The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-12-12
A Story for Girls.

Hannah Brown did not see why her
mother went into the kitchen every
night TO take account Of stock and ar
range matters q little for breakfast.
"Its Just no use to look so far ahead"
she said, "for surely the mornings
meal couldn't he so much OF trouble,
and if her mother would 90 TO bed she
would see that breakfast would be all
right"
~ only wish thee would take some
Interest, Hannah; thee knows I've
wanted 10 teach thee how TO make
bread and get up meal, but thee never
seems TO have time for really useful
things. Thee is getting up in thy teens
and dresses up smartly when a certain
young man comes here, and it may be
well enough for thee to know something
of household management. Thee has
seemed 10 have no turn for such things,
much to my regret, and married or
single, thee will find such knowledge =
very great benefit to thee.n
"Well now, mother, just trust me to
get the breakfast; Pm sure l can do it
without routing the cubpoaris and
walking round so much as thee does
every night"
AZ don't know how thee will do il,
Hannah; and thee knows father likes
breakfast little early and tolerably
comfortable, and We have no help to
depend Oh just now. Suppose now we
arrange together this time %
"NO, no, l want to do it all myself,
and shall not trouble myself with any
arranging tonight. Now, father, isn't
thee willing to leave it all to me this
time 90
LET her try it, Rachel, this time,
though | must say Pve some few doubts
myself; anyhow, I'll get her up betimes
and give her a fair chance at il"
The next morning Hannah was in a
nice, rosy sleep, dreaming, perhaps, oi
young Nathan Marshall, when her pa
ternal, with a kiss and a shake, said,
"Come, Hannah, want my breakfast
just as soon as thee can get it," Then
he went back and told his wife to lie
still and take good morning nap, or il
she must get up, positively keep en-
tirely away from the kitchen, and added,
"Pd really like TO see what that con-
ceited child can do"
In the meantime Hannah soon COM
pretended the case, and hastily tucking
3 few hair-pins in her pretty brown
hair, and putting on a wrapper, she
descended 10 the kitchen with all the
confidence in her powers natural to her
age. The chickens were at the back
door clamorous for their Hsual early
breakfast, and, not knowing what else
to give them, she threw them a dish Of
cold mashed potatoes, which they soon
devoured, and still were unsatisfied; she
then crumbled up some scraps of light
bread for them, when her father APP
peared with, "Hadn't thee better put
the coffee on? Thee sees / have made
thee nice fire, and if thee has any
warm cakes TO bake, perhaps thee had
better put them on the griddle"
"Well, yes, certainly father, but thee
knows | am to get the breakfast all my
self, and of course I'll have it all right;
only / must have a little time"
Very well, very we'll, child, only let
us know when il is ready" and her
father disappeared with rather a hun
CRY smile on his face.
And now let me see," said Hannah,
what shall get that's nice and tempt
ing. Mother said she would have to
bake to-day, aud | suppose there's no
bread except tile scraps gave the chick
ems; well, thank goodness, they're fed,
anyhow, and ! feel little hungry my
self, and-nevermind just so the old
folks don't get impatient and come in
terfering and hurTying me up so.
guess ! will put on the griddle, and
know mother gives us delicious slappers
sometimes, and fathers fond Of them;
yes, I'll have slappers;" and she did
have them after considerable sweating
aud close work.
"And there's the coffee I'd almost
forgotten;" so she ground a big hopper
full and put it on the old grounds, with
out any egg, added some water aud put
Il on the stove. "NOw something nice
for relish, and then Pm about through"
and she hunted round lively; no steak;
no chicken killed; no anything any
where; except some oysters in a peach
basket under the shed, and as to open
ing them-well, IL was such a job, and
she was behind time anyhow, and there
Wa. Vas the table to set yet, and she felt a
niue discouraged and nervous until IL
come INTO her mind to hunt up some
$50 80 she ran into the hen-house TO
ii,.io iio vi souie right fresh ones, put her
niue Whlte hand under an old hen who
prompted resented the Intrusion o,of si~
eggs ana soon had them boilino On tba
stove. The table was soon laid H.
thlhgs brought in, and the maiden
flushed 10 fever heat, told father ond
mother that breakfast was raad,s
Father seemed 10 think they miybt Iii
IL an early dinner; however, he meant
10 make the best of it and be thankSnI
but when he took piece Of slapper he
looked at it, turned it over, tasted n
and then said, "Han, what is this?n For
she had made them Of wheat flour and
water; no salt, egg or butter I'm them.
Then he took an egg, looked obviously
at IL, broke it and said, "Why, child,
these eggs were nearly ready TO hatch,
aud / DO believe thee has robbed the