BRANDIED PEACHES
Reading edition
The guests were all gathered in the parlor laughing and talking, when the host was suddenly summoned by his wife for a brief consultation in the dining-room before dinner was served.
“Tom,” said she, in evident alarm, “what shall I do? I have nothing for dessert but brandied peaches, and there’s Dr. Brown, the Methodist minister, in the company. I never thought about him—you know he’s such a strict temperance person.”
Tom said he was sorry, but it was evidently too late to change the schedule, and that they would just have to trust to luck.
They did—and luck did not fail them. For when it came to the dessert, the Rev. Mr. Brown evidently enjoyed the peaches very much, very much. Dear innocent soul! he thought he had never tasted anything half so good. And when the hostess sweetly asked him, “Could she not have the pleasure of serving him with another peach?” he hesitatingly replied, “No—thank you—thank you—but I believe I will take a little more of the juice!”