The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-07-28
Uncle Seth's Cooking Match.

care OF so many poor WIDOWS anu Iatner-
less children that he seemed more fatherly
and husbandly than my papa, who had
only mamma, Bob and me.
He was very rich. but he lived in such
a plain house, and wore such simple
clothes. all out of fashion, that nobody
would ever have known how his gold was
piled up in the bank.
Uncle Seth was always thinking; but
he never told his p%lansuntil he surprised
US all by something splendid none Of us
had ever dreamed OF. He never wanted
any thanks; only he liked to sit and
look at us, and rub his hands as he saw
how we enjoyed it.
"They said" Uncle Seth was disap.
pointed when he was young. That he
loved a pretty, gay young girl, but before
he asked her to marry him, he thought
he would go to sea a second time, and
make his crow q pound" But she,
with all her love and romance, without a
thought for the practical part of life
what a bother that is, anyway-though
he did not care for her; and that she
might get rid Of her disappointment the
quicker, married his friend who stayed
at home. "They said" that the widow
Nelson, who had lately come to River
banks to live, with her daughter, was the
very one; but Uncle Seth said nothing
about it. He did not know they were
poor and took IN sewing. But we did
not dare to ask any questions, and Z
don't think he heard of it.
We had just been having a spelling
match and discussing it when Uncle
Seth came in.
"Hurrah !! Bob" he said. $50 you
beat all the boys in the high school and
academy in spelling. I congratulate
you"
Yes" said Bob, ~complacently; "but
i a fAao1all at last.
!" What was the word that brought
you DOWN."
"Zinziberaceous," he answered sm1l-
Enough to bring anybody down, 1
think" said uncle Seth, sympa-
thizingly. "Dees it mean the condition
OF things in the ark?"
"No, it means pertaining to ginger.
So Smart says, in Webster"
"The man must be smart who invents
words as shem," said Uncle Seth.
"But Pollie," said he, turning to me,
" why don't You girls get up the same
kind of mateh2 I thought girls were
fond of making matches"
"Do you suppose we could ever have
courage to spell in the town hall, uncle
Seth? | believe / should forget how to
spell dog"
Whist is the use of having a spelling
We have had a spell of spelling
until every one is sick of the sound of
,he word. Excuse me, Bob, ! mean all
the heroes of the occasion. But,
Polite, ! propose a cooking match"
Good" said papa.
"Capital!" cried Bob. "Tn be on
he tasting committee /"
Well give you the zinziberaceoua
.rticle to try" said uncle Seth, laughing.
What is the restofyour plan, Seth I"
sked mother.
II propose to give a prize of five dol
ars for the best cake, twenty for the
'est bread, and FIVE for the best fancy
ca dish. | propose that we give this no
ice publicly, and that the articles for
ompetition all Re sent in to the town
two weeks from to-day at eight
clock and that a committee of three
adies-there's luck in odd numbers, you
now, be appointed the judges. Isups
ose that we have music and readings,
nd at the end announce the prizes and
ass around the cake, and / will provide
,monade.
" But" said Bob, "you have made no
revision for tickets. lei to be free %
!" No, we will have a limited number
{ tickets at a dollar apiece, and the sur
ius money shall buy flour for the poor
Of the town.
I clapped my hands and kissed Uncle
eth, and told him he was the most splen-
Id uncle that ever was made, but that
NO weeks was two short a time for me
, practice.
Bob laughed 1t this, and expressed b;s
esire that ! would not give the family
benefits, or my experiments, in the
eantime. as he had too fresh ~recolIee-
ems of asking for bread and receiving q
once upon a time. That wal only
o true; but he played baseball with
le biscuit and won the game for the
fst time, 50 he had no right to complain.
Then mamma--dear practical mansna
reminded Uncle Seth that he had not
nlted the age, and asked If she was to
! permitted to try for the prizes.
"Therel | did not forget that, be
ID, 1T shall be open to girls under
Fenty. I think it would he discourae-
6 to the younger mes to see proofs Of