The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-07-05

inward veXation.
Where are the children -
Gone to their grsndmama :, in York
vile, sir"
And what am to do for dinner ,"
Sure, sir. don't know"
: Here's pretty fix ~ grumbled Mr..
Nerdon to himself,as he stamped despair
ingly about the kitchen. And I've asked
Howard and Talboys to dine here at three
What demon has entered into Cathie i?
Why couldn't have held my tongue the
other night? should really like to
know what am to do.
Tie tore his hair in dire perplexity.
Polly :"
Sir ?'
What is there in the house for din
ner ?"
: There's a tongue, sir-anJ Goldfish
and a cabbach, | believe !"
Bring 'em in, Polly. and III cook
them myself. You boil tongue, don't
you?'
don't know, sir"
wish | had a cook book, groaned
Mr.. Verdon, in great tribulation. " Any.
how, you fry fish-and cabbage is very
good, boiled with butter. Fetch on the
frying pan, Polly, and bring lots of kind
ling. I'm afraid this Goldfish is little
tough and dry-confound the creature,
how it sticks to the pam Polly, you set
the table while | strip all the nice, big
cabbage leaves those little sprouts aren't
any use down the middle I'll send to the
bakers for an apple pie, guess | wouldn't
have Howard and Talboyisuppose we didn't
keep professed cook for any money. If
Cathc were only at home.
Mr.. Verdon dropped the cabbage
leaves one by one, meditatively into the
pot as he spoke.
Sure, sir :" interposed the staring
hand-maiden, "mi>-is always washes them
first"
" Washes 'em ?" ciaculated Mr.. Ner-
don
What's the use Of that when the pot
is half full Of water? But women always
go to work by the hardest way Give us
that tongue, Polly, and sharp knife, |
suppose the plaguy thing has got to be
skinned Halloo" !"
Mr.. Verdon uttered an agonizcd howl
as the knife slipped, naicting disagree
able cash on his hand He tied it up with
his pocket handkerchicfand went on with
his rather difficult job.
There he exclaimed triumphantly
jamming the tongue down among the cab
bage leaves, that's done. But Tn
afraid my fish is quite old, it doesn't fry
at all favorably. Perhaps ought to
grease the PAM
He took the fish out by the tail and
anoinIed the kissing pan liberably with
butter, then set the establishment on the
fire once more.
But Just as he was bending over the
the fire, his sleeves turned back, and his
countenance dripping with pcrspiration,
there was sudden Sbilation and an up
ward blaze; the butter had taken fire,
so had Mr.. Mr. Ncr,lon'- hair and shirt
sleeves.
Luckily he hadprcsence OF mind enough
to dip his face and arms instantan-
eously in the pail of water that stood in
the sink and at the moment that he
stood there Scorched and dripping, with
> singed hair and no coat, over the highly
favored ruins of the lucklcss Goldfish,
Polly threw the Kitchen door wide open
and announced :
Please sir, two gintomcn.
And Messrs. Howard and Talboys en-
tered, considerably surprised at the state
of things before them.
Halloo ~ exclaimed Mr.. 'ralboys.
Why, what's the matter Verdon ?''
queried Mr.. Howard. ." Not Il ease Of
spontaneous combustion, eh ?"
While Alexander scarlet and confused,
fumbled vainly for the linen cuffs, gar.
nished with gold sleeve-buttons, that had
f blazed into light cinders long ago.
"l-l-" he stammered Very stu
pid of the girl to bring you down here
Just came down for glass Of water
let me escort you up stairs
He preceded his guests mp the narrow
stairway, blissfnlly unaware of the ash.
besprinkled neither garments and sooty
countenance that gave his friends sach a
task to keep their countenances.
"Excuse me one minute gentlemen, he
, said growing hot all over as he caught a
: glimpse of himself in the parlor mirror
t and lodged out to renovate his toilet
mutterng to himself, What has become
, of Cathic? I'd give hundred dollar
note if she were here
As he issued once more from his room
soft familiar voice sounded on his ear
and his heart gave great bound of de
light Cathie had returned Yes, she
t had returned in very truth, and was il
5 in the paror at the instant talk ing to HI,
e friends.
: "Cathie :" he whispered, holding til,
5 door ajar; Cathie ?"
1 But she was too busy dcscanling on tn
n merits of some Pro. .Raphaelitc artist Il
pay any attention to her husbands husk
summons.
Il " It's burning, Cathie :" he whispered
It coming into the room, and gently witch
= ing her sleeve, smell the cabbag
p quite plainly
b But Cathie never stirred, nor broke OF
in her pretty, enthusiastic chatter
o think | ought to have CREASED tn
1t inside of that pot" Thought Mr.. Verdon
d Nothing but tongue and cabbage for din
e ner. And Howard boards at the Cos
n mopolitan, and 1alboys keeps Frenc
k cook. What will they think? Cathie,
e say, it's almost three o'clock -
II Dinners ready" calculated Mis-
" Polly, oStentaiiousy throwing open tn
1t door
Fl Dinner woS ready,as Mr.. lerdon ioun
TO his cost, ms he and Talboys lollowe
N Mrs. Nerdon and Mr.. Howard into tn
r dining room, where upon greasy table
is bic cloth, reposed the skinned tongu,
H. with one side nearly cacined, aud hand