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Mrs. Merdle Discourseth Of Hygiene And Fish Sauce.

But this is concocted by rules so complete;

Though piquant, is healthy and easy digested;

And if you will note it as slowly we eat,

The contents I'll give for our friends interested.

Imprimus: in fish stock, an onion we stew,

And anchovy essence two spoonfuls we add;

With butter, horse-radish, and lemons a few;

Mushrooms, too, in ketchup is not very bad;

And pickle of walnuts with onions chopped fine,

To which there is added some old sherry wine.

My doctor, so queer, when I suffer distress,

Inquires what I've latterly foolishly eaten,

And swears that to swallow this 'horrible mess,'

Would entitle a dog like a dog to be beaten.

But la! such a doctor knows nothing of women's complaints,

And talks Latin nonsense about 'regular diet;'

And thinks that us mortals--should live more like saints,

On moonshine and nonsense of a heavenly quiet.

He says that a woman of my plaint complaining,

If she was a woman at all half discreet,

Would shudder to think every day she is maiming

Her stomach with trash, and such stuff as we eat!