Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-05-17


out faster than before.
Let me help you, Miss Raymond" said
a rough voice behind her, "you don't seem
to understand maxim fires very we'll" She
looked up in surprise, and beheld the friend
ly face of the farmer from whom they fire.
quently engaged vegetables. Gratefully
resigning the post of fireman into his hands,
she commenced selecting some Of the veg
etables which he had brought for dinner
Soon bright fire was burning cheerfulIy on
the hearth, and the old farmer looked for
moment with gratifed air on the products
Of his handiwork. "Can | do anything
more for you, Miss Raymond" asked he,
looking up pleasantly after becoming as
sured that his efforts had been successful.
mo, thank you; or yes, If you W II be
kind enough to tell me whether the outside
is 10 be taken off these carrots" she re.
Piled, bIusaing deeply at the idea of her own
inability to manage, and ignorance in the
art Of housekeeping being exposed before
one who was more capable than herself,
although it was somewhat out of his sphere.
Soon the carrots were boiling rapidly over
the fire, and the kind-hearted farmer took
his leave.
"Well, what's to be done next, won
DER" soliloqui.ed Mrs. Raymond, busting
alb Ut utter she had watched the s,eaming
carrots for some minutes. Il guess we
must dine without roast to-day III! sim
ply boil this steak; but it ism. time yet, and
may as we'll wash The breakfast Dishes"
and suiting the action to the word, placed a
large glass plate in tub brimful Of boiling
water. The plate was Immediately broken
in two and her finger slightly sealded by
the sudden splasi,ing Of the water, What
was she to do. II would cost a. least three
/ dollars 10 repair the mischief she bad done,
ahd besides, she knew not how 10 proceed
with the remaining plates, as hsr finger
coon became excessively painful. She,
however. came 10 the conclusion that warm
water was not used for the purpose, aad &C.
i coriingly filing tin basin with water fresh
from the cistern, Immediately began the
4 process of repeatedly immerging the cups;
but here new difficulty intcrposed; The
grease which had accumulated seemed only
10 adhere more closely than before. She
was completely at her wits ends, and was
contemplating whether To appi: soap or not
when the ringing OF the door bell announ-
ced the arrival of morning callers. Glanc-
ing in the mirror, she was decidedly shocked
at the un couth appearance her person pre-
sented Her hands were yet dripping with
dish water. her face and dress strongly
marked with charcoal. and her hair falling
loosely about her shoulders.
II can't 20 possibly Tell her I'm not
at home" replied she, as the boy informed
her tina, Mrs. Hathaway wished to see her
on important l,siless. He soon returned.
however, saying thu, Mrs. Hathaway pre-
ferred waiting unit! his mistress return, as
! her business could on no account be delay
ed. II could not suppress smile. while
delivering this message, at the blaekened
/ ldNE AFtsS pclbiS htsi-
/ ly wiping her face ond smoothing her dress,
! Mrs Raymond summoned all her courage
TO appear in the paror.
! TWAS one o'cl OK before she again took
/ her stand in the kitchen. Two poor hours
/ only remained before her husband would
come home tired and hungry, anticipating
a we'll cooked dinner. Forgetting he'
1 burned finger and all else save her husbands
! disappointment, our heroine again set 70
| work in good earnest, determined, il possible,
| that Mr.. Raymond should not miss the
cooks absence. Lifting the cover, expect
ing TO behold nicely cooked vegetables, she
was surprised TO find them burnt black.
| "They must be thrown away she re-
/ heated aloud, but remembering TO have
heard Aunt Mary say, that where there's
will, there's a way" she commenced peel
| ing the outside off.
/ There, said she, as she placed the last
one on plate, how nicely that was done;
+ aud soon too" :,
But we will not follow her through al
the long afternoon; suffice 70 say that when
dinner hour came, bringing with it, Mr..
Raymond, it was very little nearer ready
| than when she first commenced preparing
! the carrots. She ran as usual, however to
welcome her husband, whose first excama-
ton was, 'Why, how tired and heated you
| look, my dear" But she merely told him
that she had been supplying tie place Of
cook, without mentioning the little troubles
which she had undergone for his sake
Half an hour after the usual time, the un-
palatable meal was placed on the table.
Mrs. Raymond was in no mood to partake
tit. Mr.. Rly nond managed to swallow
q cup of tea and few mouthsful Of bread
bat unntentionaiy made very dry face,
which did not escape the observation Of his
poor wife.
care you sure you measured the exact
al.