Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-31


teen years old. "She writes that her brother
George is growing weaker and weaker every
day, that he longs to see me, and that if
want to ever have satisfactory visit with
him to come at once. If had any one to
keep house for me | would not hesitate a
moment. II your cousin Mary were only
at home she would come and stay with you
and father, but Aunt Gleason said she did
not expect her till next week."
"Why, can keep house," said Huldah
4" am sure | know how to do almost every
thing"
Eyes" replied her mother, al think you
could do the cooking very well, but could
you bake bread You know there is no
bakery to run to for bread as we used to do
in NJ"
Cant you tell me how to make bread.?"
said lIuldah.
"Yes, can, suppose. Indeed | think
| will be obliged to trust you, for | must see
George once more"
81 know / can get along said Huldah,
confidently; "just try me and see,"
So Mrs. Hamilton decided to 90. As she
was to start that very afternoon, she began at
once to get ready. There were many things
to do, as there always are when house
keeper leaves home even for short time.
This is especially the case when she EN-
trusts the home to the care of an inexperi-
enced person, as Mrs. Hamilton did in the
| present instance.
She gave many charges to Huldah. The
chickens must be fed, the milk attended to
properly, the pantry door must be kept shut,
| and above all the meals must be ready at
the minute, for "you know how particular
father is about being prompt and if you
sleep too long in the morning, he will go off
without his breakfast rather than be too
late at work"
lluldah made many promises to be faith
full. 1t must be confessed her mothers
charges opened her eyes to the number of
different things that must be attended to, and
the prospect for having good time was not
nearly so bright
1t was almost time to start. The carriage
would call for her in few minutes.
"Oh, MOTHER" suddenly exclaimed HUI
dab, "you haven't told me yet about the
bread
Sure enough. Why, put some warm wa
ter, about pint into "A dish, and stir into it
a teaspoonful of salt and set it near the
stove. When it is light stir in more flour
till it is thick batter; let this rise, and
then mold it into loaves, and when it is light
bake it,
|
tions the carriage came in sight. Huldah
ran for her mothers basket, helped her put
on her bonnet and shawl, and soon she was
in the carriage and away it rolled, for the
driver said they hadn't minute to spare"
Iiudah had the house all to herself now.
She felt quite happy to think she would
have everything her own way. Her mother
had given her permission to invite Fanny
Townsend to spend the night with her. As
Fannie lived only short distance away,
Iluldah ran over for her at once. Fanny
came back with lIudah, and the girls pre-
pared the supper and after it was over,
washed the dishes and made all tidy for the
next morning.
Bright and early, Mr.. Hamilton raped on
Iluldah's door. Up she jumped and after
dressing herself neatly, she ran down stairs
quickly to prepare breakfast. The fire was
already kindled and the tea-kettle boiled
cheerily. To make the coffee was the work
of few minutes. She then put the pota-
toes in to warm, and cut a small piece Of
steak to broi. Drawing the bright Goals in
the front of the fire, she placed the meat on
the gridron, and turned it frequently as she
had seen her mother do. When done, she
placed it on a platter with some butter, pep
per and salt. Coffee, beefsteak, potatoes,
DTtuu anu DulleI sue Noulu Hht luSl one
more dish 1t was too late to make oat-
some, that could be done quickly,
1t was a good breakfast and nicely pre-
pared. Mr.. Hamilton praised his daughter
and left her feeling quite elated over her
success. As she put the bread away she
noticed that there was only a small piece
left She must make some that very day.
What had her mother said Put tea
spoonful of salt i'll some warm water and set
it near the stove. When it becomes light
90 yes, know" and away she went to the
kitchen.
Eleven o'clock, time to get dinner. "The
bread must be light by this time" she said
to herself. She looked at it. 1t appeared
Just as it did when she put it there, two
hours before. "Well, there's enough OF
bread for father dinner and ! can eat some
thing else, 1t will surely be light in time tc
bake for supper"
But when the supper hour came there was
no change in the appearance of the salt
water What should she do? Biscuits
Yes, she could make them after a fashion
and in the meantime she would ask a neigh
Dor about the bread
The biscuits were passable and nothing
more. Euldah was very thankful they were
tnaV' AlteI supper was oNeI anu WoIk uoht
she and Fanny ran over to Mrs Slater's, tc
ask about the bread.
"Bread 2" said Mrs. Slater; "did you put
some warm water and salt in dish and
set it near the stove, and when it was light
make it up stiff Yes that's Just what
mother told me to do" replied Huldah
land did it," "Wel that is strange,
said Mrs. Slater didn't it get light p
No." said lluldah, :" after two or three
hours it looked just as it did when put il
there"
"Well, that's the way to do" said Mrs
Slater
an try again tomorrow" said Huldah
somewhat despairingly.
The next morning Huldah repeated the
experiment with the same result She wa.
in despair. The last of the hard yellow
biscuits had been eaten for dinner. There
was not a crumb in the house, no bakery
she was ashamed to borrow; what should
she do ? As she sat hopelessly casting
, about in her mind for some way out of hei
dilemma, there was a rap at the door She
flew to open it. sob, cousin Mary, I'm Sc
( glad to see you, ! never was in such fla
"Why, what is the matter inquired
cousin Mary.
i 80 mother is gone away and there is M
Z bread in the house, and I've tried and tried
/ and can't make any" almost sobbed HUI
, dab.
"Did you put some salt in warm wate
T. and"
81 have been doing that for the last three
days" interrupted Iluldah and it is JUS
r the same all the time
, "Let me see it," said Mary. IIuldal
went into the kitchen and brought the pan
4 Cousin Mary looked at it and then ex
= claimed, "Why, didn't you put any hou
e in it Z"
Flour" said IIuldah. "No one sale
anything about flour. | didn't know mus
- put any flour in it till it was light"
= Cousin Mary wanted TO take good laugh
1 at Huldah, but one glance at her flushed fac
o and fast filling eyes showed her it woulc
not do.
"Never mind, Huldah," she said, wei
n make some corn bread for supper Yol
, know how much your father likes it, ant
o we'll have some cakes for breakfast and tC
morrow wen solve the bread question b
your and my satisfaction, | hope"
d Huldah was eomforted, and the next da
e she made bread under cousin Marys dreC
4 tions, and succeeded finely.
Is She learned in after years TO laugh heart
n ity over her first experience in bread. makin(
S. w. H., IN Farm Journal.