The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-10-01

uephrleu' Hau Lrleu many Times tC
raise bread, but had not succeeded il
making any fit to appear on the table,
l had trife better success in making
milk biscuit, though never could guess
right rs to the amount of soda required
Sometimes they wero yellow enough to
be mistaken for nuggets of virgin gold
but oftener they had the appearance ol
having been hardened and compacted in a
cheese press. My husband pretended that
they had been passed through heavy roll
ers like those used in iron founderies.-
At first / tried to work the cold biscuit
into puddings and griddle cakes, but their
peculiar solidity frustrated all such at
tempts to economize. / had still one re-
source. There was wide ditch behind
the garden, and in its dark waters / bur-
led my biscuit out of my sight. Inex-
perienced girls should never commence
housekeeping with convenient ditch at
hand. But my troubles did not end here.
In an evil hour neighbor's hen hatched
a big brood of ducklings, which in due
time found their way to my cache of pro-
visions. The biscuit, so long in soak, had
now resurrection, and | remember watch
ing the poor fowls as they tried to divide
them with their strong bills.
"My dear, dear Hattie" said my hus-
band ono morning, after the usual toll of
breakfast was over, /" don't you think you
could learn TO make raised bread? 7"
II cannot tell; am quite discour.
aged"
"You have learned to cook so many
things in so short time," he went on en-
couragingly, "that am sure if you had
some one TO give you. a few hints about
the best method you would succeed ad-
mirably. Why don't you consult your
mother? She is n superior cook"
"You forgot, Frank, how we resented
it when my mother, sisters, and aunts,
and, in fact, all our friends, united in pro-
dieting our present perplexities. No, it
would be too mortifying to go home for
counsel in this matter Indeed, l am
ashamed to expose my ignorance by con-
sulting any one. / give all my visitors
bakers bread, and and they, having it
only occasionally, seem to like it."
"Suppose we try boarding, Hattie?"
awe cannot afford that; and besides,
we want home by ourselves. You wo'd
not be contented to give up our home lib
critics and privileges, Frank. If it were
not for the eternal bread question, we
should get little enjoyment out Of life {;
but comfort is now out Of the question.
| wish, Frank" l added, pettishly, that
you had married housekeeper and | had
gone into q convent"
His face flushed.
81 was not finding fault, Hattie. am
as ignorant as yourself, and ! am sure l
could not get along with the countless de-
tails of kitchen work half as skilfully and
cheerfully as you do. think you will
conquer this difficulty in time"
"In time, if ever" l responded un-
graciously. a hope there will be no
breadmaking in eternity"
He looked at ME in surprise for mo-
ment, but did not reply. The marked ir-
reverence of my language affected him
painfully; but he saw that l was in too
reckless n mood to be reasoned with.
After he had gono to his study I sat
down to think. felt wicked and unhap-
py. l knew had spoken unkindly and
ungenerously to my husband. Alas
that so much misery could result from the
want of good loaf Of bread!
A sudden resolve inspired me. With
out waiting to clear away the breakfast
things, l went 10 kind old lady in the
neighborhood, and, after confessing my
ignorance, begged to be initiated into the
mysteries Of bread making.
"There is no trouble" said the old Ia
dy, eff you have good yeast"
But | have tried yeast, and my bread
soured."
"You let il stand too long. 1t must
be put in the pans as soon as it is light,
and then stand ill it begins to come up
again"
But where can get good yeast"
AT the bakery. l get mine there
You can't help having good bread if the
yeast is right. Only be sure TO bake it
enough"
was soon on my way to the bakery,
mile distant. The fresh air and pleas
ant sunlight soon had their usual genial
influence upon me, and | began to get
back my courage and cheerfulness.
AFTER ALL" l said to myself, "I must
succeed if persevere. ! am not natu-
rally dull, and ,0iH learn to make good
bread, if it takes me year."
l procured pint Of yeast and hasten
cd home with my treasure. / determin-
ed that the "hoisting element should
not be lacking in quantity, so | put into
the -four all the yeast l had bought, on
ly adding a cup of milk to moisten it
sufficiently. 1t smelt very strong of hops,
but 1 thought that it would bake out.
/ had scarcely placed it in warm cor
ner by the stove TO rise, when l recollect-
ed Mrs. Lees caution about baking in
time to prevent its souring.
al must run no risk Of that, at all
.,p 7 .eo;d ct am snre there is