Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-04-02
A STORY FOR GIRLS.

Hannah Brown did not see why her
mother went in the kitchen every night
to take account of stock and arrange mat
tiers a little for breakfast. ITS just no
use to look so far ahead" she said, 4" for
surely the mornings meal couldn't be SO
much of a trouble, and if her mother
would go to bed she would see that break
fast would be all right"
81 only wish thee acoatd take some IN
terest, Hannah; thee knows I've wanted
to teach Thee how to make bread and get
ND a 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 man
agement Thee has seemed TO have ne
turn for such things, much TO my regret /;
and, married or single, thee will find such
knowledge very great benefit to thee"
"Well, now, mother, just trust me to
get the breakfast; I'm sure | can do it
without routing the cupboards and walk
ing around so much as thee does every
night" :,
II don't know how thee will do it,
Hannah; and thee knows father likes
breakfast a little early and tolerably COM
Portable, and we have no help to depend
on just now. Suppose now we arrange
together this timer"
"No, no, want to do it all myself, and
/ shall not trouble with any arranging to-
night. Now, father, isn't thee willing TO
leave it all to me this timer"
Let her try 1t, Rachel, this time, tho
l must say I've some few doubts myself;
anyhow, I'll get her up betimes and give
her fair chance at it."
The next morning Hannah was in
nice, rosy sleep, dreaming, perhaps, Of
young Nathan Marshall, when her pa
ternal, with 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 a good morning nap, or, If she
must get up, positively keep entirely
away from the kitchen, and added, "I'd
really like to see what that conceited
child can do"
In the meantime Hannah soon compre-
hended the case, and hastily tucking
few hair-pins in her pretty brown hair
and putting on wrapper she descended
to the kitchen with all the confidence in
her power natural to her age. The chick
ems were at the back door clamorous for
their usual early breakfast, and, not
knowing what else to give them, she threw
them 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 appeared with, Hadn't thee bet
ter put the coffee ong 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 1T all right;
only must have little time"
Very well, very well, child, only. let
us know when Ii is ready" and her father
disappeared with rather hungry 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
today, and suppose there's no bread tx-
cept the scraps gave the chickens; well,
thank goodness, they're fed, anyhow, and
Just wish the rest were, for feel little
hungry myself, and--never mind, just so
The old folks don't get impatient and come
interfering and hnTying me up so.
guess will put on that griddle, and l
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 and
Close work.
And there's the coffee! I'd almost for
gotten" 30 she ground big hopper full
and put 1t on the old grounds, without any
egg, added some water and put II on the
s'ove. Now something nice for relish,