Sarah said, a sheep-shearing was not to be compared to a harvest-home, that was so much better, for that then the oven was quite full of plum-pudding, and the kitchen was very hot indeed with roasting beef; yet I can assure you there was no want at all of either roast beef or plum-pudding at the sheep-shearing.

PLUM-PUDDING SAUCE.

Cut the remains of a good cold plum-pudding into finger-pieces, soak them in a little brandy, and lay them cross-barred in a mould until full.

[Illustration: CHRISTMAS PLUM-PUDDING IN MOULD.] Mode.

PLUM-PUDDING OF FRESH FRUIT.

Plum-pudding.

Plum-pudding.

Plum-pudding.

Plum-pudding, removed by Ice Pudding.

3. Plum-pudding, apple tart.

2. Baked plum-pudding. 2072.

2. Baked plum-pudding. 2084.

Partridges, Shell-Fish. removed by Plum-pudding.

3. Plum-pudding, mince pies. 2123.

Wheat is their staple food, and with the juice of the grape they make a kind of bread, which is eaten toasted, and is not then unlike a Christmas plum-pudding.

It is not overcrowded by the addition of roast goose and plum-pudding; it is not harmed by the addition of herring and potatoes.

We appreciate this when we give some plum-pudding and turkey at Christmas, instead of all coal and flannel.

A little thought led us to recognise in this amalgamation a travesty of our old friend plum-pudding; but so revolting was its dark, bilious-looking exterior that we felt its claim to be accounted a compatriot almost insulting.

In the theatre, as a matter of fact, the plum-pudding was served up in three chunks instead of one; but this was a mere concession to human weakness.

I think, perhaps, Christmas fare is even more uninteresting in India than at home; turkey tastes more like white flannel, and plum-pudding is stodgier, and there are no white and scarlet berries or robins; but otherwise it is really a nicer day than in England.

Friends have risen up for him upon every side; yet if he should be hanged, none of them will eat a slice of plum-pudding the less.

Jack Roastbeef, from a notion we cannot live without roast-beef, any more than without plum-pudding, porter, and punch; however, the notion is palpably erroneous.

A good dinner was also prepared, and several luxuries served out, among which were the materials for the construction of a large plum-pudding.

'Possum Gully, 25th March, 1899 Christmas, only distinguished from the fifty-two slow Sundays of the year by plum-pudding, roast turkey, and a few bottles of home-made beer, has been once more; New Year, ushered in with sweet-scented midsummer wattle and bloom of gum- and box-tree has gone; February has followed, March is doing likewise, and my life is still the same.

On the evening appointed for paying the rents, he gets up a regular, old-fashioned English supper of roast beef and plum-pudding for them, giving each fourpence instead of beer, so that they may all go home sober as well as cheerful.