Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-11-26

'In some of the closets guess !"
Susv would certainly have tainted could
she have seen the overhauing Of her neatly |
arranged closets that followed.
"Thirr" Minnie dragged forth pot large |
enough to boil about twenty pounds of meat |
in.
eyes"
In they went unwashed.
Hot water or cold ,"
Either"
" All right, that's done"
"Now the asparagus. How do you fxit ?"
81 wonder if you roast mutton in this
thing" said George, holding up very large
pudding dish
yes" George determined to find book
on cookery, written by man, the very next
day.
you boil asparagus, don't you," George
asked Minnie.
eyes; here's tin thing that's long and
shallow; l guess that's for such things" And
a dripping pan came forth to sight from the
closet.
The asparagus fitted it like charm, as
both men declared, and water was added and
got on the range.
The mutton next went on the pudding dish,
into the oven.
"Come let's 60 up stairs again, it's fear
luIll not ucft,
'EBut the dinner
ooh, that's got nothing to do but cook till
three o'clock"
ooh, George, here's the potatoes !"
Another pot was produced, and the pota-
toes with about two gallons of water to the
half peck Of Murphies put on The fire.
Smoking, chatting, reading, and little
practice on the violin filed up the morning,
though George declared it was horrid SLOW"
and Minnie wondered what on earth women
did with themselves.
Half-past two brought home three hungry
men to dinner.
Leaving the cooks to "dsh up" they all
adjourned to the parlor to cool themselves.
That it was rather dusty there was not no
ticed. Jenny had made the beds before she
left, but busting the parlor was Susy's work,
and her early start had prevented her from
doing it that morning.
George, "-Minnie's voice was very dole
full.
"What?"
The fires out -
"Out?"
Il wonder if anything's cooked!"
"The asparagus is burnt fast to the pan"
/" So is the meat"
"The potatoes?"
the water"
"These peas are all mushy, Minnie !"
"Punctuality is the spirit of dinner"
cried Joe from the parlor, its ten minutes
past three o'clock"
600 set the table," growled George at
Minnie.
1t was unique in It's arrangement, that ia
BILE, as the gentlemen sat down to dinner.
The meat figured on an enormous dish, with
an ocean of wlite china surrounding its sunk
en- proportions. The potatoes in little Jumps,
unsknned, were piled in fruit dish the
green mush which Minnie had with infinite
difficulty fished from the big meat pot, was
served on a red earthen plate, and the stalks
of asparagus were in the salad bowl. The
table cloth was awry and the napkins were
omitted altooether from the table.
"Where's the gravy ?" was Joes first ques-
ton.
"There wasn't any"
''The meats burned"
.sIts stone cold" cried one voice
"What's this ?" said third digging into
a pile of peas.
"Faugh :" followed the daring attempt to
eat some asparagus.
"Never mind" said Joe. "Rome wasn't
made in a day. Give us some bread and but
ter and pickles, George"
No, not pickles, preserves, George" said
Charley.
"Susy locked both up" cried Harry, laugh
ing. She declared woman put them up
and if we wanted them we must prepare them
ourselves.
Minnie produced the strawberries, and
some sugar, and the gentlemen declared they
had dined superbly.
"You fellows clear away" said Minnie ;
"we're tired"
"You wash up, don't you?" queried Joe.
eyes"
"Where's the water"
| 4" In the hydrant."
What do you wash 'em in ?'
"Pan, | guess"
Away went Joe on a voyage of investiga-
| ton and returned soon with dish full of
cold water The g leaving as Harry termed
the remains of their sumptuous repast, were
thrown from the window into Susys flower
| bed, and armed with a bar of soap and a fine
damask napkin, Joe began to wash up.
How the grease sticks! y
Perspiraton streaming from every pore,
| he rubbed manfully at the greasy plates and
| dishes, and if the water was cold, he certainly
| was not.
give wet my shirt 'front.'" Splash num-
| Der one.
Good for white pants! !" Splash number
| two.
THAT went into my eyes somebody wipe
| them; my hands are wet. Don't rub them
| out, Hall! !"
Come, some of you, wipe up!"
The table was cleared at last. Five damp,
greasy napkins, thrown into a corner of the
room, testified that the dishes were washed
and wiped The water followed the "leav-
| ings," and the quintette sat down to "cool
| off" Do cigars assist that operation
Spite of the superb dinner, five elmer
men" called, like Oliver Twist, for more
about seven o'clock.
whats for tea ?" Somebody started the
question.
"What's for tea? }" four voices echoed it.
Let's have coffee l can make coffee, F"
said George.
And a steak l can cook it," said Joe.
''Theres bread and BUTTER" said Harry.
George went for the steak; Minnie under
| took to make fire; Harry cut the bread :;
Joe set the table; Charley cleared the kitch-
| en-" by sweeping the pots and pans used at
dinner into closet washing being omitted
in the operation.
Minnie, blowing and putting, making the
| fire, was saluted with
| ''How it smokes"
| ''What ans the fire MINI"
Harry discovered the cause, pulled ont the
damper, and merry blaze repaid him. The
| coffee boiled, the steak spluttered in the pan,
and the men painted, perspired, whistled, and
| used improper language over the heat.
It was good supper, and, pllmg up the
dishes which it was too hot to wash, the
| Il, i 70 Jo,