Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-04-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
NJ y First Loaf.
BY MRS. II. c. X.

despite the admonitory warnings of all good house
keepers, to be prepared when such do occur as oc
cur they must, in these days of he!p-Wantng. AMI
excellent Girl had gone, and her place was SUPPLE
cd by one who felt, when beheId her, could
never answer that description which had induced
me to engage her She stood detnurely before me-
awaiting her eWln3tructlons.
You can make some bread, Nancy-sift some
flour and set it rising
'How shall make it? That never was my
work before, but you will tell me how, mn'am, and
can learn quick was the reply: and the anxious
yet willing expression of her face, bespoke tea
chabc spirit, as it did also an inexperienced hand.
Heavily did that answer fall upon my ear,-how
shall make it" Yes, that was he question, h0IC?
What world Of experience and power did that
| little word comprehend remembered my moth
or talked much about selling The sponge, placing it
| in warm situation, baking it when it was Just
enough raiSed these snatches Conformation | well
remembered, but the right quantity, quality and
number of ingredients, with the just how they
should be put together, was the still unanswered
question. There stood Nancy. Upon the whole
said |, after moments thoughtful pause, as
there is so much that is more important to do we
will put this matter off and try bakers bread, and
| felt thankful for the respite.
D.! Days passed on.
Cannot Nancy make bread" asked my hu8-
band at last, am getting quite tired Of bakers
bread
She shall make some; but this is beautiful ba-
ker's Bread George. don't know but it is nicer
than any home made bread ever ate,' replied,
in most rccommendatory tone, taking another
slice, which did not want.
There is nothing like good home made bread,
such as my mother used to make
To the first part of this remark did not mate
rally object, inasmuch as it was seriously my o.
Ipinion; but when he suggested an equality with
his mothers breld, than which nothing in his
estimation ever excelled felt sad shrinking of
the heart at my own conscious inability of attain
ing it.
May you be blessed with just such an appetite
as you had when, a boy, you ate your mothers
Bread was my inward benediction, as he arose
to return to his afternoon business. Sometimes
thought of confessing our dilemma Had it been
the first week OF our marriage, it had all been well;
he would have smiled at my ineXp erience; but we
had unfortunately been married some time; and
however lovely inc ficiency and want Of skill may
appear in lady love or BRIDE it assumes quite
a different aspect when not to know is inexcusabe
ignorance. Oh can't do that could no longer
f be viewed in the light of maiden timidity, or del
cate helplessness; besides, it savored too little of
his MOTHER who was pattern housekeeper.
But the bread must be made. Il will begin with
pearash bread; that am sure will be easiest and
much less trouble So upon pearlash bread was
| decided
pare my flour, milk salt, and pearlash. With
what anxiety did mix these important ingredi-
|, ents together Il will have pearash enough,
thought |. { am determined it shall be light, and
another spoonful was quickly added The bread
was made; the pans were ready, the fire kinded
and at last it was satisfactorily deposited in the
well heated oven. | took my seat beside the
2 stove TO watch its progress. How anxious was
to see it rise. How readily did | remember the
DIIInD Df INV
} passed, and despite my watchlul inspection and
ardent Wishes it was flat flat! fiat! 1t grew
beautifully brown, but there it lay, so demurc, so
unaspirn@
Dinner came and my husband walked in, with
friend or two to dine, as in the hospitality OF
his heart, he often did. | extended a welcome
hand, but am sure my burnt face and disoueted
look were tell tales of heart not particularly glad
to see them.
I We sat down at table; the mackerel was well
broed, the potatoes well done, and the butter was
melted, but the bread-the bread 1.-THE article a.
bove all, which my husband considered indspen-
sable to be good-t was handed round-he took a
slice; it certainly did not resemble bread. thick
studded as 1t was with little brown spots of un-
dissolved pearlaSh; and then how. it tasted! a
strange mixture Of salt and bitter, which was al
together unbearabIe. My husband looked sur
prIsed and mortified, and how did not feel? Is
there no other, he looked significantly at me.
! shook my BEAD, while he inyoluntarly remoy-
ed the unpalotable slice far from his plate How
little did enjoy the society of my agreeable
guests. How distant did wish them; any where
but at my own table.
Had you not better attend to the bread making
yourself, Mary, said George, as soon as we WEI
alone, and not leave that most important part of
cooking to such miserable, inexperienced hands ?
There was II decision in his gentle tone. which |
well knew meant to give me no choice in the mat
ter and | saw that be little imagined the misera-
bic inexperienced hands, upon which he laid such
emphasis, were neither more nor less than INV
own; and it did not afford me much consolation.
that he expected better things than all this Of me-
| went away andwept heartily and humbly. with
this pitiful ladIenaIion, what shall don There
stood the piano. What availeth all the time tall
ent and industry which had been spent in learning
"a few tunes? 1t added not an iota TO the real
comforts of my household Handsome worsted
:, work adorned our arOr. Oh that could recall
an huudredth part,f the time spent with an en-
brodery needle, aid re-pass, in thoroughly and
skiltully acquiring ne important arts of housewife
cry From that mdnent resolved to Studv into
my domestic duties not lightly and loosely, as i'll
lthey were small matters, easily gotten over, but
resolved to 6noW hotto become skilfl, econonl-
ical' thrifty housekeper Upon success in this,
now much OF family Welfare and family happiness
depend. When hap cut my sweet light whole
some loaves, therestf fingers sad remembrance
OF the PAIN, the aItdy, nay, the modification of
my hrst ettorts with 10 one to advise, and no one
to lad, me- Mine Nasa long and wearisome pro.
baton in bread maj ing, and all because lightly