The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-10-21
5flistellanRoas Solutions.
MY EXPERIENCE AS A COOK.
By THE AUTHOR OF "nAHRYINa A FARMER

4 hIA1LlLN S6 az n VIVA
BIZ THE AUTHOR OF MARRYING a FARMER"
"Confound the trashy I exclaim-
ed, as threw down the newspaper l
had been reading, and took up a
medical work instead.
"Say, what's the matter now!'
sang my saucy sister Jenny, as she
picked up the offending paper and
laid it carefully in its appropriate
place.
aWhy, here is long story to
prove that men cannot cook"
"And can they?''
"What a question! OF course
they can, if they will bring their
minds down to such trifing employ
ment. Can your hands accomplish
anything that mine cannot?" and I
held up my ten digits, shaped and
colored like her own.
"But this writer-I have read the
story" she replied, ''makes out her
case from the ignorance of her hero,
not his incapacityw
Exactly! But how long would it
take man Of common sense and the
least observation to prepare a meal?
l am sure I could do so now, and
you know l am seldom in the kitch-
en-, and when am, my thoughts are
always on more important matters" :"
Jenny smiled demurely as she re-
piled
"Perhaps you could; but I must
go there now, Ior Amy has been
called away to-day, and it is her
week to help mamma, and mine in
the chambers; so I have double du-
ty, you see;" and she went out, leav-
ing me to wonder why authors would
write and editors publish such un-
reasonable stuff.
My mother was a pattern house
keeper, and since my fathers death
two years-had managed, with the
help of my two sisters, to do without
a servant, for our family Of four per-
sons. Our home was situated in
small village, where l was born,
where 1 was now practicing medi-
cine with tolerable success.
"This is delicious corn bread,
1 said, at the tea-table,
helping myself to a second square;
"did you make it, or did Jenny?"
"Jenny made it," she replied, with |
a glance of appreciation at my sis
ter. "She is learning very fast; 1
shall give her the pastry when her
next week comes around" |
80, ma!'there is no use talking |
about learning to cook to Edward;
he thinks a knowledge Of that en-
ployment comes naturally to all
boys as well as girls-and that he
could prepare a meal now, if he
would only bring his mind down to |
such trifing occupation"
"Very likely" was the reply; and
then turning to me she asked, show
would you make this corn bread you
relish so well?'
"The easiest thing in the world,
mother! First, 1 would take that |
SCARE board-("moulding board"
suggested Jenny;) "no matter for
the name, so long as l know its use"
replied; con that 1 should set
pan of meal, and to the meal should |
add some liquid to make it moist,
and then roll it out on the board |
and put it in a dripper, and into the
oven to bake. There, Miss Jenny,
what do you think nowP
"Patty-cake, patty-cake, bakers man,
So 1 will, master, as fast as I can;
Roll it, and prick it, and mark it with I,
And toss it in the oven for Tommy and me-"
recited the monkey. But my moth
er, in her gentle manner, gave me a
verbal recipe, then and there; and
being little nettled at my self-im
portant sister, 1 treasured it tena-
determined to show her, at
some future time, that conceit was
the mast prominent fault in her
character. A few days later, the
family received an invitation to a
double wedding, Of some cousins, in
an adjoining State. A week was
5he shortest time in which the trip
could be accomplished, and l could
not think Of leaving my patients so
Ong, but my mother and sisters
Gould 60, certainly!
But who will cook for your
ny mother asked.
Edward Cooper, Of course" l re
1lied. 'If he cannot cook enough
or one to eat, for one week, 1 have
greatly overrated his powers"
Mother and Anna strongly object
ID, and each insisted on remaining;
out Jenny-some punishment will
overtake that girl yet-declared
hat it would be preposterous for
my one to remain, just to keep the
house for me!
HE thinks he can cook as well
rs any of us, and, of course, he
knows what he can do" she said,
with a droil look at Anna. Their
were overcome at last, and
the next day had the satisfaction
Of assisting them into the stage
coach, on their way to the railroad,
ten miles away.
For a day or two enjoyed my sol
distant bachelors hall Immensely.
There was no necessity of cooking
anything but meat, potatoes, tea and |