The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-09-28

read so much OF untidy hOusekeepers,
it never should be said she went round
the house in slp-shod shoes or dingy
wrappers. O, no, housework should
never make sloven of her.
So Nellie went up to her chamber,
arranged her hair in becoming ringlets,
donned q pretty white cashmere
pesQ'aotr over an embroidered skirt, and
with black velvet bracelets on her arms
and q blush-rose in its own sweet buds
and foliage ON her bosom, it must be
confessed that little Nellie looked pretty
enough to challenge any body's admira-
ton.
LET me see, ''quoth she, meditaEinp.
"what shall have for dinnerp Horace
is fond of broiled steak I've heard him
say SO: And pudding; yes, there must
be pudding; rice one, I guess, will be
best. And then there must be potatoes
and bread. That will suffice for the
eatables; now for the drinkables, as
Aunt Keziah says. Shall have tea,
coffee, chocolate or waterp NY head
doesn't feel very well, and it shall be
tea; tea helps settle any body's head,
| have heard mother say. That's all, /
believe-no, there's the, sauce; there
must be some kindi'o or sauce. Shall it
be apple or cranberry For this once,
cranberry; it's an abominable job to
pare apples, and it stains ones hands
so shockingly; and Horace can't en-
dure stained hands. I'll go and make
. 1iro noW.H tst1 x8 7}s9fg@ essGss
And suiting the action to the word,
Nellie, after some search, found the
coal-shovel, and put into the stove
peck of coal and an ignited bunch of
friction matches, then stood quietly
awaiting the conlagration which. was
to ensue. Nothing alarming occurred !;
there was considerable smoke, and q
powerful, strong smell Of birthstone,
but no great fire. She concluded that
the matches didn't get fairly burning,
so she tried another bunch and belieV-
ing this could not fail of accomplishing
her design, she retired to the pantry as
the next field of operation. After con-
siderable thought on the subject, she
decided to make the pudding first; it
would be the most difficult job, she
argued. Well, how was it to be madeP
"The Revised American Cook Book
and Delicate Housewives Especial and
Valuable Friend in Need' was called in
play. There was paragraph ON the
cover to the effect that you would find
every thing worth knowing within the
lids of that invaluable casket OF dia-
monds; and Nellie fondly believed that
people in general prefer speaking truth
to lie! So she opened the book in
full faith touching its veracity.
!" Rice pudding. Put the rice to soak
in lukewarm water, having picked it
clean Of all impurities; and milk, sugar
and salt to your taste. 8 A little nut
meg and q couple OF eggsiwill improve
it, -
!" Goodness mel" CALCULATED Nellie,
]" how am / to know any thing about it,
l wondera How much is q little nut
megp And how much rice, and milk,
and sugar win be enough? And, as /
live, if there amt the aw7ulest smut spot
upon my skirt! must wash that out
the first thing!" And, forgetful of pud-
ding and dinner, she few to the wash
bowl, and scrubbed the soiled cambric
till its gaping threads cried eloquently
for quarter.
By the time this was cleansed she es-
pied second spot, located on the sleeve
Of her dressing gown, and this must un-
dergo the same elaborate process as the
former blemish. When thus muchwa
gone through with, she saw that the
rose on her bosom was in a disabled con-
dition-the rose itself being among the
and the two delicate buds brok-
On and wilted. So Nellie had to 20 up
stairs and get fresh blossom. Horace
admired flowers, and thought Nellie be-
came them amazingly. 8le~
s'Now the pudding must be mixed,
for certain" said she, assuming an air
Of pretty importance, which, ,unfor-
tunately, no one was there to see. ssLet
me read that receipt over again. Pick
It clean Of all impurities Iwonder If
that means the water, or the rice. It
can't mean the rice, assuredly, for that
Is a. clean as it possibly can be; it is
the double re6ned-no, double dis.
tilled-mercy! strange that / should
forget the label on the box! Well, it is
pure rice, that don't need picking, any
way. How much rice win it takeP
Iwish the COOK book was
little more definite. Some time I'll
write one myself, thst viii give all the
particulars to teaspoonfnl. Well, we
Ihall want the large white dish full; IN
it, and see how much it holds. .
And away flew Nellie to gauge the
pudding dish, in order 70 calculate the
quantity needed for the pudding. She
lound the plate capable Of containing.
TWO quarts, and from this she concludl
ID that two quarts Of rice would be-
quite enough. The extra1agant item,
vas measured out, and committed to q
;in-pan fnll OF water to undergo the