Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-02-24
popular Gales.
From the Philadelphia Saturday Courier.
A u n II nj AIRY S
? R E SERVING KETTLE
BY 7. s. ARTHCR, ESQ.

as she opened jar Of choice ounces,
and perceived that since she had sealed
them up and carefully stored them away
for the winter, fermentation had com
menced.
"And the peaches, too, as live -
she added, on examining another jar
"Run, Hannah, and bring me my pre-
serving kettle. | shall have to do them
all over"
"Mrs. Tomkins borrowed it, you
know, yesterday" Hannah replied.
$50 she did, declare Well, you
must run over to Mrs. Tomkins, Han
nah, and tell her that | want my pre-
serving kettle"
Hannah departed, and Aunt Mary
proceeded to examine ar after jar of her
rich store of preserves, and much TO her
disappointment, found that all her quin-
ces and peaches, comprising some eight
or ten jars, had commenced working"
These she took from their dark corners
in the closet. and after placing them on
the large table in the kitchen, awaited
patiently Hannah's return. In about
fifteen minutes, her "help" entered.
"But where's the kettle I" inquired
Aunt Mary eagerly.
"Why, ma am, Mrs. Tomkins says
as how she aint quite done with it yet !;
she's finished her pears, and then she
has only her mamlct TO do"
Aunt Mary was good woman, and
her heart was full of kind feelings to-
wards others. But she had her foibles
as her neighbours, and among these
was an almost passionate admiration Of
her beautiful bell-metal preserving ket-
tic, which was always kept as bright as
a gold eagle. Nothing tried Aunt Ma
ry more than to have to lend her preser-
wing kettle. But, as in reading her
Biblo she had found it written, Of him
Mat would borrOw Of thee, turn thou not
Gicay,-she dared not refuse any of the
applications that were made for it, and
in preserving time these were enough
to try the patience Of even a better wo-
man than Aunt Mary. The fact was,
Aunt Mary's preserving kettle was the
best in the village, and there were at
least a dozen or two of her neighbors
who did not think their sweetmeats fit
for any thing if not prepared in this ia-
vorite kettle.
"Aint it too bad !" calculated Aunt
Mary. lifting her hands and then letting
them fall quickly. "Aint it too bad !!
But it is always so Just when want
my own things, somebody's got them
Go right back, Hannah, and tell Mrs
Tomkins that my preserves arc all a.
working, and that | must have my ket-
lie at once, or they will be ruined"
Hannah started off again, and Aunt
Mary stood, far less patiently than be-
fore, beside the table on which she had
placed her jars, and awaited her return.
"Wcll, " she asked, eagerly, as Han
nah entered after the lapse of some ten
minutes, "wherc is the kettle :"
"Mrs. Tomkins says, ma am, that she
is very sorry that your preserves have
commenced working, but that it wont
hurt them fthey are not done over for
three or four days. She says that her
mamlet is all ready to put on, and us
soon as that is done, you shall have the
kettle in welcome.
Poor Aunt Mary was for few mo-
ments mute with astonishmcnt. On re-
covering herself, she did not storm
and fret Indeed, she was never guilty
of these little housewife cilorvcsccnccs
usually taking every trouble with de-
gree of Christian mcckncss, that it
would have been well for many in the
village, even the minister's wife, TO
have initiated.
"Wcll, Hannah" " she said, hcnving
n sigh, 1--WE shall have to wait, | sup
pose, until Mrs. Tomhins has finished
her mar maladc. But | am afraid all
these preserves will Be spoiled. Unless
done over Immediately on their begin
ming to icrmcnt, they get favour that
is not pleasant. But We must wait pa.
tiently."
ats a downright shame, ma am so
il is ~ Hannah said, "and wonder
you take it so quietly if it was my kct-
tie, and wanted it, reckon | would
have II too quick. Only just say the