Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1844-05-30
THE FIRST LOAF.

ineslc arrangements. Tor whiSh was " ho
ly unpfepared. despite The aenonjtor
warnings Of all good hodsekeepers. is 5
prepared when such do occur, as occu
thHy must. 10 these dsys Of help wantino
an excellent girl had gone, and her pIac
twas supplied by eae wbe / lelt a6ea
heSeld Der. woold never suswer that de
scripioi which bad induced me "a en-
gage. She stood demurely before me 4
waliingher new Instructions.
! You can make some bread, Nancy
Now, want YOU 10 siit some -four and Sc
some rising =
How shall | make it.. That neyeI
was my work before, but you will tell me
bow, ma'am, and | can learn quick" wa,
the reply, and the anxious, yet willing ex.
preston Of her face, bespoke teachabIe
spirit, as i did also an experienced hand
/ Heavily did that answer fall upon.my ear
F6oc shall | maize itan Yes, that was
the question, how3 What world or ex.
fperience and power did that little word
] comprehend. | remember nv mother
talked oil setting the sponge" placing il
~ a warm situation, baking it when il was
just enough raised. These snatches Of in
formation well emembeTed, but the
right quantity, quality and number Of in
gradients. with the just 1ow they should
be put together, was lhess 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
Ibis matter off and try bakers bread. !"
and | felt thankful for the respite.
Days passed on.
Cannot Nancy make bread J" asked
aeg husband At last am getting quite
tired OF bakers bfead.s
e "She shall m Ike some; out this is bead
tifu bakers bread, George. don: know
but what il is nicer than any home bread
! ever ate, ! replied. in a most recon-.
mandatory tone, taking another slice
which did not want.
\ ~Ehere Is nothing like good home
made bread, such as mother used 10 make"
To The ifst part Of this remark. did
not materially object. inasmuch as il was
secretly my own opinion; but when be
suggested an equality, with bis molhe.'s
bread, which nothing in his esifm alton
ever excelled, felt sad .h.snLiA---.-fl
'1.,'-s At nv own conscious inability o. az
May you be blessed WIN Iust sucb an
appetite as you had, when 6oy. Won ats
your mothers bread r. was nv ibward
benediclion. as he arose TO return ~ ~
afternoon business. Sometimes thonab,
Of confessing our dilemma. Had !, besn
the FIRST week Of our marriage. il hadau
been well he would have smiled !, ~
but we had u.fortuna,sIy
been married some time; sndfIo,. go, :
lovely ineficlency and want 0. sks 49, :
appear in lady love or bride, ASST q
quite different aspect. when not TO knSS :
is inexcusable ignorance. "Oh, | cam
do that" could eno longer be viewed in
the light Of maiden timidity, or delicate
besides, ii sasored too little |
'of his nother, who was pattern house
keeper.f
But The bread must be made. | arose
one morning feeling quite cool aud cour
sgeous. and resolved that day TO attempt |
il. 81 will begin with pearlash bread /;
that 1 am sure will be easiest and much
less trouble So upon pearlasb bread
was decided.
With what deep and earnest interest
did | prepare my -four, milk, and pearl
ash. With what anxiety-did mix these
ingredients together. will
have pearIas6 enough thought. Il am
determined il shall be light" and another
spoonful was added. The bread was
made, the pans were ready The FIRE kind
led, and a; last il was satisfactorily in th :,
weIl-heated oven. yeok rpy seat beside
tie, stove 10 watch, IFS proeress. How
abxioss was ID see itassNs How ready
did Irememb6r the round, 1omp sepect
Of my msiher's loaves Time pissed 90,
and despite my wafchful Inspection aud /
ardent wishes, il was still fiat, Hat, tiat
II grew beautifully brown, but thersii lsy,
50 denure. so unaspiring.
Dinner came and my husband walked
in With friend or Two TO dine, IS in the
Of bis heart he often did
exrented . welcome iapd, bull - |.'.
nv bdrni lace and disqnIslf "a |.'.
ieil-,sles Of heart not |. fl |'.lI I
TO see them.
We sal down ] tckerel
was well boiled. OIL We'll done.
the butter melieo The bread-thel
bread he ar,icI .oye all. which myl
husband considered mostimportani. which
.. considered indispensable 10 be good
| vas handed round-he took slice il |
certainly did not resemble bread, ihieklyl
studied as Il was with iitilesbfown spots Of
undissolsed pesFl-ash; and then how il
tasted strange mixsure:pf salt and Bit
Ter, which was altogether unbearable -
NV husband looked surprised and MORT
6ed. and bow did not feel lis there
no other y be looked Significantly at me
I shook my head. while be involun:ari-
" removed the unpalaiabie slice aIay from
bis plate. How little did enjoy the So
cieiy Or my agreeable guests. How dis.
tantl did wish them anywhere but al my
own table.
Had you not better attend 10 this
bread making yourself Mary" said
George. as soon as We were alone, ssnd
not leave the most important parts Of cook
ing I'd such miserable inexperienced
hands n There was decision in bis
pentle tore which | well knew gave ne
no choice in the matter, and ! saw that
| he lnriie imagined The ituniserabie inexpfr
rienced hands" upon which he more
such strong emphasis we've