The Little Tea Book

“If this here lasts much longer, Sammy,” said Mr. Weller, in the same low voice, “I shall feel it my duty as a human bein’ to rise and address the cheer. There’s a young ‘ooman on the next form but two, as has drank nine breakfast cups and a half; and she’s a swellin’ wisibly before my wery eyes.”–Pickwick Papers.

Of all methods of making tea, that hit upon by Heine’s Italian landlord was perhaps the most economical. Heine lodged in a house at Lucca, the first floor of which was occupied by an English family. The latter complained of the cookery of Italy in general, and their landlord’s in particular. Heine declared the landlord brewed the best tea ho had ever tasted in the country, and to convince his doubtful English friends, invited them to take tea with him and his brother.

The invitation was accepted. Tea-time came, but no tea. When the poet’s patience was exhausted, his brother went to the kitchen to expedite matters. There he found his landlord, who, in blissful ignorance of what company the Heines had invited, cried: “You can get no tea, for the family on the first floor have not taken tea this evening.”

The tea that had delighted Heine was made from the used leaves of the English party, who found and made their own tea, and thus afforded the landlord an opportunity of obtaining at once praise and profit by this Italian method of serving a pot of tea.–Chambers’s Journal.