Page:Salem - a tale of the seventeenth century (IA taleseventeenth00derbrich).pdf/184

 punch-bowl, richly chased round the brim with a pattern of roses and lilies of natural size. This bowl stood upon a salver of the same costly material and workmanship—a wreath of corresponding roses and lilies being enchased round the outer border. He lifted the heavy silver ladle, with the family arms richly engraved upon the handle, and dipping up a very moderate portion of the lemon-punch, which was then the common and uncriticised noonday beverage of gentlemen, he put it into one of the tall glasses, whose slender stems were curiously enriched with a white spiral substance artfully blown into the glass, which stood in readiness to receive it; took a sip, and then returning, glass in hand, drew a chair and seated himself near his sister, who had now quietly resumed her embroidery.

"You certainly do brew better punch than any body else, Sister Hannah," he said, approvingly. "I do not get it nearly so good at my own house as you make it."

"That may be because I make it by the old home receipt," said Mrs. Browne, smiling. "I make it just as I used to make it at fa