The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-04-12

his afternoon business. Sometimes
thought Of confessing our dilemma. Had
/. been the first week Of our marriage, it
had all been well; he would have smiled
at my inexperience but we had unfor-
timely been married some time; and.
however lovely ine:iciency and want Of
skill may appear in lady love or bride;
il assumes quite differeat aspect, when
not TO know is inexcusabe ignorance.
%. can't do that could no longer be
viewed IN the light Of maiden timidity,
OF delicate helplessness besides il savofs
TOO lilile of his MOTHER who was pat.
tern house-keeper.
Blu, the bread must be made. ] arose
ore morning feeling quite cold and couf-
ageous, and resolved sha, day TO attempt
it. Il will begin with pearl-ash bread
that l am sure will be easiest and much
less trouble. So upon pearl.ash bread
was decided.
With what deep and eatncet interest
did | prepare my flour, milk, sail ana
pearl ash. With what anxiety did mix
these important ingredients together. 4
will have pearl-ash enough thought !.
j anu determined it shall be light and
another spoonful was quickly added.
The bread was made, the pans were rea-
dy, the fire kindled, and at las, it was
satisfactorily deposited in The well heated
oven. took my sea. beside the stove 10
watch lis progress. How anxious was I
TO BE it rise. How ready did remem.
her the round. plump aspect of my mo-
TIERS loaves. Time passed on and DIES.
pile my walchful inspection and ardent
wishes, it was still Hat. fiat. fat II grew
beautifully brown. but there it lay, so de-
mure. SO unaspiring.
Dinner came, and my husband walked
in with friend or two to dine, as, in the
Iiopitality of his heart, he often did. I
extended welcome hand, blu am sure
my burnt face and disquie,ed lock were
,ell-lales Of hear, not particularly glad ID
see them.
We sa, down al the table; tie macker.
ell was well boiled, the potatoes well done,
the butter was melted. but the bread-,llo
bread the article above all, which ny
husband considered mos, impor,sni,
which he considered indispensable to be
good--it was handed round-he took a
slice +; i. certainly did no. resemble bread,
I,,oE L., ctvJ,tnI IN Ett1. hrn,yu
spots of Undesirable pearl-ash and then
how i, tasted strange mixture of salt
and bitter, which was altogether unbcara.
BILE. My husband looked surprised and
mortified, and how did no, feel Is
there no other ? lie looked significantly
at me.
l shook ny head, while he involun,ari.
ly removed the unpalalable slice afar from
his plate. How little did l enjoy the co.
cie,y of my agreeable guests. How dis
tau, did wish them; any where but at
my own table.
Had you better not attend to the bread
making yourself, Mary said George as
soon as we were alone, and not leave that
most importan. part Of cooking to such
mircrably inexperienced hands 2 There
was decision IN his gentle tone " hcli
| well knew TO give me no choice in the
matter, and saw that he little immagin-
ed the 'miserably inexperienced hands
upon which he had laid such strong EN-
phasis were neither more ncr less than
my own; and il did not afford ME much
consolation, ,ha, he expected better things
of me.
wen. away and wept heartily and
humbly with this pi,iful lamen,a,ion,
what shall do /! There stood the piano.
What availed all the time, talent and in
dustry spent. which had long been spent
upon learning few tunes II added not
an io,a to the real comfort Of my house,
hold. Beautiful worsted work adorned
our paflor. o that could recall an hun
dredlh part Of the time spent with the
embroidery needle and rcpass it, in tho
roughly and skilfully acquiring the impot-'
,anl arts of housewiiery. From that mo-
men, resolved to study into my domes-
tic duties; not lightly and loosly, as If
they were email matters, easily gotten
over, but resolved to kno,o ho,o, 10 be.
come a skilfu, economical, thrifty house,,
keeper. Upon success in This. how much
of family happiness depcnds.-When I
have cut my sweet, light, wholesome
Ioavcs, there still fingers the sad remem.
berance Of the pain. the anxiety, nay, the
modification Of my frs, efforts with no
one to advise, and no one to aid me.
Mine was long and wearysome probs.
ton in bread making, and all because I
lightly esteemed these grea. duties, when
time and opportunity were freely offered