Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1870-10-06
My Experience as a Cook.
BY the Author of "Marrying a Farmer.

| SOlIOuilu luc lIdSu- L 6A
claimed, as l threw down the news
paper l had been reading, and tool
up a medical work instead.
"Say, what's the matter now?'
sang my saucy sister, Jenny, as sh,
picked up the offending paper anC
laid it carefully in its appropriate
Iplace.
'Why, here is a long story t.
prove that men cannot cook"
| "And can theyF'
| "What question! Of ceurs,
they can, if they Will bring thei
minds down to such trifling employ
ments. Can your hands accomplish
anything that mine cannotY' and
held up my ten digits, shaped anG
colored like her own.
s'But this writer-I have read the
story"-she replied, "makes out hel
case from the ignorance of her hero
not his incapacity!w --
Exactly! But how long would
it take a man of common sense and
the least observation, to learn to pre-
pare q meal? / am sure could dc
so now, and you know I am seldom
in the kitchen, and when 1 am, my
thoughts are always on more impor-
tant matters :.
| Jenny smiled demurely as she re-
piled .-..
Perhaps you could; but l must
go there now, for Anna has been
called away to-day, and it is her
week to help mamma, and mine in
the chambers; SO l have double
duty, you see;;" and she went out,
leaving me to wonder why authors
would write and editors publish such
unreasonable 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 with
out a servant, for our family of four
persons. Our home was situated in
small village, where l was born,
where l was now practicing medi-
cine with tolerable success.
''This is delicious corn bread,
mother" l said, at the tea-table,
helping myself to second square;
"did you make it, or did Jennyw
Jenny made It," she replied, with
4 glance Of appreciation at my sis
ter. "She is learning very fast; l
shall give her the pastry when her
next week comes around" rr
80, ma! there is no use talking
about learning to cook to Edward !;
he thinks 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 a trifling occupation"
every likely" was the reply; and
then turning to me, she asked, chow
would you make this corn bread you
relish so well?'' ..
"The easiest thing in the world,
mother! First, l would take that
square board" -("moulding board"
suggested Jenny;) "no matter for
the name, so long as 1 know it's
use," 1 replied; con that 1 should
set a 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 dripper, and
into the oven to bake. There, Miss
Jenny, what do you think nowP'
"Patty cake, patty cake, bakers man,
So will, master, as fast as can;
Roll it, and prick it, and mark it with T,
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 a little nettled at my self-im-
portant sister, / treasured it tena-
ciously, determined to show her, at
some future time, that conceit was
the most prominent fault in her
character. A few days later, the
family received an invitation to
double wedding, of some cousins, in
an adjoining State. A week was
the shortest time in which the trip
could be accomplished, and 1 could
not think of leaving my patients so
long; but my mother and sisters
could go, certainly!
'But who will cook for your" my
mother asked.
edward Cooper, of course" 1 re-
piled. 'If he cannot cook enough
for one to eat, for one week, 1 have
greatly overrated his powers"
Mother and Anna strongly OBJ
jected, and each insisted on remain
ing; but Jenny-some punishment
will overtake that girl yet-declared
that it would be preposterous for
any one to remain, just to keep the
house for me! -
''He thinks he can cook as we'll as
any Of us, and, of course, he knows
what he can do" she said, with a
droll look at Anna. Their scruples
were overcome at last, and the next
day l had the satisfaction of assist
ing them into the stage coach, on
their way to the railroad, ten miles
away.
For day or two 1 enjoyed my
sou distant bachelors hall immense
ly. There was no necessity for
cooking anything but meat, pota-
toes, tea and coffee, and I succeeded
admirably, The steak was rather
dry and tough, from an old or poor
animal, undoubtedly. And my first
cup of tea was decidedly bad. II
could not imagine why; for 1 put in
just the specified quantity was
particular to ascertain the measures
of tea and coffee-and boiled it all
the time my potatoes were baking.
Still it was bitter, dark and astrin-
gent, instead Of the fragrant, amber
colored beverage my mother usually
placed before me. But half the
quantity was an Improvement, and 1
prided myself on my economy.
The coffee was better until the
third morning, when l put in stale
egg by mistake; but that was no
loss, as told myself, for it would
learn me to be more careful in future, |
and, accordingly, 1 examined each
one carefully.
One morning, l resolved to have
some fried for breakfast, and he
first one took up, having a suspi-
cious look, to test it, ! shook it near
my ear, when pop went the abom-