Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-01-19
SELECTED STORY
KATE'S ACCOMPLISHMENT


Really, Kate, you have succeeded very
well. Where my daughters are all SO truly
accomplished dare not draw comparisons
but may say to you. that I consider your
education perfect" And thus speaking,
Mrs. Lanark, a woman offveeand forty, and
the mother. Of three glown-up daughters,
lay back languidly in her easy-ohsir, and
gently waved her fan. 4 XaiIisr l9t8
Kate, the youngest Of the three daugh.
tiers, had just arisen from. the pianoforte,
where she had been showing TO- her parents
how much she had improVed ,npon her last
course She was nineteen years Of age,
and her form was of the pure female type
mot robust, nor yet fairy like, but after
the fashion Of those models which the old
Greeks used to adaRt IL fhs- E Aa7b.. e
Touching her FACET vas certaialv = good
looking face. To~cafl such face prsty
would s sSs1 tame and fat. Mrs. Lanark
thought Isabel and Bertha were both pretti-
er than Kate. while, NJ anarkswas.s eta
different opinion. However, upon one point
there was no dispute. The Judge awould
often say,-"WelI-my little Katie looks
GOOD, any bow v' And nobody had ever dis
puted him.
Isabel and Bertha were the other two,
both older than Kate, being aged, respect
lively, twenty-one and twenty-three. They
had graduated at very fashionable school,
and we're deemed very highly accomplished /;
and, moreover, they we're called beautiful.
Judge Lanark was the father of these
girls. He was man Of means, though not
Of large wealth. He had been successful
lawyer, and was now upon the Bench $ and
his SOCIAL position was of the very highest.
Governors had been among his clients, and
Senators looked to him for counsel and as
sistance. The Judge had reared two sons,
and sent them forth into active, useful life
but his daughters he had left to his wife
'Of course" Mrs. Lanark continued, af.
ter Kate had taken a seat near to her faith
er, "you do not play so we'll as your sisters
but it will come to you by practice. I think
may safely say that your list of necessary
accomplishments is full"
"Not quite" said Kate, with nod and
smile. s'There is one more accomplish.
ment which | am determined to add to my
list. 1 longed for it many times when
was at school; and am led to long for il
at many Of the places am forced to visit
must learn to cook"
"To whot 2" cried Mrs. Lanark.
"To cool; o. echoed Isabel and Bertha
in concert.
"Aye," added Kate. 81 shall not con
slider my womanly accomplishments com
plete until l can, with my own hands
make loaf of wheaton bread fit to set be
fore my father
The Judge caught his Kate by the hand
and cried ,-"Good p
Isabel and Bertha smiled derisiyely.-
Their looks plainly showed that they coIsid
cred the thing ridiculous.
Mrs. Lanark looked up in surprise ant
depreciation. 1t seemed a reflection upo1
her educational care of her daughters. Kat
saw the look, and abe speedily added
II do not mean loaf Of such soggy stut
as some of our friends make with cream of
tartar and saleratus, nor yet loaf of tn
puffy stuff that comes to US from the baker s
but mean loaf Of such bread as my owl
mother used to bake when | was little we
child"
Mrs. Lanark was Modified, but not con
verted.
All, Kate, times have changed since
was young"
''For the worse ~ muttered the Judge
But his wife did not notice him. She wen
on
"You had better leave the making Q
bread to the help in the kitchen. If eve
you have enough else to occupy your tim
without doing the work of your servnts.
eff ever I have home Of my own," sal
Kate, with mild decision, II am determin
ed that I will be able to superintend ever
part of it. My servants shall not be M
mistresses. No servant employed in m
household shall be able to look dopn upo
me. I will not be the slave, nor the victim
of my cook"
Good p cried the Judge, again. sc
t at it, Kate, and l will furnish the material
Waste dozen barrels of flour if necessary
: only bring me grand good loaf of bread
of your own making and baking, in th
end y
Mrs. Lanark still thought it foolish an
Isabel and Bertha characterized it as yer
childish and whimsical, They fancied ths
it smacked of the nursery and the play
room.
But Kate was earnest; and as her fathe
harked her m she carried the dav an