Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1870-04-08

with the countless details of kitchen work
half as skilfully and cheerfully as you do.
1 think you will conquer this difficulty in
time
ain time, if everr responded ungra-
ciously. 81 hope there will be no bread
making in eternity"
lie looked at me in surprise for mo-
ment but he did not reply. Tho marked
irrevercnce of my language affected hin
painfully; but he saw that l was in ~
reckless mood to be reasoned with
After he had gone to his study sat down
to think. 1 felt wicked and unhappy
knew 1 had spoken unkindly and ungen-
erously TO my husband, whose forbear""es
and gentleness, amid the inconvenic -,
caused by my incompetency, had so oh ,t
excited my gratitude. Alas, that 80 M
misery could result from the want OF " iO'''
of good bread.
A sudden resolve inspired me. Wltnou'
waiting to clear away tho breakfast thlngs'
went to kind old lady in the nelghpor-
hood, and, after confossing my ignorance,
begged to be initiated into tho mysteries of
breadmaking.
"There is no trouble" said the old lady,
"if you have good yeast"
"But I have tried yeast, and my bread
soured."
"You let it stand too long. 1t must be
put in the pans as soon as it is light, and
then stand till it begins to come up again"
"But where can I get good yeast?"
"At the bakery. get mine there. You
can't help having good bread if the yeast
is right. Only be sure to bake it soon
enough"
was soon on my way to the bakery, a
mile distant. The fresh air and pleasant
sunlight soon had their usual genial influ-
ence upon me, and began to get back my
lost courage and cheerfulness.
"After ALL" 1 said to myself 81 must
succeed if persevere. am not naturally
dull, and will learn to make good bread
if it takes me year"
procured pint of yeast and fastened
home with my treasure. l determined
that the "hoisting" element should not be
lacking in quantity; so I put into the flour
all the yeast 1 had bought, only adding a
cup of milk to moisten it sufficiently. 1t
smelt very strongly of hops, but 1 thought
that would bake out.
had scarcely placed it IN a warm corner
by the stove to rise, when 1 recollected
Mrs. Lees caution about baking it in time
to prevent its souring.
81 must run no risk ofthat at all events"
1 said. II am sure there is yeast enough
in it to raise it if 1 bake it directly. 1t can
rise in the oven to be sure. Dear me how
green it looks! But it will come all right
in the baking dare say.
SO without further delay, / placed it in
the oven. would not if l could describe
its appearance when it came out. l did
not wait to test its quality, but threw it, al
most Kissing hot, into that long suffering
ditch. l am afraid it is there now. 1t is
many years since I left the place, but 1 Of
ten fancy half dozen ducks hard at work
upon it.
I went back to the house, and for the
first time, sat down to have a hearty cry
ing SPELL 1t was no genteel sniffle, with
just tears enough to add lustre to my eyes ;
but a downright sobbing, that would haze
done credit to any whipped youngster of
ten. 1 was utterly discouraged In this
condition my husband found me, when he
came down to dinner. There was no din
ner cooked, and the breakfast table stood
Just as we had left it,
At first he looked much alarmed, but he
soon comprehended the state of affairs
Then he came and sat down by me, and
drew my head from the hard table upon
which it had rested, to his shoulder. How
soothingly and encouragingly he talked TO
me! He seemed to have quite forgotten
my provoking language to himself and to
be only anxious to comfort me.
After long time I told him the sad ex-
perience Of the morning, the long fatig-
uing walk, the attempt to obtain instruc-
ton, and the hopeless result. 1t was any
thing but funny story to me, but | felt
him trembling as l proceeded, and when l
concluded with the amiable wish that those
| ducks might be choked to death if they ev-
or brought that bread up to the light of day,
he broke out into fit Of laughter such as
had never seen him indulge in. 1t was a
long time before he was sober enough to
| speak.
81 think Hattie" he said at last, "that
you have at least taken one step in the
right direction"
"IIow?"
"Why, after confidng in old Mrs. Lee
it will not now be difficult to tell her o
your failure and to ask for the privilege o
mixing few loaves under her direction
You will easily get the art in this way, anC
she is too kind to care for the trouble"
''To be sure, Frank. 1 wonder did no
think of that. l will try very hard, anC
you shall have housekeeper YETI
"And you will not sigh for convent
IIattie?"
"Ah, Frank, it is fortunate that have
considerate husband Everybody woul,
not forgive such n temper as l exhibited
this morning."
We extemporized lunch TO serve for
dinner, and then again l set off to visit Mrs
Lee. At last learned to make bread
l could fill many pages with such dole
full remiscences, and should be willing t
do. so if could convince one young girl G
the importance of practical househol
knowledge, or make her understand no,
much of the grace and comfort of a hom
depends upon the domestic habits of il
mistress.
But will only indulge my vanity b
stating what is really true, that can no,
cook dinner, clear-starch and iron, pre-
serve and pickle, knit stockings and dar
them, all in uneXceptional style. If an
one doubts it, let him or her come and pa,
a week at the pretty parsonage in the rur,
village of Lanswood.-Lddies Repository
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n CHILD I.N' COURT.