Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-11-26
Mrs. Smiths Cheese.

Mrs. Smiths Cheese.
Mrs. Jones, being the newly married
wife of well-to-do young farmer. took it
into her pretty head one day that it would
be well for her to learn to make cheese.
and thereby astonish her Henry and the
world.
Now the whole ncighborhood, usually
at skies and scvcns on haliad dozen points,
were fully agreed on one. They all
allowed" that Mrs John Smith made the
best cheese OF any woman in the country.
Therefore TO Mrs John Smith did Mrs.
Jones determine to offer herself meekly
for instruction in the magic art.
People keep early hours At country
farmhouse, and Mrs. Jones having no
children to hinder her rapid steps from
kitchen to pantry and from pantry to bed
room, got her dinner out of the way, her
dishes washed, herself nicely dressed in
new pink gingham, set of by coquet-
tish ruflled white apron, before the great
eight-day clock in the corner struck two.
Down the hill and through the lawn she
tripped, her gypsy hat swinging from her
arm. to learn the mystery of making
cheese from Mrs. John Smith.
She found that lady's house easily
enough, because it was the only one
visible for halfa mile or more. Andthere
was no mistaking the person of the lady
herself, because she sat in the centre OF Il
great clcan-looking kitchen, with a cheese
press at the further end, and a basket Of
curd on the deal table by her sile.
Mrs. Jones explained her errand, and
sat rcycrently awaiting the reply.
"Want TO make cheese. eh?' said the
good old lady, cutting calmly away at her
ourd. well, its master job, can tell
you. Ny Hannah was just crazy 10 learn
when she was about your age, and was
going 10 be married Il should so like 10
make Il cheese Tor Dorcmus ma, said she.
Doremus was her husband. And she
made one. A pretty thing II was, too;
no more like Il cheese than my head Is.
Doremus couldn't eat it, and my Hannah
cried like good one, great girl rs she
was"
II suppose every one must learn, Mrs.
Smith," sa id Mrs Jones, blushing rs she
thought of "her Henry" and the cheese
she hoped to make for him. "How do
you begin? What do YOU do first?r
"Oh, law, child, you just take your tub,
and set it right in the middle of the floor,
like this. It's good long job, | can tell
you, and you'll be sick enough of it before
you get through. The first cheese ever
made, thought my mother, was just
about the wickedcst woman on the face
of the earth, because she kept me right ut
it till it was done. I'd Il great sight
rather play than work in them days, just
like any other gal"
"And what did she make you do first ?'
asked Mrs. Jones, thinking TO get the
needed information in the shape OF story.
il in no other way.
"Oh, law, just rs | told you. She
made me bring out the great cheese tub,
and set it right in the middle OF the floor.
And just as had got it there, in come
Young John Smith-him that | married
and he had hurt his eye chopping up in
the woods 10 fix the fences, SO the horses
couldn't jump out OF the pasture. His
eve was all tied up in a handkerchief, and
he couldn't see much to speak on out OF
the other, for first knew he walked right
over the tub, and down he went--ker-
slam. Twas scared halt out of my wits,
for really thought he had broken his
neck, but had to laugh for all that, just
as gals always will and he was so mad
that he picked himself up, and marched
out of the house rs straight as he could
go. There, says mother, You have lost
him now, Mirandyr And l really thought
| had, for week or more, when ne never
come nigh me. But he come round alter
all. and we were married; and a very
happy life we have had of it. take in one
thing and another"
I'm glad to hear it." said Mrs. Jones.
"What did you do when he fell over the
tub. Was there anything in itP Had you
put anything in it? Had you put anything
in?r
"Law, no! There hadn't been time,
when he come in and fell over it kcr
slam"
"And after he had gone. what did You
put into the tub then?"
"Law, me. thattub want good for much
after John Smith fell over it, ker Slam
Mother was mad enough when she looked