The Kenosha telegraph and tribune. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1859-1860, 1859-08-25
MRS. MELVIN'S HOUSEKEEPING
By CLARA AUGUSTA.

/
| BIZ CLARA AUGUSTA.
| What pity it is that people are obliged to
eat and drink this hot weather, and that the
abominable practice entails upon somebody the
abcminabe necessity of cooking This stand
| ing over Il hot stove in the middle of August
with the thermometer at IS degrees in the shade
is really ruinous to white muslin dresses and
flowing ringlets.
Now " love in cottage" would be quite rea.
sonab'e thing, if it wasn't for the cooking, but
with the existing state of circumstances, is per.
fectly absurd to talk of it That is. if anybody
has a spark of romance in his composition
Young people who talk so beautifully and SEN
timentally about living on smiles and kis SEES
would be glad, before the close ola weeks sub.
sistence on such fareto set eyes, and teeth, too,
on beefsteak and accompaniment.
We know we shall be rated vulgar to mention
such possibility, bnt so long as it is the truth
what do we care? Just nothng-so set us
down low, common mediocre, or whatever
pleases you best. We give you lrtc blanche.
Our friend Martha Melville commenced house
keeping with the rosiestIof all rosy imaginations
If we were writing of her as she exists now, we
should have written her name Matte, but as we
are speaking of her half dozen years ago we
must present her to the readers acquaintance as
plain Martha, hoping she'll excuse us for so do
ing. Martha married Otis the firm conviction
for pure LovE-nothing more, nothing less
George Melville was young lawyer in the lit
tie village of Thirlow, and his clients with their
fees being among the things which are yet to
come, he was obliged to commence business on
a somewhat limited scale. Like an honest law
yer, however, as he was, (7) he explained the
matter to Martha beforehand, and she. with all
the ardent devotion of young lady of seven
teen, expressed hei willingness to follow him in
to the lowest jungle of Africa, or to the summit
OF the tallest iceberg upon which the eye of the
lamented Kane ever rested But, as George re-
quired no such sacrifice, she was obliged to sat-
lsty her longings for martyrdom by retiring, on
her marriage, to little fve-roomed cottage, half
hidden from the public road by two large chests
nut trees. Roses-thoSe necessary auxiliaries
to love in cottage-there were none. but Mar.
tina cherished the idea of planting some at no
very distant day.
They kept no servantsEfrstly, because Mar
tina said it would be so delightful to work for
George-and there would be no prying unsym-
pathzing eyes to witness their tender tete-a lese
Secondly, because George could not afford the
expense of an "Irisher"
Well, one Monday morning, about week af-
ter their removal to their new house. Martha
found her larder (Which had been amply sup
piled with cooked edibles-through her fond
mothers care) nearly empty. George wanted
his breakfast in hurry as there was prospect
of law suit between John Smith and his near
est neighbor, John Brown, and Georges chance
of becoming Mr.. Browns counsel was promis-
ing, if the thing could be made to go on
There was bread to bake, coffee to concSct
table to set floor to sweeps land her toilet to make
for Martha could not think Of appearing at the
breakfast table without her muslin peignoir, and
tuLe head-dress. After she was duly attired in
these becoming habiliments, she commenced pre-
paratl The first dash at the stove, left spot
black as ink upon her lily arm. and smeared the
spotless sleeve of her elaborate morning dress
When this mischief had been as nearly remedied
as possible, Martha turned her attention to the
bread making Make bread that was easy
enough, certainly, she said to herself but how
was 1t done 1.-THE Family Housewife was
hunted up, and George deputed to read the "pre-
scription."
Zone pound of flower, sweet milk enough to
knead, two table.spoontuls ofcream oftartar and
little salt" Very good there was but little
to do, SO Martha forthwith mixed tie required
ingredients, with the exception of the salt.
I" George, my love, how much is a little salt r.
swell, hardly know, my dear; gill or 80
should Think will be sufficient
A gill; so, added by the obedient Mar
tha, and the bread committed to the oven.
George, won't you just put in little wood?
The fire is getting Iow"-and Martha peered
suspicion at the black, smoking CRATES and the
sizzling tea-kettle.
Now for the coffee ! Let's see, George you
like it strong, don't you ~
(" Yes, love-"
Well, the receipt says-a common-sized cof-
fee cup full for two persons, but this is eco
nomica cook book, you know, it isn't likely
thdb w DO SVO0' IA NOdUlO HudAtApJi
to make sure !"
The little urn received about pint offragrant
Java, and after adding the water, Martha laid
the table, and called her husband to breakfast
An inspection of the bread proved it fat-if not
stale and Improbable, as was evidence by
Georges wry face.
Goodness, Martha did you mean to make
pickles of us 2" calculated the discounted man
dropping morsel of the "staff of life" from his
half-opened mouth, upon the plate g salter than
Lots wife! ~
my DEAR you told me how much to put in, 1
only used what you saba gill or SOL"
"Wel, well; never mind dearest You'll
do better next time, 1 dare say. How about the
ocffee 7"
Georges hopeful smile vanished, and his brow
darkened with the first sip, (no mans love ever
withstood bad coffee.)
stronger than dye-stuffi My dear Martha
why did you make it SO strong7"
You said you liked it so, dear George. =
Martha's fortitude was beginning to give way
! In turn.