The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1877-07-12
"Zinziberaceous, he answered, smil,

IinZlDeface0us, ne answered, elnii~
ingly.
Enough to bring anybody down, I
should think" said Uncle Seth, sympa-
thizingly. ''Does it mean the condition
of things in the ask?"
"No, it means pertaiping to ginger.
SO Smart says, in Webster.
1.-The man must be smart who invents
sucl words as them," said Uncle Seth.
But, Pollie, said he, turning TO me,
why don't You girls get up the same
kind of match? L thought girls were
fond of making matches.
'Do You suppose we could ever have
courage to spell in the town hall, Uncle
Seth? / believe I should forget how to
spell dog"
"What is the use OF having q spelling
match? We have had spell of spelling
until every one is sick OF the sound Of
the word Excuse me, Bob, [ mean all
but the heroes Of the occasion. Bnt,
Polite, [ propose a cooking match. .
Good" said papa.
"Capitalp' cried Bob. "l'll re on the
tasts.1g committee"
wen give you the zinziberaceous
article to try" said Uncle Seth, laugh
ing. 49,.
"What is the rest Of your plan, Seth?'
asked mother.
Il propose to give prize Of ffe dol
lars for the best cake, twenty for the
best bread, and Eve for the best fancy
tea dish. propose that we give this
notice publicly, and that the articles for
competition all be sent in to the town
hall two weeks from to-day at eight
o'clock; and that a committee OF three
ladies-there' luck in odd numbers you
know-he appointed the judges. | pro
pose that we have music and readings,
and at the end announce the prizes and
pass around the cake, and | will provide
lemonade. -
But" said Bob, "you have made 20
provision for tickets. Is it to be free?
"No, we will have a limited number
of tickets at a dollar apiece, and the
surplus money shall buy flour for the
poor widows of the town"
[ clapped my hands and kissed Uncle
Seth, and told him he WAS the most
splendid uncle that ever was made, but
that two woel3 was too short time for
me to practice.
Bob laughed at this, aud expressed
his desire that I would not give the
family the benefits OF my experiments
in the meantime, as he had too fresh
racollections of asking for bread and re-
ceiving q stone once upon time. That
was only too true; but he played base
ball with the biscuit, and won the game
| for the first time, so he had no cause to
complain.
| Then mamma-dear practical nam
ms-reminded Uncle Seth that he had
not limited the age, and asked if she
was to be permitted to try for the prizes
"There! I did forget that, he said.
at shall be open to girls under twenty
l think it would be discouraging to the
younger ones to see proofs OF skill like
yours placed in comparison with theirs.
And this was the way that our cooking
match was planned.
The long wished for evening came at
laet, and only ono addition had been
made to Uncle Seth's plan, and that was
that those who sent in contributions
should he admitted free.
The hall was beautifully trimmed with
evergreens and mayhowers; the tables
were covered with snowy white cloths,
and each had a pretty centrepieco OF
flowers; the place for the band WAS
among the green cedars and flags IN the
gallery; and the platform was ranged
with red, white aud blue drapery, ever
greens and candles. There were seats
in the centre for the Judge and commit
tee of award. and the steps where the
successful aspirants We're to so up for
their prizes were carpeted with blue and
bordered with pots of white geraniums
The girls themselves, all with white
aprons and jaunty muslin caps, were to
wait upon the people and pass the lem
onade and cake after the prizes had
been given.
The committee had their room back
of the hall; and after the commence
ment when every dish had been seen
first by the audience, they were carried
to the committee to be inspected. There
were seats in the hall, but the people
promenaded as the band played: and
when the readings were given out, they
sat down and listened. BY the way,
Bob was not put on the tasting commit
tee, and he says he shall not forgive
Uncle Ben as long as he lives. / know
he will before Christmas, though Bob
never picks up quarrel with any of us
during the month ofDecember.
Just here I must tell you q bit OF a
conversation [ heard between Uncle
Seth and mother the night before the
cooking match.
Il think vou have planned capital
thing. Seth, to interest the girls in cook
ing. There has not been such an ezcite>
ment in Riverbank for months; and
that is branch of housewifery they all
neglect, at least nearly all. L heard a
young lady say the other day that she
was going to housekeeping in a week
and do her own work. but she never had
cooked anything in her life but choco~
late caramels."
eyes" said Uncle Seth, "anl the
worst feature of it is they boast Of thelr
ignorance"
"They won't do that in Riverbanks
now, for You have made it the fashion to
cook. But why did you fancy tea dish
es?''
because so few women understand
| cooking them, ana SaNory Dit VI eeu 10
always appreciated. Something besides
pies and cakes. or instead OF them
something with character to it. Brains
can be used in cooking as we'll as any
thing else
"Calf brains and pluck?" asked NAM
ma, laughing.
mo; New England brains and New
England pluck, which all of our girls
have if they would only use them. By
1 the way, Maria, do you remember that
Turkish pillar pronounced pH0hf,
a decoction of rico boiled in rich nut
ton broth and tomato water, and great
favoIite in Turkey Helen used to make
from the receipt | brought from Con-
stantinopie? No one else could ever dc
it SO well as the people in the east, eS
cept Helen-my Helen, you remember,
| Maria?"
had been wondering who this Helen
could be, whom l had never befole
heard of; but when he spoke IN lower
ltone and said "my hlen," then l
KNEW.
n While the people were listening to
! Ithe music, slipped into the back room
TO see Uncle Seth. The committee were
puzzing like three great humble>bees,