Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-07-29
UNCLE SETH'S COOKING.MATCH.
BY MARY MORRISON.


Uncle Seth was-why, Uncle Seth.
He was character by himself. There
never was anybody like hiUl, and he was
not like anybody.
He was an old bachelor; but he took
care of so many poor widows and father
less children that he seemed more fatherly
and husbandly than my papa, who had
only mamma, Rob and me.
He was very rich, but he lived in such a
plain house and wore such simple clothes,
all out of fashion, that nobody would ever
have known how his gold was piled up in
the bank.
Uncle Seth was always thinking; but he
never told his plans until he surprised us
all BY something splendid none of us had
ever dreamed Of But he never wanted
any thanks, only he liked to sit and look
at us and rub his hands as he saw how we
enjoyed it.
aThey said" Uncle Seth was disap-
pointed when he was young. That he
loved a pretty, gay young girl, but before
he asked her to marry him he thought he
would go to sea,a second time, and make
his crown pound" But she, with all her
love and romance, without thought for
the practical part of life--what bother
that is, anyway-thought he did not care
for her; and, that she might get rid of her
disappointment the quicker, married his
friend, who stayed at home. "1hey said"
that the Widow Nelson, who had lately
come to Riverbanks to live with her
daughter, was the very one; but Uncle
Seth said nothing about 1t. He did not
know they were poor and took in sewing.
But we did not dare to ask any questions,
and don't think he had heard Of it.
We had just been having spelling
match and were discussing it when Uncle
Seth came in.
+" Hurrah Bob" he said. So you
beat all the boys in the High School and
Academy in spelling. | congratulate
you"
Yes said Bob, comp!acently; but
/ had to fall at last"
"What was tle word that brought you
down?'
"Zinziberaceous," he answered, smil.
ing
Enough to bring anybody down, !
should think" said Uncle Seth, sym.
pathizingly. Does itmean the condition
Of things in the ark"
"No; it means pertaining to ginger. So
Smart says, in Webster"
The man must be smart who invents
SuCh words a. tnat, Safu Uncle SeLh
But, Polite, he said, turningto me, why
don't you girls get up some kind OF
match. / thought girls were fond OF
making matchesYn
DO you suppose we could ever have
courage to spell in the Town-Hall, Uncle
Seth? | know / should forget how to
spell dogr'
What is the use of having spelling.
MATCH We have had a spell of spelling,
until everybody is sick of the sound of the
word. Excuse me, Bob; mean all but
the heroes of the occasion. But, Polite
now seriously, listenl propose cook
ing-matchp
Good" said papa.
And Capital!'' cried Bob. ell be on
the tasting committee''
Wen give you the zinziberaceous
articles to try" said Uncle Seth, laughing
:" What is the rest OF your plan, Seth y
asked mother
propose to give prize of five dol
lars for the best cake, twenty for the best
bread and five for the best fancy tea-dish
propose that we give this notice publicly
and that the articles for competition bt
all sent in to the Town Hall two weeks
from to-day, by eight o'clock; and alst
that a.committee of three ladies' there: