"
With a swoop Cheon was on it, and the Dandy, trying to regain it, said,
"Here, hold hard! I've to present it to the missus with a bow and the
compliments of Mine Host." But Cheon would not part with it, and so the
missus had the bow and the compliments, and Cheon the ham.
Lovingly he patted it and asked us if there ever was such a ham? or ever
such a wonderful man as Mine Host? or ever such a fortunate woman as the
missus? Had any other woman such a ham or such a friend in need? And
bubbling over with affection for the whole world, he sent Jackeroo off
for mistletoe, and presently the ham, all brave in Christmas finery, was
hanging like a gay wedding-bell in the kitchen doorway. Then the kitchen
had to be decorated, also in mistletoe, to make a fitting setting for the
ham, and after that the fiat went forth. No one need expect either eggs
or cream before "Clisymus"--excepting, of course, the sick Mac--he must
be kept in condition to do justice to our "Clisymus" fare.
What a week it was--all festivities, and meagre fare, and whirring
egg-beaters, and thunderstorms, and downpours, and water-melon dividends,
and daily visits to the vegetable patch; where Happy Dick was assured,
during a flying visit, that we were sure of seven varieties of vegetables
for "Clisymus.
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