The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-11-17

would be preposterous for any one to
remain, just TO keep the house fol
me!
: s.He thinks he can cook as well as
any of us, and, Of course, he knows
what he can do," she said, with a
-dreH lock at Anna. Their scruples
were overcome at last, and the next
day had the satisfaction of assisting
them into the stage coach, ON their
way 30 the railroad, ten miles away,
no For a day or two 1 enjoyed my sot
distant bachelors hall immensely.
There was no necessity of cooking
anything but meat, potatoes, tea and
coffee, and 1 succeeded admirably.
The steak was rather dry and tough,
from and old poor animal undoubt-
edly. And my first cup of tea was
decidedly bad. l could not imagine
why for put in just the specified
quantity-I was particular to ascer-
tain the measures of tea and coffee
and boiled it all the time my potatoes
were baking. Still it was bitter,
dark and astringent, instead of the
fragrant, amber-colored beverage, my
mother usually placed before me.
But half the quantity was an improve
ment, and 1 prided myself on my
economy. ss
The coffee was bitter until the third
morning, when l put in stale egg
by mistake; but that was no loss, as ]
told myself, forit would learn me to
be more careful in future, and, ac-
cordingly, examined each one care
fully.
One, morning I resolved to have
some fried for breakfast, and the first
one, l took up, having a suspicious
look, to test it, / shook it near my ear,
when pop went the abominable thing,
and ear, beard and mouth were
sprinkled with the unfragrant liquid.
Taught l can smell it yet! But that
was, not all, for stepping back to reach
the hand basin, 1 trod on Jenny's cal
Il wonder if cats are possessed of an
evil spirit 2-and to save the squal-
ling brute hurriedly raised my foot.
and planted it square in the egg bas-
ket, tangled the. other in the handle
and measured five feet ten inches on
the kitchen floor, to the horror of the
wretched cat, that fled, splitting and
squalling, to the garret, satisfied, nc
doubt, with what she had done.
Kicked the basket from my feet,
and should not be willing to swear
that did not use my feet more than
was necessary for that purpose.
Good and bad eggs were unmistak-
ingly mixed now, and 1 threw the
Shiny mass out of doors, with decid-
ed antipathy to eggs for breakfast.
The next day some evil genious
must have whispered me to cook
some beans. They viii be SO. con
venient thought. This cooking ev.
erv meal is bore.
I After a long search I found the
sack that contained them, and turn
ing out two quarts, perhaps, washed
and drained them, and then selecting
a nice piece of salt pork, placed il
over them in a pan, and put them in
the oven to bake. But, as 1 have
since learned. dry beans and salt pork
have no affinity, and the more ! cook
ed them the harder they became, il
such a thing were possible. The
pork sputtered and snapped, but the
beans remained small and shiny as al
first. Two, three hours were given
them, and then 1 took them from the
oven to make a diagnosis of the case.
But one thickness of cloth is not
enough between the hand and smok-
ing hot metal at least; such is my
judgment; and coming to that con-
ciusion before I reached the table, let
go, and they came rafting to the floor
like hail-stones, giving map OF
Greece (greaee] not dewn in any geo.
graphy, ancient OF modern. Blowing
my blistered fingers, at intervals,
shoveled the bewitched things into
the back yard, feryently hoping they
would not take root and produce q
second crop, obstinate as themselves.
Butt must have something besides
meat and potatoes the bread was all
consumed, and 7 was becoming des-
perate. Z Some corn bread! yes ]
could call the recipe! 1 found the
meal, turned on the scalding water
added the other ingredients, and soon
had brown loaf, tempting to the eye
at least. But soon found that beau
ty was its principal charm. If it did
not " turn to ashes on the lips" it did
something much coarser; and there
was an uncooked taste about it decid.
edly unpleasant. The few mouthfuls
managed to swallow scratched my
throat so numerically that 1 wa
fearful of.some mortal disease having
its seat in that part; but careful ex
animation relieved my fears. And
may as well state here that my unfor
tunate cake was made of some coarse
unsifted meal my, careful mother hat
reserved for the chickens. i
I did not like corn bread, that wa
certain !; but could try some biscuit
Accordingly, substituting flour fol
meal, added the rest, hot water ant
all. But, shade of Tantalas 1t wa
neither batter nor dough, and adhered
to everything it touched. I brok,
the mixing spoon in trying to stir it
plastered my hands in the. endeavo
to-, remove the broken spoon-ani
dropped the rolling pin on my mos
thrifty corn. .r.-- q.' ..E....t..s..
I just then the door bell rang, ant
forgetting all but my profession,
brushed the hair off my forehead will