MRS AP-JONES'S PUDDING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 36, 30 September 1871, Page 16

MRS AP-JONES'S PUDDING.

They lived in Wales, and the farmer was well-to-do, and all the household were economical, not thinking of meat every day or anything like as often. The two daughters were named Reliance and Prudence ; the sons Amos and James. Reliance was soon to be married to David Ap-Thomas, at the next farm. ' We'll have a hasty pudding for dinner today, mother,' said Farmer Ap-Jones to his wife one morning at breakfast. 'Yerywell, Evan,' replied Mrs Ap-Jones, for his will was law.

So when it was time she began to make the pudding. Her husband and sons were out at work in the spring sunshine; her daughters were making the beds upstairs. ' I musn't forget the salt this time,' cried Mrs Ap-Jones to herself; there was a fine fuss from all of 'em about it last.'

For Mrs Ap-Jones, good housewife though she was, was apt to forget to put salt in her hasty puddings, or not to put enough of it. She put plenty of it this time; for they were all fond of salt. Then she went up to the linen-room and began laying the winter clothing away in camphor. It was only a few moments before Reliance came into the kitchen, when, seeing the pudding cooking, and knowing that her mother was apt to forget to salt it, she put in a handfid of salt and stirred it well, so that her father would not have occasion to find fault.

Soon after Prudence passed through the kitchen on her way to the brew-house, ' Mother's sure to have forgot the salt,' said she, and added a good handful. Before long Amos entered to get a jug of beer. And soon after James came in. Each of them put in a handful more salt, as they had no more faith in their mother's remembering it than Reliance or Prudence had. Just before dinner Farmer Ap-Jones returned from the fields, and saw the pudding cooking. ' That pudding smells uncommon good/ said he. ' But,' added the farmer approaching the kettle, ' I'll bet a sixpence the wife's forgot to salt it, as she always does. I used to depend on Reliance till she got her head chock full of that young man o' hem; no chance of her thinkin' on't now. As to Prudence, well, she don't meddle much in the cooking, so I'll just put the salt in myself:' and, taking off the lid, he flung in a large handful and a half, stirring the pudding round briskly. Twelve o'clock came, and they all sat down to the table. Mrs Ap-Jones helped her husband to a good serving, for he loved it well, and had besides a sharp appetite. Just a spoonful he took, and leaped up., ' Who on earth salted this here pudding ? It '

Farmer Ap-Jones stopped; he suddenly remembered that he had salted it himself. Just then there was a great noise in the stable. 'I should think that thundering colt's a trying to kick in the barn door,' said he, and rushed out.

The next to try the pudding was Amos. No

sooner had he got it in his mouth than he leaped up too, and went off to see what the colt could be doing. And each one, James, Reliance, and Prudence started away in like manner, leaving Mrs Ap- Jones in amazement; for each one, you see, silently took credit for the hard salting. ' Lawk a mercy,' cried Mrs Ap-Jones, swallowing down her first mouthful; e this comes o' my having put in that there salt. What could I ha' been thinking of ? !But they used to say that I'd a heavy hand at salting.' The proof of the pudding is in the eating. —"The Argosy."