The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-05-21

Come let's go up stairs again it's fear
fully hot down here, said George.
But the d,unerY
oh, that's cot nothing to do but tC
cook until three O'Clock.
'Oh, George, here's the potatoes :.
Another pot was procured, and the po
tatoes, with about two gallons of water tt
the half peck of Murphles, put on the fire
Smoking, chatting, reading, and a little
practice on the violin, filled up the morn
ing, though George declared it was hor
rid dull, and Minute wondered what Oh
earth women did with themselves.
Half past two brought home three hun
cry men to dinner.
Leaving the cooks to dish up,' they al
adjourned to the parIor to cool themselves
That it was dusty there. was not noticed
Jennie had made the beds before she left
but dusting the parlors was Susy's work
and her early start had prevented hel
from doing it.
George AIinnie's voice was rather
dolefu.
What
'The fire is out
Out!
i wonder if anything is cooked?
The asparagus is burnt fast to the pan
80 Is the meat :.
The potatoes !.
Broken all to pieces, floating about in
the water
The peas are all mushy, Minniep
'PunctuaIity is the soul of dinner,
cried Joe, from the parlor; it's ten min
utes past three
60 set the table, growlcd George.
1t was unique in its arrangements, thai
table, as the gentlemen sat down to dinner
The meat figured on an enormous dish
with ah ocean of white china surrounding
its shrunken proportions Tie potatoes
in little Jumps, unSkined were piled w
in fruit dish; the green mass which
Minnie had with infinite difficulty fsheC
from the meat pot, was served on rec
earthen plate, and the stalks of asparagus
were in the salad bowl The tabIe-clotf
was awry, and the napkins were omitted
altogether.
Where's the gravy?' was Joe's frs
question.
There wasn't any
The meat is burned cried one voice
Its stone cold, cried another.
What's this 2 said another, digging
into the pile of peas.
'Faugh! ! followed a daring attempt t.
eat some asparagus.
Never mind SAID Joe. Rome wa,
not built in Il day Give US some breaC
and butter, and pickles, George
No, not pickles, preserves, said Char
/ ley
'Susy locked both up, said Harry
laughing. She declared woman put
them up, and that if We wanted them VIZ
aust prepare them for ourselves.
Minnie produced the strawberries ant
some sugar, and the gentlemen declared
they had dined superbIy.
You fellows clear away said Minnie
were tired
You wash up, don't yon?' queried Joe
Yes
where's the water?'
In the hydrant'
wv hat do yon wash 'em in p
pan, | guess.
Away went Joe on voyage of iuves
tigatlon, aud returned soon with a tin dish
full of cold water. The 'leavings,' as
Harry termed the remains Of the sumptu-
Gus dinner, were thrown from the window
into Susy'S flower beds, and armed with
a bar of soap and fine danask table nap,
kin, Joe began to wash up
How the grease sticks =
Persplration streaming from every pore
be rubbed manfully at the greasy plates
and dishes, and if the water was Geld, he
certainly was not
1 have wet my shirt 'front.' Splash No.
Good for white pantsv Splash No. 2.
That went into my eyes; somebody
wipe them, my hands are wet. Don't rub
them out, Hal ?
The table was cleared at last. Five
damp, greasy napkins thrown into a cor.
ner of the room, testified that the dishes
were washed and wiped. The water fol.
lowed the leavings, and the quintet sat
down to cool off. (Do cigars assist that
operation ,
Spite of the superb dinner, five inner
men called, like Oliver Twist, for more
at about I O'Clock
whats for tea p Four voices echoed it.
Lets have coffee l can make coffee,
said George.
and steak I can cook it, cried Joe
There's bread and butter, said Harry
George went for the steak Minnie IN.
dertook to make the fire; Harry cut the
| brerd Joe set the table while Charley