Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-06-13
AUNT PRUE'S NEW YEARS DINNER.

| yoenS Ao"yci as h0 puoAeu las pldle
away.
DO you think it is sour, Wally? 1t
seems to me onlyfto taste little of the
yeast"
"Yeast? There's always an excuse,
you know. 1t wasn't yeast that made
the coffee bitter yesterday"
''But it hasn't been bitter before fol-
months"
ut should never be. It seems to me
a woman has time enough to attend
thoroughly to all these trifing matters.
1 never knew nay Aunt Prue to make a
mistake. Pray, write to her, and get
her recipe for bread. 1t was the light
est, sweetest"
He looked up in establishment, Bessy,
his loving little Bessy, had rushed from
the room.
| always Aunt Prue! Always Aunt
Prue!" cried Bessy, walking the floor
other chamber, distractedly, 'I'm so
tired Of fault finding, when I'm doing
my best. I'm almost sorry-But no:
will not say that. For better, for
worse. Oh, dear me I'll write to
Aunt Prue, and tell her about it."
AS she sat down to her little writing
desk, thought occurred to her. which
provoked a perplexed and yet amused
smile, and her pen was sat speedily at
work. We will only copy sentence
Or two:
Il 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 cared for as he says. by his dear
Aunt Prue, that he is little exacting.
1 know I was poor housekeeper when
we were first married, and then he was
so very patient that I could not but try
my best to improve; and having put
my heart and will in the work, I think
my efforts have been successful. In
deed 1 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 one has
learned 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 I like to
speak of a single fault; but must tell
you how he disheartens me. When
think I have seasoned some favoritc
dish entirely to his liking, he is sure to
find that 1 fail in something, wait till
Aunt Prue comes Just ask Aunt Prue
how she does this or that, or, I'D give
half I'm worth'-which amt much.
poor fellow. to taste one of Aunt
Prue's dinners Now, Aunty, as we
expect you here next week, for the
New Years holidays, 1 have been
thinking of asking you if you will cook
the New Years Day dinner, without
Walters knowledge, of course.
''Saucy mink !" I fancy you will be
tempted to say and indeed I believe it
is a little impairment; but neverthe-
less: 1 hope you will accede to the re-
quest, because you see I am almost
desperate.
'There is some humor in the arrange
ment, too, as look at it, and I know
you enjoy fun; so please say Yes.
Then we shall see if Walters criticisms
are just, or whether that odious wolf,
habit, has fastened his fangs so strongly
upon my dear, good husband, that he is
almost or quite unconscious of it,"
Such was part of the letter received
by Miss Prue Webster, and which she
read by her cheerful open CRATE.
1.-THE poor childw she murmured,
taking off her spectacles. ''The pretty,
proud little thing! Wally must have
transgressed, Indeed to bring out a
Iplaint like that, for under all the play.
fulness there is cry that goes to my
heart. l know how it is, for his father
Twas so before him. Yes, he must have
a lesson, and Bessy has hit upon just
the thing. How much L shall enjoy
his criticism, either way"
So she wrote to the niece she had never
met in person, that she would cook the
first dinner, and then refreshed her
imagination by looking at Bessy IS
photograph.
She had well called her proud, pretty
little thing. Such sweetness and
such pride are seldom combined in
the same countenance. Every fea-
tture was replete with beauty
of its kind; the nose straight and
delicate; the lips firm yet tenderly
larched; the eyes smiling and lustrous /;
the face perfect oval; and, to crown
all, the soft, wave hair thrown careless
| ly from the brow, and braided in a
massive coronet. This was the picture
Of whluh Walter had written two years
lago, as follows:
1 sit is not half as beautiful as the
original; color, motion, and grace are
wanting. But oh, Aunty, she is a
| thousand times too lovely and too good
for me. Shall l ever be worthy of such
treasure?
''And now, since she has condescen-
| ded to step down from the pedestal Of
wnrshin and care for and cool fny hin,