Weekly Trinity journal., 1872-11-23
COOKING A DINNER.

! heard ota young lady the other day
up in Middle Tennessee, who, the river
men say has taken another chute. The
story told about her did my heart good,
and for the comfort of other half->tarved
dyepepticS like myself, whose tardy sus-
tenation is effected by tried chicken,
soggy biscuits, greasy hash and sole
leather tritters, I'll relate it. For years
past, aS mere matter OF f0rm-Some.
thing handed down from remote antiqui-
ty-the officers of the county fair he'd in
the neighborhood where this Young lady
lived have been in the habit OF offering n
premium to the lady (unmarried) cook
ing the best dinner. 1t was dead letter.
Nobndy had contested ior the premium
within the memory of the oldest inhabi-
tant. This year, however, the young
lady of whom | am speaking determined
to compete for the prize. Her name-I
wish l could immortulize twas Kate
Janaway. The fair men set up stove
for her, stretched a canvas to shield her
from the sun, and about IL o'clock of
the hast day she went to work. The mat
ter had been talked about by every one
in the ncighborhood, and curiosity was
on tip toe. A crowd collected around
the the place where the stove was sent up
early in the morning, and kept increasing
but when Miss Kate herself, buxom,
handsome girl of nineteen, daughter OF
the cX Mayor of the town, appeared ON
the ground, and, putting ON II white
apron and rolling up her sleeves, com
menced operations, all other attractions
were nothing. Every one was eager to
see 50 novel II sight. There was tree
near by which soon became black with
spectators, who had climbed up to get n
better view. The brunche. were, finally,
so buidenod that one by one they broke,
precipitating those upon them to the
ground, until only one man was left in
the tree. lie sat in lofty fork, with
eyes riveted on the scene below. No
amount of persuasion by those beneath,
cnvious of his better view, could induce
him to come down-even a bribe of ten
dollars failed. He said he was bound to
see or die. Meanwhile the dinner pre-
paratlons went on npace. The savory
smell of cooking food seemed To intoxi-
cate the crowd, which pressed nearer and
nearer 1t took all the police force on the
grounds to keep order. The time arrived
for The trottng match, announced as the
sport of the day but the amphithcater
was empty. The judges, with the excep-
ton of one grabbed old widower, and the
timers, all were missing, and so nothing
could be done. At halfp pa.t two the
dinner was announced reudy, and the
judges, happy men, seated themselves at
the tnblo--the crowd regarding them with
i'll disguised envy. A roast Of beef, del
icately done, was put steaming hot upon
the table, then followed corn pudding.
whose delicate aroma fell upon the oIlact-
ories OF the excited crowd "like brcezes
of Amhy the best :" II proiuson of veg
etabIes, cooked to perfection, followed
next. The judges ate and ate, praising
the flavor OF the food and the skill Of the
cook ut every mouthful. But when at
last a dessert Of piping hot apple dump
lings made its appearance, the forbear-
ance OF the crowd wa, at an end. They
broke Though the ropes into the ring with
one accord, aud the dumpling- disappear
ed in trice.
One old fellow, proprietor of a store
and owner OF II big sawmil, proposed to
the young lady on the spot, but he was
quickly coIlnred and led off the grounds
by two younger n-pirants, who made
common cause against the nged suitor,
saw-mill and all. That young lady was
the centre OF attraction in her town after
the cooking feat. She received twenty
five offers of marringe the first week, and
her fame spread through the country
An old bachelor fellow down in GnIndy
county, with n farm so big that il takes
nil day tp ride around it, and cattle on
hundred hills, heard Of her, and made II
pilgrimage all the way to that town to
learn the truth. lie got the girl, too, al-
though some OF the young men Of the
place sued out writ OF habeas corpus to
prevent her being carried out Of the con
county. They were too late.- MemphiS
Con. LOuiSUitte Courier journal.