Richland beacon., 1877-08-04
Uncle Seth's Cooking Match.

Uncle Seth was-was, Uncle Seth He
was a character by himself. 1here was
never anybody like him, and he was hot
like anybody.
He was an old bachelor, but he took
care Of 50 many poor widows and father
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 plans until 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 dlsap-
pointed when he was young. That he
loved pretty, gay young girl, butbefore
he asked her to marry him, he thought
he would go to sea second time, and
"make his crown pound" But she,
with all her love and romance, without a
thought for the practical part of life
what 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 wert
DOOR and took IN sewing. But we die
not dare to ask any questions. and
don't think he heard of it.
We had just been having spelling
match and discussing it when Unci
Seth came in.
"Hurrah Bob" he said. $50 yo'
beat all the boys in the high school ant
academy in spelling. l congratulate
you" ~,
"Yes," said Bob, complacsntly; "bu
had to fall at last"
"What was the word that Trough
you down."
"Zinziberaceous," he answered ami
ingly. ...
Enough to bring anybody down,
should think" said uncle Seth, symps
thizingly. "Dees it mean the conditio
of things in the ark9"
"No, it means pertaining to gingel
So Smart says, in Webster"
"The man must be smart who invent
such words as them," said Uncle Seth
"But Pollie," said he, turning to mi
"why don't you girls get up the sam
kind of match? 1 thought girls wer
fond of making matches"
"Do you suppose we could ever hav
courage to spell in the Town hall, uncl
Seth? 1 believe 1 should forget how
spell dog"
"What is the use Of having a spellin
match? We have had spell of spellin
until evevy one is sick of the sound {
the word. Excuse me, Bob, mean q
but the heroes of the occasion. Blu
Polite, propose a cooking match"
Good" said papa.
"Capital!" cried Bob. "Pn be o
the tasting committee J"
"we'n give you the zinziberaceor
article to try" said uncle Seth, laughing
"what is the res: ofyour plan, Seth
asked mother.
81 propose to give prize of five do
lars for the best cake, twenty for tt
best bread, and five for the best fanc
tea dish. l propose that we give this NJ
tice publicly, and that the articles Il
competition all re sent in to the tow
hall two weeks from to-day at eigl
O'Clock; and that a committee of thr'
ladies-there's luck in odd numbers, yo
know, be appointed the judges. / su
pose that We have music and reading
and at the end announce the prizes al
pass around the cake, and l will previ'
lemonade.
"But." said Bob, "you b I'VE made
provision for tickets. Lit to be free
uNo wo w;Il have a limited numl,
of tickets at dollar apiece, and the 81
plus money shall buy flour for the 20
widows Of the town."
clapped my hands and kissed UNI
Seth, and told him he was the most spie
did uncle that ever was made, but th
two weeks was two short a time for !
to practice.
Roh lauohed at this. and expressed