The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1861-08-07
Amnsiug Stnry
HOW TOM ANDI
KEPT HOUSE.

privacy of our room, wondered how q
family of only three persons could
make so much work, and. why our
landlady should on some particular
days be kept on Der feet from morn
ing till night. Although we could
appreciate the clear coffee, the tender
steak, and the light biscuits that were
placed before US, yet We thought Il
household duties deVolVed upon ms,
we could perform them in half the
time and not make SO much fuss about
it either, and we had more than once
freely expressed our opinion as to the
manner with which household affairs
should be treated but the merry
twinkle in the eye of our good-natured
landlady, and the oft repeated ex-
preston "a mans work is from sun
to sun, but woman's work is never
done,'' did not convince rs, and old
batchelor-like we began to think OF a
home of our own, where we could
have the privileges, Of trying our hand
at the culinary business-pro Vided
Mrs Somebody was willing.
One evening as we sat down to the
table, our landlady informed US that
she had been called ont of town to a
sick friend, and as she expected to be
absent few days she would try and
fnd some one to take charge of the
house and its occupants Tom and |
protested against this unnecessary
trouble, for was not this the opportu-
nifty we had long wished for? We
were large enough to take care of our
selves and she need have no fears on
oar account. After much entreaty
on our part, and Directing on the la
dy's side, consent was at last won for
us to act for ourselves, and after
showing US the barrels, frkins and
boxes containing the ingredients used
in cooking, and delivering the keys
to store-roUm and closets, our landla-
dy babe us goodbye, with a wish
that we might have pleasant, as well
az profitable time.
The anticipated baking of the NOR
row possessed for US more charm than
did ever box of marbles ia our boy
hood days. That evening we read all
the recipes contained in the cook book
from making bread to frosted we'd
ding-cake, and in our own eonceit,
thought we,were wise enough to dc
anything. The next morning we
made visit to the closet to see what
provisions were left for the day-but
alas we were forcibly reminded Of
the old nursery song, " Old mother
Hubbard went tothe cupboard" &c,
but instead of finding it bare, we found
proof sufficient of midnight reyel,
and we both exclaimed,
The rats p
It,was arranged that Tom should
kindle the fire and make the coffee,
while mixed the bread and laid the
table tying on an apron to keep my
bre-uo, pants clean, / went to work;
the -four was sifted but what next
the cook book was consulted a
little saleratus, yeast, and salt accor-
ding to your judgement" Tom, +"
says !, what does this mean, salt
according to your judgement p"
Why, don't you know ? a cupful
of cnorse thought you knew how
to make bread !" and Tom blew into
the stove till bis face might have been
called celestial red " / went to
the stove and found the hampers
were closed. Il must say, Tom,
that If you are as long kindling fame
in q lady's heart, as you have been in
this stove, your future prospects ere
not aattering. ! thought you knew
how to make a fre?" Ny bread had
been in the oven about an hour, and
although | had looked at it, and
turnsd 1t around, it looked as fat as