The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-06-03

and play checkers, and work worsted, and-to
be sure there would be the house-work, but then,
she would make nothing of that she was sure
she could do it up0 in little while. Every
thing should be in fine order, too her father
and brother should see that she did know how
to keep house!
Thus solloquxing, she set about preparing
dinner This was an easy matter as her
mother had left special directions for it, She
seated herself very proudly in her mothers
place at table, when her father and brother
came in from the field.
Here's your health, Mrs. Housekeeper,"
said her brother, with demure bow, lifting
his tumbler to his lips.
"Well done for the first time, Lizy" was
her fathers comment But mind, you VIII
have to keep up your reputation
Liuy was quite disappointed to lind that
Julia Simms could not be spared from home
for two days, and was obliged to content her
self with anticipating the great pleasure she
would have on Friday, when her playmate had
promised to spend the whole day with her.
Wednesday passed very creditably. But Thurs
day morning brought a trial in the shape OF
tongue Of beef which her father sent her,
to be cooked for dinner LiMy turned it over
at least twenty times, looked at it, felt OF IT.
and meditated on it.
"Pll fry itp she at length determined. And
accordingly, fried in brown slices, it awaited
the coming of the hungry hay-makers to their
noon meal
Whats ths?n asked her father, with an
accent Of surprise and doubt, as he pried his
fork into one of the tough morsels.
1T is the tongue you sent home for dinner,
father
"Fried!-fried tongue never heard of
such thing Why, it's as hard as an oyster
she'll You should have boiled it. child"
The blood mounted to Lizzy's temples, while
discovered fresh flaw in her management.
"What, mouldy bread, too Lizys One
can't live on potatoes. Haven't you anything
else in the house? y
No, SIR" stammered Lizzy, with starting
tears.
"Then 90 down and cut slice of salt pork.
Here, John, look up the fryingpan."
IL told you should have to turn in cook,
sis" exclaimed John, syly brandishing the
greasy iron spoon over her head, as she came
out of the cellar He had wrapped one of her
aprons around him, and sprinkled himself with
| -four from it, so that he looked like bakers
boy.
II wish you wouldn't teaze me retorted
his sister very petulantly Men folks have
no business with cookipglD
Lizzy said her father, sternly, keep
your temper, if you cannot keep your house I"
| Lizzy watered the dinner dishes with small
shower of tears, and then, wiping her eyes, set
about conjaring up something to supply the
place of the mOuldy bread Biscuit she had
made, when her mother had mixed all the in
gradients. So on biscuit she resolved. A pan
full of heavy, yellow tinged cakes came out of
the oven, causing her some misgvings.
"Oh dear" she sighed al am tired of
staying in this miserable house Kere, Kitty,
child, let's go after the cow"
Kitty was ready enough to put on her pink
sun-bonnet. Away they went, over fences and
hillocks through pastures and patches of wood
land. Lizzy, transported to find herself in the
fresh air once more, forgot her mothers COM
mands, as well as her Grand She frisked
about, jumped, sang, and frolicked and finally
threw herself down ON shaded knoll, to pick
the young cfnckaberries She had idied away,
as she supposed about fifteen minutes in this
way, when she was startled by a heavy step in
the rustling grass, and lifted her head Just in
time to see her brother part the bushes and
| peep down at her in astonishment He had
come for the cow, as was his custom every eve
ming, after finishing his days work in the
field
"Well, but this is pretty to dO!p he ex-
claimed. "What have you done with your
house, my lady housekeeperf You ought to
carry it on your back, like a snail, if you wan
der about in this styleW
"I-I only came out minute or two, to find
the cow" said Liuy
"Well, all say is, that you better make
haste home again. if you don't want to engage
the men folks to cook their own supper, as
well as dinner
Lizzy dreaded meeting her father, who, as
she supposed, was waiting for her at home.
He came to the gate, as she unhasped it,
"This will never do The house must not
be left open, with nobody to keep it. Do not
let the thing happen again, Lizy!"
Lizzy was rafting the tOngs against the
andirons, trying to drown his words in vain
attempt to rekindle the blackened fire-log, by
beating it, What with all her attempts in this
way some time passed before the wood was in
blaze again, and the tea-kettle hung over
Her father strOled from sitting room to kitchen,
and from kitchen back to sitting-roOm, whist
ling impatienty, and sometimes giving short
" hem - expressive of dissatisfaction.
Lizzy in spite of her confusion, succeeded az
last in gathering together the dishes and food
for his supper. He sat down, leaning his head
on his hand while she poured out a cup Of
anything but tea! 1t had not yet stepped or
drawn as they say, and was as tasteless as
clean dsh-water The little AOusekeeper
turned very red in the forehead under her
| fathers glance But the climax came when
he, after breaking one of the leather-like bis
cults, dropped it on the table, with the single
| exclamation
Elizabeth
| He never called her by that name unless
he was seriously angry She dropped the
cream-spoon, and burst into tears.
ats small use crying, child" he said, in a
somewhat softened tone. Haven't you a morsel
| in the house fit to eat?"
Lizzy only cried the faster, for she knew
that she could give no very pleasant answer to
this question
John, go over to Mrs. Sims and beg Dor
row, OF buy loaf of bread. Ii is come to that
at last. Lizzy, girl, stop your crying and call
home your senses; make me a decent cup Of
tea if you can And mind, you make bread
to- morrow It's the least housekeeper can
do!p
Mr.. Talcott like most inexperienced people,
had the idea that anything 50 very common as
a loaf of bread must be very easy to manufac-
ture; whereas, many girls who read this could
tell him that il is one Of the most difficult
things in the list Of accomplishments to make
good bread.
Lizzy had reused herself to feel the import
ance Of the undertaking, and made great
preparations before beginning. She coaxed
her brother to bring half a cord Of oven wood
into the kitchen, brought all the tins from
the pantry to the kitchen table, rolled her
sleeves up to her shoulders, tied towel over
her head, and three aprons around her waist,
poured into an enormous wooden bowl -four
enough to make bread for family of dozen,
added her yeast, warm milk &c, and became