The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-08-20
Select Storm.
Mrs. MeIyilIe's Housekeeping.

What a pity it is that people arc
obliged to eat and drink this hot weather,
and that the abominable practice entails
upon somebody the necessity Of cooking!
This standing over hot stove in the
middle Of July, with the thermometer
50 degrees in the shade, is ruinous to
white muslin dresses and flowing ringIcts.
Now GLOVE in cottage" would be
quite reasonable thing if it wasn't for
the cooking; but with the existing state
of circumstances, it is perfectly absurd
to talk of That is, if anybody has a
spark of romance in his composition -
Young people, who talk so beautifully
and scutimcntaIy about living on smiles
and kisses, would be clad before the
close of weeks subsistence on such
fare, to set eyes land teeth, too,) on
beofstcak and accomplishments.
We know we shall be rated vulgar to
mention such possibility, but so long
as it is the truth, what care We! just
nothing-so set us down as low, coMm0n
mediocre, Or whatever pleases you best.
We give you carte Jianche.
Our friend, Martha Melville, commen-
ced housekeeping with the rosicst Of all
rosy imaeinaions. If we were writing
as she exists now, we would have written
her name .Hattie, but as we are speaking
of her half u dozen years ago, we must
present her to our readers acquaintance
as plain Martha, hoping she'll excuse
us for so doing. Martha married OTIS
the firm conviction for pure loye-noth
ing more, nothing less
George Melville was young lawyer
in the little village of Thirlow, and his
clients with their fees, being among the
things which were yet to cone, he was
obliged to commence business ON a some
what limited scale. Like an honest
lawyer, however, as he was, @ he cy-
planned the matter to Martha beforehand,
and she, with all the ardent devotion of
a young lady Of seventeen, expressed her
willingness to follow him into the lowest
jungle in Africa, or to the summit of the
1allest iceberg upon which the eye of the
late lamentcd Kane ever rested! But
as George required no such sacrifice, she
was obliged to satisfy her longings for
matrimony by retiring, on her marriage,
to little five roomed cottage, half
hidden from the public road by two large
chestnut trees. Roses-thosc necessary
auxiliaries to love in a cottaee-there
were none, but Martha cherished the
idea of planting some at no very distant
day.
They kept no servants-frstly, because
Martha said it would be so delightful to
work for Georgc-and there would be
no prying, unsympathizing eyes to
witness their tender little teie-a-ieteS.-
Secondly, because George could not
afford the expense Of q " help"
Well, one Monday morning, about a
week after their removal to their new
house, Martha found her lardcr (Which
had been amply supplied with cooked
edibles-throug her fond mothers care, }
nearly empty. George wanted his
breakfast in a hurry, as there was a
prospect of a lawsuit between John Smith
and his nearest ncighbor, John Brown,
and Georges chance of becoming Mr..
Browns counsel was promising, if the
thing could be made to 90 on.
There was bread TO bake, coffee to
concoct, table to set, floor to sweep, and
her toilet to make for Martha could not
think of appearing at the breakfast table
without her muslin piegneor and tuIle
head-dress. After she was dull y attired
in these becoming habiliments, she com
menced preparations. The first dash at
the stove, left spot black as ink upon
her lily arm, and smearcd the spotless
sleeve Of her elaborate morning dress
When the mischief had been as nearly
rcmedied as possible, Martha turned her
attention to bread making. Make bread
that was easy enough, certainly, she said
to herself; but how was it done sThe
Family Housewife was hunted up, and
George deputcd to read the prescription.
Gone pound of -four, sweet milk enough
to knead, two table spoonsful Of cream
OF tartar and a little salt"
Very good that was but little to do,
so Martha forthwith mixed the required
ingredients, with the exception of salt
"George, my love, how much is q
little salt ?"
"Wcll, hardly know, my dear a gill
or so, | should think, would be sufi-
Gent"
A gill, or so, was added by the obedicn
Martha, and the bread committed to the
oven.
George, won't you just put in little
wood The FIRE is getting low, "-ant