The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-04-14
THE FIRST DINNER | COOKED.

"And you really think you can do it?'
80, yes / am sure we can. If WI
get into any trouble, there's old Dinat
to put US right again"
Every we'll, then, Martha. If Miss
Retts is willing to undertake getting
dinner, you may GO" And thus settling
the question, mother resumed her inter
rupted reading, though for some mo-
ments an amused smile played around
her lips.
1t was the first Fourth Of July after
the war; and though all of our old SER
wants had remained with US till then,
they were now anxious to attend a grand
celebration that was to take place on an
adjoining plantation, and to which they
had been invited.
So each and all had received permission
to 60. except the cook. For how was it
possible for the cook to leave2 What
could we do for dinner? Mother could
not get dinner herself, even if she had
known how, which she did not; she was
too delicate. For sister and to attempt
it seemed equally absurd. What could
girls, unaccllstomed even to dressing
themselves, know of cookng2 There
seemed to be no help for it, and mother
Was just saying, 81 sm sorry to disssP.
point YOU, Martha" when the thought
which forms our Introductory remark
suggested itself to my mind; and so, as
we have said, it was settled.
"Prepare just what you please, but
don't attempt too much" was mothers
final advice; and highly delighted with
the permission, sister and l proceeded to
make out our bill of fare. Baked
chicken, cold ham, rice, sweet potatoes,
loat-bresd, pickle and preserves, with
| canned peaches for desert, were the
articles agreed upon.
Don't you think, my dear" said
mother, chat you had best dispense with
chicken2 Who will prepare it2'
We hsdn t thought of that. But to
give it up! "Neverl" said sister. "l'll
run out to the kitchen and tell Martha
she must prepare it for cooking before
she leaves. That's all right" she con
tlnued, returning after few moments
absence. Martha says she'll see that
| Ben catches and kills q chicken at or ce.
l WAS so impatient to begin my novel
employment that l scarcely waited for
the servants to leave before l fastened
to the kitchen. There, to my surprise, l
saw Ben sitting on An upturned bucket,
and wearing upon his duskv eountensnce
an indescribabe look of detection. Rest
| ing his elbows upon his knees, with q
chicken dangling between them, he
looked up wistfuily as entered.
"Why, Ben! Why didn't you 60 with
the crowd? What are you waiting TORI
Didn't git fru wild dis here chickin in
time, and nanny said had it TO do fore
sot my foot cross de fence. Nebber did
see SIGH hard old thing to pick" he add
ed, ruefully, as he gszed lOnginly across
the field and over the hill, beyond which
the last of the happy throns had few
moments before disappeared.
"You have done it very nicely, indeed,
said l, encou,agingly. for thought 1t
looked quite perfect. "Whst else is
there to be done? Maybe l can finish
TT"
"Got to be singed, and the feet cut
off," he replied. Course you don't know
how to do dat; Singing chickin
'ouires sperenced hands if it amt muffin
hut holding them over der fire."
.Oh, no: that's easy enough" cried.
"Cut of the feet, and III do the rest"
Akin you, sure nuf now?" inquired the
boy. his face Frightening up.
"Oh. yesl Of course l can. But II
YOU don't hurry you won't be abe To
overtske the rest of them"
"Yass, ms'am, will" he exclaimed;
and seizlng the knife, he severed the
legs at the proper joints, and
placed the fowl in my outstretched
hands.
Ben had just disappeared when sister
entered.
"You are in good time" said l. run
and ask Dlnsh how this chicken must bt
treated to bake it." Aunt Dinah was {
bed.rldden old servant, the only one
left at home. "And then wash and pu
on the potatoes. think this sort o
thing splendid-don't you?-and wei
get on swimningly."
Alas for human naturel Turning u
leave the kitchen, sisters foot shipped
upon the feathers, which Ben In III
haste had neglected to gather up; sn(
though she was not seriously injured b.
the fall, her ankle received wrench
which rendered her unfit for work
Thus | was left alone in my glory. U
course, now that the getting OF the din
ner devolved entirely upon me, drew
on my thinking cap with renewed vlSol
Biscuit Let me see-they are mad
of flour, salt, lard and water. No, SAX
I. upon reflection l am convinced tina
water Is only used to economic lard, an'
it shsn't 60 in. Dear me, there Is n
salt IN the box, and now, with my hsnC
all stuck up in this way, must 60 t.
the storsrcom. l wonder, too, hoV
much ought to put in. A nslf tes.cul
will do, suppose. How 1t sticks to m.
hands! Not greasy enough, perhaps s.
nm add another spoonful sof lard. de
clare it is strange how hard it is to max
biscuit all of a size. / give 1t up; an
so thew must 90 to the oven IN snap
like the verbs-regulsr and defective.
Il believe Dinah said something sbou
putting little water in the oven VIII
the potatoes to steam them. wonde
what good it will do them
But why put SO little? II will onl
: soften one side, and l certainly am NO
going TO turn them over while hot
, No, indeed. I'll fill the oven and b
! done with it.
"Now for tie cofise-pot. A messur
of coffee, three pin.s OF water l don
suppose it makes any difference whethe
hot or cold, so I'll use tn
lstter), and be sure to settle with egg
|, Yes, tnat's Just Dipsh's direction, and
!, very easy one to follow. I don't wonde
: mother scolds about Marths's carelessnes
|. when we have it made poorly, when 1t
SO easy to make right. ,