Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-03-30


he would make s6melight buscuits, and
then bring his wife down to the table. and
surprise her with good supper.
sHssI will put some potatoes on first, as they
are SO easy TO cook y so saying, he pared
some of the largest potatoes he could find,
aud put them on saucepan, on the stove.
He then hunted up an old apron OF bis
wife's, and proceeded to make light bis
cults, sdike mother used to make them"
They say 'she proof Of the pudding is in
the eating" so we will only observe that
the biscuits looked very nice, when he put
them in the oven.
Ever since he had commenced them, he
thought he smelt something burning; but
just as be shut the oven door, pop! pop!
went something on the stove; and the top
and bottom of the saucepan parted compa-
by, and a lot of black, burned potatoes
rolled over the floor. "Confound it! for
got to put any water In the saucepan!
can't think of everything ct once" be
growled, and just then be. thought that II
be couldn't think of everything at once,
how could bis wife? and she never had
burned the potatoes, either. He picked the
potatoes up, burning bis fingers as he did
30, and threw them and the saucepan over
that very convenient fence. Hearing the
clock strike, he looked up, and saw it was
five o'clock.
"Wey, how long it takes to do q little
thipgl Maggie always had everything tidied
up by three" he said, ruefully locking
around at the cluttered-up room.
"I'll run out and buy some meat for sup
PERI he next thought, and off he started.
He soon came back with a parcel under his
arm. "What made everybody look at me
so queerlyP" he said, going to the looking
glass and surveying himself. And no won
der that people looked at him, for on his
face was streak OF SCOT, and bis arm was
white with flour. aI'm BLESSED if don't
wish had let Maggie cook, and minded my
own business" he muttered.
/, In shout half an hour he had the table
set, and things looked ready for supper;
though to be sure, the table looked rather
untidy, as he had spilled some gravy on the
cloth, and the floor was spotted all over
with grease. The biscuits were on the ia
bic, but looked as if they had not "raised"
much, and the meat was f&nked on one
side by plate of jelly, and on the other,
by few apples. He had forgotten the tea
until the last minute, and hastily poured
Some warm water on about a teaspoonful
of tea leaves. Mr.. Ward then went up
stairs, one step at time now, for to tell
the truth he was little doubtful about the
success of his supper.
He found his wife before the glass, put
ting the finishing touch to her toilet. She
b ad changed her morning dress for GRIM
son merino, and in her glossy hair was
knot of crimson ribbon. 81 felt better,
and put this dress on to do honor to your
supper, john" she said, sweetly, though
mischief sparkled in her eyes. "You look
nice enough to kiss, Maggie" he said, at the
same time suiting the action to the word.
Leading her down to supper, he placed her
at the head of the table, and taking his own
seat, proceeded to pour out the tea.
Mrs. Ward looked carefully into her cup,
where there were about three tea leaves
floating in water; and then looking at her
husband, said: "You surely did not for
get to boil the water before you made the
tea, did you, John?"
"John stammered, and finally said:
"WelI-yesEI believe 1 did forget about
that; but let me give you some milk in
stead;' and he started up for the milk,
when suddenly remembering that all the
milk in the house had soaked into the floor,
he dropped back into bis seat as if he had
been shot.
"What's the matter, John? Where is
the milk? l left PARTIAL in the cellar,
this morning." Mrs. Ward said at last.
'I-believe-the cat upset the pan, my
dear, when was down cellar after the
meat" was John Wards meek reply.
"And where is the meat bought yester-
day ?" was the next question.
"The meat? Well-a dog ran of with
it while was chasing the cat" was his
subdued answer.
"oh! and 1 guess you did not salt the
meat, did you?"
81 forgot it, my dear; l was busy and did
not notice"
''Oh! thought you noticed everything.
And what did y on put in these biscuits to
make them raise? If these are 'like mother
used to make pity those who had to eat
them," was Mrs. Wards last shot, as she
cut open sodden, heavy biscuit.
81 forgot to put anything in to make
them raise," he said; then, chang 1t! will
never interfere with your housekeeping
again, Maggie. 1t is not so easy as l
thought. L know now that you under
stand it, and have made fool Of myself.
You will never hear any more fault-fnding
from me after this; and if you viii never
speak of this to any one, will hire the
best cook to be had, tomorrow, and buy
you a new dress in the bargain. Will you
promise? Seel beg your pardon for find
ing fault so much, and hope you will for
give me-" And he actually got on his
knees before her, he was so earnest.
She must have promised to forgive and
forget, for the next day be brought home a
handsome dress for his wife, and a good
cook, who cleaned away the remains Of his
culinary work. Aud she sees to this day
that John had good lesson at keepin g
house.