 | Life and sayings of Mrs. Partington and others
of the family |  |
A REMEMBERED MISTAKE.
“It is all very true, Mr. Knickerbottom,” said Mrs.
Partington, as she read in the Knickerbocker something
concerning brevity and simplicity of expression;
“it 's true, as you say; and how many mistakes there
does happen when folks don't understand each other!
Why, last summer I told a dressmaker to make me a
long visite, to wear, and, would you believe it, she came
and staid a fortnight with me? Since then I 've made
it a pint always to speak just what I say.”
Her mouth grew down to a determined pucker at the
end of the sentence, and the snuff-box was tapped energetically,
as if the fortnight of unrequited bread and
butter was laying heavy on her memory.
“Faith is a great thing, and confidence in the cook,
and the trust that what you have before you is the true
representative of the name it bears,” said old Roger, in
his lecture over the bread pudding; and he peered intently
into his plate, as at some mysterious thing which
had there arisen to perplex him. “But,” he continued,
“can I be expected to swallow everything, always in
blind credulity, or go so far as to construe pork-skins
and cheese-rinds to mean bread crumbs?”
And he gently pushed his plate away and took a piece
of the pie.
| Life and sayings of Mrs. Partington and others
of the family | |