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


of the parlor and overlook me. And ii
you will get some peas and lettuce, and
other vegetables, shall get up famous
dinner"
A half smile fitted across my face. He
had heard of famous dinners before.
"Well, we must do our best. The cars
will not arrive till two o'clock, so there
will be plenty OF time both for marketing
and cooking.
as Mr.. Knowles very particularly" 1
asked timidly. "Will he notice if things
go just a little wrong2"
perhaps not. But he will have natural
curiosity in regard to the capabilities of
his friends wife. But think we shall do
very WE'LL"
81 am sure we SHALL" was the encourage
ing response, inspired by bright idea that
suddenly occurred to me. In accordance
with it, my husband had no sooner started
for the market, than I, slipping on my hat
and shawl, started on long walk through
the fields and woods. 1 was going to con-
suit my mother about the dinner. L sur
prisoL her by bursting into the dining
room quite out of breath from my hurried
walk, Just as the family were sitting down
to a late breakfast.
as it Hattie or her ghost?" asked my
father, getting up to welcome me. "If my
memory serves me, our Hattie used to be
a late riser"
housekeeping improves me, papa"
Don't wait to talk" said mamma. "Tho
coffee will be spoiled Take off your bon
net Hattie, while I get another cup and
plate, and we will talk afterward."
"No, thank you. I cannot stop min
ute.n Mamma opened her eyes in astonish-
ment.
"You are not going to walk directly back
again? Let me take your shawl?"
"But must go. We are going to have
company to dnner-Frank' chum-and l
want to know how long to boil potatoes
and other
Such a chorus of laughter as interrupted
mel
"Why my dear child, boil them till they
are done"
81 know as much as that mamma; but
when must l begin them to have them done
at tho right time? l have peas to cook,
and beefsteak, and l ought to make pud
ding. o dear!"
They all laughed again, as much at my
distressed looks as at my ignorance. did
not join them indeed, it was as much as l
could do to keep back my tears.
"It is not Hattie's fault that she knows
so little about cooking" at last said my IA
ther kindly. "You must not mind our
laughing at you, my dear. l have been
longing to ask what you put in that mince
pie that eat at your table last Sunday? 1
have tasted it ever since. But l will not
tease you, for / have no doubt you will, in
time, be as good a cook as your mother.
And now as it regards the present diff
Guilty." he went on pleasantly,.I have
plan to propose. 1 will put the harness on
old Fanny, and you, mother can take the
poor child home and stay to suporntend
the dinner"
Mamma always assents to papa's plans
so my load of responsibility was gone at
once. 1t was pleasant TO see the look of re-
lief on my husbands face as we drove up
to the door. 81 have been searching ev-
erywhere for you," he said, land 1 could
almost find it in my heart to scold you for
causing me such anxiety; but your safe
return satisfies me. Especially as your re-
turn has brought your mother to aid us in
our extremity. But Hattie, 1 must insist
on YOUR having no more private walks"
"Ah, sir, if you had known you would
have forbidden it, That would have spoil
ed ALL"
have no doubt that Mr.. Knowles left lis
that day, under the impression that my
husband had secured a matrimonial prize.
But felt like hypocrite for weeks after
ward.
1t came to pass, after many days, that
baE er's bread became uncomfortable. tried
to believe in it, praised and tasted it but
it would not do. It's glory had departed.
I began heartily to approve of Pharaoh s
course in lifting the head of the chief baker
| from off his shoulders and hanging him
upon a tree but l saw no way out of my
| troubles. 1 had tried many times to raise
bread, but had not succeeded in making
any fit to appear on the table. had tri-
fle better success in making some milk
| biscuit, though l could never guess right
in regard to the amount of soda required.
Sometimes they were yellow enough to be
|
oftener they had the appearance of having
been hardened and compacted in cheese
press. My husband pretended that they
were passed through heavy rollers, like
those used in iron foundries At first
tried to work the cold biscuit into pud-
dings and griddle-cakes, but their peculiar
solidity frustrated all such attempts to
economize. But when the case appeared
perfectly hopeless, had still one resource.
There was wide ditch behind the garden,
and in its dark waters buried my biscuit
out of my sight. inexperienced girls
should never Commence housek coping
without convenient ditch at hand. But
my troubles did not end here. In an evil
hour a neighbor's hen hatched big brood
of ducklings, which in due time, found
their way to my cache of provisions. The
biscuit, so long in soak, now had resur-
rection, and remember watching the poor
fowls as they vainly tried to divide them
with their strong bills.
"My dear Hattie" said my husband one
m orning after the usual toll of breakfast
was over, "don't you think you could learr
to make raised bread2"
''I cannot tell am quite discouraged
"You have learned to cook so many
things in so short time,' he went on en-
couragingly, "that l am sure if you hac
some one to give you few hints about tn
best method you would succeed admirably
Why do you not consult your mother
She is a superior cook"
"You forget Frank, how we resented
when my mother and sisters and aunt
and, in fact, all our friends, united in pre-
dieting our present perplexities. No,
would be too mortifying to go homo 70
, counsel in this matter. Indeed am asham
} ed to expose my ignorance by consulting
any one. 1 give all my visitors baker
t bread, and they, having it only occasional
ly seem TO like it,"
) "Suppose we try boarding, Halter"
a "We cannot afford that and besides, W