The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1875-07-02
KITCHES THEOLOGY.


Scaton, impulsively, "that there was no
such thing as kitchen or cooking
stove In the whole worldw
She was just then creating a small pan
demonium (no pun intended) on the top
other own cooking-stove, which was red
hot; all the pots and pans were seething,
and bubblihg, and suffering about it;
the starch, which was not made to eat,
had risen up in wrath, and boiled over in
to the starch which was made to eat;
and the potatoes had nearly bebbed out
of the pot, in their hurry TO know what
was going on; while an awful smell of
burning pies issued from the oven.
II was vexatious enough, no doubt,
but not altogether owing to the total de-
pravity of inanimate things, as Mrs.
Seaton appeared to think. If she had
only been independent enough little
sooner to tell her visitor, Mrs. Olney,
that she was without help, and must ask
her to finish her call in the kitchen, it
would have been all avoided.
"No such thing as kitchenT' Mrs.
Olney, much older and more experienced
answered. "Why! what would the
world be likei No savory dishes, no
cheering cups oftea, no coy social meals
three times dayl Why, it wouldn't
seem like livingat alp
"Yes, it would be-real, actual living
for the best part ofour natures, and none
Of this fuss and worry and fret that vexes
and wears us out 50. How can we ever
find time to take care of our souls when
it is just to drudge, drudge, drudge for
our bodies, from morning to nightr'
And Mrs. Seaton, red, tired and detected,
began to jerk out of the oven batch of
halfbaked, halfburned pies.
"My DEAR" said the soothing voice of
Mrs. Olney, "let me help you. Just
scrape off this burned edge (you see it is
not deep and put the pies in again, to
brown evenly. They are not spoiled
scarcely damaged. think you are
wrong" she continued, kindly, "to esti-
mate the duties Of the kitchen at such a
low rate. No service can be mental that
is performed with loving heart, and
that is necessary to the comfort of those
whom We love. We cannot all be called
ON to make costly offerings and grand
sacrifices; we cannot all mount TO the
skies by ladder Of angels; but oh, the
humblcst detail of household service
may be used as stepping-stone to
heaven"
81 don't know" said Mrs. Seaton.
dejectedly. 81 get vexed and Hurried.
and out Of patience; and then | am in
no mood for Christian. 1t is sohard to
get my work done; indeed, it is never
done, but forever repeating itself / |
cannot afford to keep regular servant,
and am neglecting my music, and read.
ing, and social visiting, for do not seem
to have any time. i'll ever do get an
afternoon, l am too tired to go out"
at is all wrong, my dear-all wrong"
And Mrs. Olney shook her head, depre-
catingly. CAS- an old friend of your
mothers, let me take of my things and
help you with your dinner; and after
ward, when We sit down, will give YOU
my experience. lean assure you, nv
dear, the world can better spare her
statesmen than her most notable house
keepers"
When Archie Seaton came home Tn
dinner he found it all on the table.
instead of not quite cooked, as usual
and his wife did not look near as fus-
tered and fretted as she generally did,
though she had company, but company
that wore an apron.
Archie was always glad to see Mrs
Seaton. She was good womanr'
That was the highest praise ever awarded
to her, though she belonged to a grand
old family, and Knickerbocker blood
ran high in her veins. But no one ever
said.she was great lady; and yet she
was lady, in the highest, trucst sense of
the word.
They had very comfortable dinner;
Mrs. olney had that repose of manner
which Is always contagious; Hettie
Gained down, and poured the tea with
out knocking over the cream Jug in an
excitement of depressed feeling. Archie,
not being assailed by frettings and a
history of all the morning failures, was
communicative and pleasant; Mrs. Olney
thought she saw smooth sailing for the
young couple, if only they did not prefer
the breakers.
When the meal was finished the young
man went back TO his business, without
bearing single disagreeable fact away
with him, and Mrs Olney insisted on
helping Hettie with the work. that they
might sooner get To the " talk " that was
coming.
IL looked quite discouraging in the
kitchen, loaded, Ms the table was, with
spoons, clippers, wooden bowls, pastry
board, spiee-bOx, and all the different
articles that had been used in the morn
'ngs preparations. And only two in
The family" thought Mrs. Olney, as she
went vigorously TO work, with an ex-
perienoed touch, to harmonic all the
iiscordant elements.
II required time and patience 10 do
This, and Mrs. olney saw where much
abor might have been spared by little
act in detail. Probably" she thought,
Mrs seaton had never been taught this =
most important branch Of a woman's
work, house-work." /
This was true, as Hetty presently in