The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-04-21
Select Sturg.
THE FIRST DINNER I COOKED.

WI 1So "i'shSi' PiNA'u iSs hSi ~
Wen get dinner, and have ever 90 much
fun. Don't say no..
nAud you really think you can do it ?'
30 yes | am sure we can. If We
get into any trouble, there's old Dinah to
put us right again
Very well, then, Martha. IfMiss Retta
Is willing to undertake getting dinner, you
may GO And thus settling the ques.
ton, mother resumed her interrupted
reading, though for some moments an
amused smile played around her lips
Il was the first Fourth Of July after the
n war; and though all of our old servants
Y had remained with US till then, they were
now anxious to attend 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 gc, except the cook. For how was it
possible for the cook to leave? What
would we do for dinner? Mother could
not get dinner herself, even ifshe had known
how, which she did not she was too delicate.
For sister and | to attempt it seemed
equally absurd. What could girls, unac-
customed even to dressing themselves,
know Of cooking? There seemed to be
no help for it, and mother was just saying,
Il am sorry to disappoint you, Martha,
when the thought which forms our intro
|, duclory remark suggested itself to my
mind aud so, as We have said, it was set.
tied
Prepare just what you please, but
don't attempt too much, was mother $
dual advice; and highly delighted with
ths Permission sister and | proceeded to
make out our bill of fare. Baked chick
en, cold ham, rice, sweet potatoes loaf
! bread, pickle and preserves, with canned
{ peeches and preserves for desert, were the
articles finally agreed upon.
Don't you think, my dear, said
mother, "that you had best dispense with
chicken? Who will prepare it?"
We hadn't thought of that But to
give It up!
Never r said sister "I'll run out to
The Kitchen aud tell Martha she must
. prepare it for cooking before she leaves
That's oil right" she continued, returning
after a few moments absence. Martha
says she'll see that Ben catches and kills
chicken at once
was so impatient to begin my novel
2 employment that | scarcely waited for the
servants to leave before | fastened to
the Kitchen. There, to my surprise |
aaw Ben sitting on an upturned bucket,
and Wearing upon his dusky countenance
Z an indescribable look of detection. Rest
ing his elbows upon his knees. with a
\ chicken dangling between them, he looked
: up wistfully as Ieutered.
Why, Ben Why didn't you go with
the crowd? What are you waiting for p
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
( ses saich hard old thing to pick" he
added ruefully, as he gazed longingly
across the field and over the hill, beyond
. which the last of the happy throng had a
= few moments before disappeared
You have done it very nicely, indeed -
mid !, encouragingly, for thought it
looked quite perfect "What else is there
b be done? Maybe | eau finish it?"
Got to be singed, and de feet cut off, y
he replied. "Course you don't know how
VI % do dat Singing chickens 'quires
sperenced hands, ii it amt muffin but hold
Ing them over der fire.
HOh, no; that's easy enough | cried
"put off the feet, and I'll do the rest
y Kin you, sure nuf now? inquired the
boy his face Frightening up.
son, yes Of course | can But if
you don't hurry you won't be able to over
" take The rest Of them
Yaas, ma am, will" he exclaimed
ii and seizing the knife, he severed the legs
~ ~ the proper joints, and placed the fowl
/ - my outstretched hands
n Ren.had just disappeared when sister
" entered.
. You are in good time" said /. "Run
b and ask Dinah how this chicken must be
. .fcated to bake It." Aunt Dinah was a
Y bed.Fldden old servant, the only ono left
? at home. "And then wash and put on
!. The potatoes | think this sort of thing
W sp'ondid-don't you 2-and well get on
y awimmingly."
n Alas for human nature! Turning to
y leave the kitchen, sisters foot slipped upon
~ fht Fathers, which Ben in his haste had
ntflncted to gather up and though she
q Nas not seriously injured by the fall, her
Hpkle received wrench, which rendered
NJ htl nnft for work Thus was left alone
q ny glory. OF course, now that the
y Getting of the dinner devolved entirely
' qpen me, drew on my thinking cap with
feuewed vigor.
~ Biscuit Let me see-they are made
~ q hour, salt, lard and water No" said
~ enpon reflection | am convinced that
n *aisr is only used to ceonomize lard, and
bb !. shhn't go in. Dear me, there is no salt
. a TIC box, and now, with my hands all
STUCK up in this way, must go to the
; sleferoom. | wonder, 900, how much
OS e1Eilt to put in A half tea.cup will do,
~ fHHppose How il sticks to my hands
Aet greasy enough, perhaps, so I'll add
. Hnother spoonful of lard. | declare it is
<'tApge how hard il is to make biscuit all
- aelze. give it up; and so they must
n kq ID the oven in shape like the verbs
DS feIIN|ar and defective"
,Tp believe Dinah said something about
" Haitlpg little water in the oven with the
- fQ'aioes TO steam them. | wonder what
~ sa1a it will do them? Oh | remember
: said il would soften them But why
% little2 1t will only soften one side,
= s1H certainly am not going to turn them
~ while hot. No, indeed, III GIL the
q FzHe and be done with it.
Now for the cofee-pot. measure
spiee, three piuts of water q don't sup
H''s' i makes any difference whether hot
4 Rd so Ill use the latter and be sare
K ttle with egg. Yes, that's just Di-
ISp ~ direction, aud n very easy one 70
30 'pR. | don't wonder mother scolds