, 1844-08-24

So upon Pearl-ash bread | was deci-
ded.
With what deep and earnest inter.
est did prepare my flour, milk, salt
and pearl-ash. With what anxiety
did mix these important ingredients
together. 81 will have pearl-ash
enough" thought |. 81 am determin-
ed it shall be light" and another
spoonful vas quickly added. The
bread was made a d the pans we're
ready the fire kindled and at last il,
was satisfactorily deposited in the
well heated oven. | took my seat
beside the stove to watch its prog
ress. How anIous was | to see it
rise. How readily did | remember
the round plump aspect of my moth
er's I%oaves. Time passed on and
despite MY watchful inspection and
ardent wishes, il WAS still fat, fat.
fiat! 1t grew so beautifully brown,
but there it lay, SO demurei so unas-
pir;ng.
Dinner came, and my husband
walked in with a friend or two 10
dIns. as, in the hospitality of his heart
he often did. extended a welcome
hand, but | am sure my burnt face
and dlsquIeted look were telI-tales Of
a heart not particularly glad 10 see
them.
We sat down at the table; the
mackereI was well broiIcd, the pota-
toes well done, the butter was melt
ed. bot the bread--the bread. art Gle
above all which nv husband cOnsid-
cred most important-which he con-
SIdered indispensable to be good--it
was handed round, lie took a slice
1t certainly did not resemble bread,
thickly studied as it was with brown
spots of undi>solved pearl-ash; aud
then how Ii tasted, Il strange mixture
OF salt and bitter, which was altogeth-
er unbearab!e. Ny husband looked
surprised and mortified and how did
| feel? is there no other? he look
ed significantly at me.
shook my head, while lie involun-
tarily removed the unpalatable slice
aGar from his plate. How little did
! enjoy the society Of my agreeable
guests. How distant did ! wish them
any where bat at my own table.
Had you not better attend to tie
bread making yourself, MaryF said
George. rs soon rs we were alone,
land not leave that most important
part Of cooking to such miserable in
experienced handsr There was a
decision in his gentle tone which |
well knew gave me no choice in the
matter, and ! saw that he had no lii
tie imagined the miserable inexperi-
enced hands upon which he had laid
such strong emphasis were neither
more nor less than my own; and II
did not afford me much consolation,
that he expected better things ofme.
Invent away and wept heartily and
humbIy, with piiifuI iamentation,
swhat shall | do? There stood the
Piano. What awaited all the time,
talent and industry, which had long
been spent upon learninga few tunes!
1t added not an iota to the real COM
fort Of my household. Handsome
worsted work adorned u par!or.-
% that | could recall the time spent
with the embroidery needle, aud re-
pass it, in thoroughly acquiring the
important arts of house witery.-
From that moment ! resolved to stu
dy into my domestic duties; not light,
ly and loosely, rs they were small
matters, easily gotten over, but re-
solved to know how to become u
skillful, economical, thrifty house
keeper. Upon success in this, how
much family happiness depends
When | have cut my sweet, light,
wholesome ~loaves, there still fingers
the sad remembrance of the pam,
the anxiety, nay the modification OF
my first efforts; With no one 10 ADVISE
and no one TO aid me. Nine was a
long and wearisome probation IN
bread making, and all because ! light
" esteemed these great duties, when
time aud opportunity were freely OF
fered under Il mothers eye.
Let not young ladies look upon
these duties as meniel, or Of slight I'M
portance. A household cannot be
well ordered unless they are faithful
ly and intelligently understood. Lei
no woman imagine that a husbands
comfort, enjoyment and prosperity.
depends alone upon the smiles and
ornaments of his parlor. 1t is skllIlnI
and judicious managementm' The Kitten
on which does SO much toward ma
king home pleasant and prospects