Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-06-01
AUNT PRUE'S NEW YEARS DINNER

AUNT PRUE'S NEW YEARS DlNNEI
''Sour bread again, DEAR" said, or rather
growled, Walter Allison, rising young
lawyer, as he pushed his plate away
do you think it is sour, Wally? L
seems to me only to taste little of thu
yeast"
''Yesst? There's always an excuse, yol
know. 1t wasn't yeast that made the cot
fee bitter yesterday"
But it hasn't been bitter before fol
MONTHS
cit should never be. It seems to me
wo ian has time enough to attend thor
oughly TO all these trifilng matters. Inev
er knew my Aunt Prue to make mistake
Pray, write to her, and get her recipe fol
bread. 1t was the lightest, sweetest-''
He looked up in establishment. Bessv
his loving little Bessy, had rushed from
the room.
''Always Aunt Prue! Always Aunt
Prue!' cried Bessy, walking the floor Of
her chamber, distractedly, "I'm so tired
of fault finding, when I'm doing my best
I'm almost sorry But 70: Will not say
that. For better, for worse. Oh, deal
ne! I'll write to Aunt Prue. and tell hel
l.about it,"
AS she sat down to her little writing
desk, {. thought occurred to her, " hcl
/ provoked a perplexed and yet amused smile
and her pen was set speedily at work We
will only copy Il sentence or two:
81 know that 'Wally' is the apple of your
eye, as. indeed, he is of mine; but he has
been so accustomed to your excellent house
keeping, to be cooked and car d for as
lie says, by his dear Aunt Prue, that he is
a little exacting. | know was a pool
housekeeper when we were first married
and then lie was SO very patient that
could not but try my best to improve; and
having put my heart and will IN the work,
think my efforts have been successful.
Indeed do my best to please him, but
! you cannot, tell with what delight ]
look forward to your long promised visit.
We have talked of it for weeks-baby,
Walter, and land our little enc has learn
ed some. sweet words Of welcome for Aunt
Prue. They sound SO prettily from her
cherry lips!
but to the point. Walter is good
husband. Oh, don't think like to speak
OF single fault; but [ must tell you how
he disheartens me. When J think I have
seasoned some fayorits dish entirely to his
liking, he is sure to find that fail in some
thing. Wait till Aunt Prue comes Just
ask Aunt Prune how she does this or that,
OF, I'D give half I'm worth'-whch amt
much, poor fellow taste one of Aunt
Prue's dinners Now, Aunty, as we ex-
pect you here next week, for the New
Years holidays, have been thinking of
asking you if you will cook the New Years
Day dinner, without Walters knowledge,
of course.
'''Saucy minX!' I fancy you will be
tempted to say and indeed | believe it is
q little impairment but nevertheless.
hope yon will accede to the request, be-
cause you see am almost desperate.
"There is some humor in the arrange
ment, too, as l look at it, and | know you
enjoy fun so please say Yes, Then we
shall see if Walters criticisms are Just, or
whether that odious wolf, habit, has fasten-
ed his fangs SO strongly upon my dear, good
husband, that he is almost or quite uncon-
scious of it,"
Such was part of the letter received by
Miss Prue Webster, and which she read
by her cheerful open CRATE.
ttTho ,,oor oJ,iJJ -, .ol,o ~
ing off her spectacles. "The pretty, proud
little thing !! Wally must have transgress-
ed, indeed to bring out plant like that,
for under all the playfulness there is cry
that goes to my heart. I know how it is,
for his father was 50 before him. Yes, he
must have lesson, and Bessy has hit upon
just the thing. How much L shall enjoy
his criticism, either way y
So she wrote to the niece she had never
met In person, that she would cook the
first dinner, and then refreshed her imagi>
nation by looking at Bessys photograph.
She had well called her a proud, pretty
little thing. Such sweetness and such
pride are seldom combined in the same
countenance. Every feature was replete
with beauty of it's kind the nose straight
and delicate the lips firm, yet tenderly
arahsd this eyes smiling and lustrous; the
face perfect oval ana, TO CROWN all, tbs
soft, wayy hair thrown carelessly from
the low brow, and braided in massive
coronet. This was the picture of which
Walter had written two years ago, as
follows;
ut is not half as beautiful as the origi-
nal; color, motion, and grace are wanting.
But oh, Aunty, she is thousand times
too lovely and too good.for me. Shall I
sgeF &c worthy of such a treasure ?"
"And now, since she has condescended
to step down from the pedestal Of worship,
and care for and cook for him, he must
needs finds fault with every effort she
makes to please his fastidious palate . she
said, Indignantly. s'11l give hira lesson =
And she INDUCED her sense Of amusement
by contemplating the sort Of punishment
she intended to mete out to her nephew.
The thirtieth of December came, and
when Walter returned home at night he
said:
| 81 had telegram this morning. Aunt