"It is not potatoes, but calf's brains au gratin," says he.

"Calf's brains, a grating," says I; "calf's brains, and I eating them.
Young man, I'll have you investigated for this! Calf's brains, indeed!
do you think I'm a cannibal. Take the heathenish dish out of my sight."

The gentleman laughed, and says he:

"I will relieve you of it."

Then he drew it over his way and began to eat.

I declare, sisters, I couldn't bear to see that man finishing up the
dish as if he liked it. He seemed to have brains enough of his own,
without wanting to rob a spring calf of what little belongs to it. But
he finished the dish and got up to go, making me a real polite bow as he
went away from the table.

When he was gone I beckoned to the young man.

"Is that man from the Sandwich Islands, or where?" says I.

"That gentleman! Oh, he's a Senator from the West," says he. "The
whitewashing committee hate him like poison. He gives them enough to do,
I can tell you. Awful in that direction."

"You don't say so," says I. "Is that the man who has raised the price of
lime and whiting to such an extent?"

"That's the very man."

"Dear me! and he eats brains--cheesey at that. I never saw anything like
it."

"Oh, that is a very popular dish, ma'am."

"With Congressmen?"

"Yes, ma'am, with Congressmen."

"Especially?"

"Especially."

"I shouldn't wonder," says I.

When I hitched my chair back, and took up my satchel, the man put a bit
of stiff paper in my hands, with some figures on it. I thanked him and
went out, feeling a little lighter than I had done, on account of the
cider. The young ma