The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-06-26

and Mr.. Keith, after slamming the
door-as men are apt to do when out
of temper-returned to the kitchen:
The fire was out and the room deci
dedly smoky.
"I'll go down cellar and bring up
some coal, said he, and started brisk
ly down the stairs. On the second
step he put his foot through a rip in
his dress skirt-stumbled and fell to
the cellar - smashing basket
of eggs, and knocking over a shelf
loaded with pans of milk,
Deuce take it'll exclaimed he.
scrambling to his feet and rubbing his
head, " how do the women manage
with these long dresses? / shall break
my neck with this set.
The fire made again, Mr.. Keith be-
thought him of dinner. He looked at
his time piece; it was one o'clock.
Almost time for callers. What should
he have for dinner? He had heard
his wife say that rice pudding and
boiled potatoes and broiled steak.
He filed the basin with rice, stirred
in a little sugar, dropped in an egg
and set the vessel into the oven. The
potatoes he washed in soapsuds that
they certainly might be clean, and put
them into the teakettle that they
might boil quicker.
The steam was frizzling in the fry
ing pan, and he was proceeding to set
the table when. the bell rang. s.
He caught up the pan from the fire
to keep it from burning rand made
haste to the front door. Then he re-
membered it would not be just the
thing to go to the front door with a
frying pan in his hand, so he deposit
ed it on the parlor sofa, and an
swered the ring.
Mrs. Nudge was on the steps.
dressed in her best.
Yes, | dare say stammered
Keith, my wife is absent, and I am
playing Bridget Walk in.
Mrs. Nudge sailed into the parlor,
which was darkened to exclude the
sun, and without stopping to look at
her seat, sunk into the frying pan on
the sofa.
Jupiterl'' cried Mr.. Keith, you
have done it now I"
Mrs. Nudge sprang up; the grease
dripping from the silk on the carpet.
Her face grew dark. She was tempted
to say something cutting, but managed
to control herself; bowed haughtily.
and swept out of the house.
Keith returned to the kitchen a
little crestfallen, for Mrs. Nudge was
lady before whom he desired to APP
pear particularly we'll
There was tremendous cracking in
the oven He thought of his pud-
ding and looked in. The burnt rice
had hoped all over the oven; the
after his potatoes only to ma them
boiled to a perfect jelly.
And just as he made the discovery,
there was sharp peal at the door
bell. sdw
Creationl there that abominable
bell again. / wish folks would stay
at home. I'll lock all the doors and
cut all the bell wires after to-day"
At the door he found Mr.. and Mrs.
Fidget and their children. u
My dear Mr. Keith, now do you
do?" cried Mrs. Fidget. !" We are in
town, and just thought we'd stop into
dinner. Where is Mrs Keith?"
She's gone away, said Keith, rue
fully, wondering what he should feed
on: $ walk in, do, am the house
keeper to-day"
Yes, so [ should Judge. But of
course you make a splendid one /
remember you used to be telling Mrs.
Keith and myself how very easy
housekeeping must be. 1t must be
mere play to you. Don't put yourself
out, [ beg
Put myself out, indeed" cried
Keith, retreating to the kitchen
Good gracious, what shall / do I'd
give a hundred dollars if Mary was
only here. Where shall | begin?"
He drew out the table and sat it
without any cloth; then took off the
plates and put on cloth, and the very
one he had wiped the dishes on. The
task completed, he put on some more
potatoes and some more steak burned
t the steak to Undertook off his po-
tatoes when he did his meat, and put
all upon the table. There was loaf
of bakers bread in the cupboard; he
paraded that and called his guests to
| dinner.
| A quisical smile spread over Mrs
| Fidget's face atthe sight of the repast
Keith was in cold perspiration.
Ma, my plates all greasy, and so g
my knife [ can't eat on dirty dishes, J"
cried little Johnny Fidget.
And my fork is wet all over with
water that's dropping off the table
cloth; and my later amt half billed, =
cried little Jane Fidget.
A slight noise in the kitchen drew
the attention of Mr.. Keith.
"Jupiterl" cried he, IF Mrs. o.
Flaherty's dog amt making off with
my steak.
He jumped from the table and start
ed in hot pursuit. The dog made the