The Lincoln County herald., 1872-05-09
KATE'S ACCOMPLISHMENT.
ny sYLvANUs COBB, JR.

very we'll Where my daughters are all
SO truly accomplished dare not draw
comparisons but may say to you that
Iconsider your education perfect" And
thus speaking, Mrs. Lanark, a woman Of
Eve and forty, and the mother of three
grown up daughters, lay back languidly
IN her easy chair, aud gently waved her
fan.
Kate, the youngest Of the three daugh.
ters, had just arisen from the pianoforte,
where sho had been showing TO her parents
how much she had improved upo, her last
course. Sho was nineteen years Of age,
and her form was Of the pure female
type--not robust, nor yet fairy like
but after the fashion of those models
which the old Greeks used to.adopt when
they wished to sculpture an Ariadne or
Q Euphrosyne. Touching her FACET
was certainly good looking face. To
call such face pretty would sound tame
and fat Mrs Lanark thought Isabel
and Bertha we're both prettier than Kate,
while Mr.. Lanark was Of different opin
ion. However, upon one point there was
no dispute. The Judge would often say,
"Well, my little Katie looks good, any
hsw !" And nobody had ever disputed
him.
Isabel and Bertha were the other two,
both older than Kate, being aged, re-
specti,ely, twenty ono and twenty three
They had graduated at a very fashionable
school, and were deemed very highly
accomplished and, moreover, they we're
called beautiful.
Judge Lanark was the father of those
girls. lie was q man of means, though
not of large wealth. He had been a sue.
cessful 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 assistance. The
Judge had reared two sons, and sent
them forth into active useful life but
his daughters he bad left to his wfe.
"Of COURSE" Mrs. Lauark continued,
after Kate had taken seat near to her
father, "you do not play 80 we'll as your
sisters, but it will come to you by
practice. think 1 may safely say that
your list Of necessary accomplishments
is full.
"Not quite" said Kate, with nod
and q smile. "There is ono more accom-
f plishment which am determined to add
to my list. longed for it many times
when | was ut school and 1 am led to
long for it at many Of the places am
forced to visit. l must learn to cook "
"To ,ohat?" cried Mrs. Lanark.
"To cooh?' echoed Isabel and Bertha
in concert.
"Aye," added Kate. II shall not
consider my womanly accomplishments
complete until can, with my own hands,
make loaf Of wheaton bread fit to set
before my father.
"Ihe Judge caught Kate by the hand,
and cried, "Good."
Isabel and Bertha smiled derisivoly
Their looks plainly showed that they
considered the thing ridiculous.
Mrs. Lsnark looked up in surprise aud
depreciation. 1t seemed reflection upon
her educational care of her daughters
Kate saw the look, and she speedily
added
II do not mean q loaf of such soggy
stuff as some of our friends make with
cream. of tartar and salaratus, nor yet o
loaf of the puffy stuff that comes to Us
from the bakers; but | mean q loaf Of
such bread as my own mother used to
J bake when l was little wee child"
, Mrs. Lanark was Modified, but moi
> converted.
6 "Ah, Kate, things have changed since
l was young"
"For the worse T. muttered the Judge
But his wife did not notice him. She
went on
"You had better leave the making oi
bread to the help 10 the kitchen. II you
ever have home Of your own trust
you will have enough else to occupy your
time without doing the work Of your
servants.
"lf ever have home Of my own,
! said Kate, with mild decision, II am
determined to bo able to superiutend
every part Of it. My servants shall mo-
be my m;stresses. No servant employed
in my household shall be able to iooL
do'on upon mo. l will not be d slave, MOI
, the victim of my cook"
"Good!" cried the Judge, again. "Gc
at it Kate, and will furnish the material
Waste q dozen barrels of -four If neces
sary, only bring me grand good loaf oI
bread Of your own making and baking,
in the end!".
Mrs. Lauark still thought it foolish
and Isabel and Bertha characterized it a,
very childish and whimsical. They
fsncied that it smso ksd of the nursery
and play room.
But Kate was earnest; and Is hel
father backed her up, she carried the day
and gained the freedom Of the kitchen
:, where the servants coon came to love aud
respect her.
The following wintor Isabel and Bet
: tina spent in the city. Kate remained al
home because her mother could not well
spare them all. During their visit to ths
metropolis the elder sisters made many