The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-07-28

skill like yours placed in comparison
with theirs"
And this was the way that our cook
ing match was planned.
The loDg-wished for evening came at
last, and only one addition had been
made to Uncle Seth's plan, and that was
that those who sent in contributions
should be admitted free.
The hall was beautifully trimmed with
evergreens and m~ayaowers; the tables
were covered with snowy white cloths,
and each had a pretty centrepiece Of
flowers; the place for the band was
among the green cedars and flags in the
gallery; and the platform was ranged
with red, white and blue drapery, ever
greens and candles. There were seats in
centre for the judge and committee Of
award, and the steps where the success
full aspirants were to go up for their
prizes were carpeted with blue and bor-
dered with pots of white g%eraniums. The
girls themselves, all with white aprons
and jaunty muslin caps, were to wait
upon the people and pass the lemon
ade and cake after the prizes had been
given. =
The committee had their room back
| of the hall; and after the commencement
when every dish had been seen first by
the audience, they were carried to the
committee to be inspected. There were
seats in the hall but the
people promenaded as the band played !;
and when the readings were given out.
they sat down and listened. By the.way
Bob was not put on the tasting commit,
tee, and he says he shall not forgive him
as long as he lives. know he will be-
fore Christmas, though Bob never picks
up a quarrel with any of us during the
month OF December.
Just here I must tell you a bit ola
conversation 7 heard between Uncle
Seth and mother the night before the
cooking match.
81 think you have planned a capital
thing, Seth, to interest the girls in cook
ing. There has not been such an excite
ment in Riverbanks for months and
that is a branch of h~ousewifery they all
neglect, at least nearly all. I heard a
young lady say the other day that she
was going to housekeeping in a week
and do her own work, but she never had
cooked anythingin her life but chocolate
caramels."
eyes" said Seth, "and the worst
feature of it is, they boast of their igno-
rance"
"They wont do that in Riverbanks
now, for you have made it the fashion
to cook. But why did you fancy tea
dishes ?"
Because SO few women understand
cooking them, and a savory bit of tea is
always appreciated. Something be-
sides pies and cakes, or instead of them
something with a character to it.
Brains can be used in cooking as we'll as
anything else"
"Calf brains and pluck?" asked
mamma, laughing.
ono; New Englaad brains and New
England pluck, which all of our girls
have if they would oHly use them. By
the way, Maria, do you remember that
Turkish pillar pronounced piIahf, a de-
coction of lice boiled in rich mutton
broth and tomato water, and a great IA
vorite in Turkey, Helen used to make
from the receipt I brought from Con-
s%tantinople? No one else could ever do
it SO we'll as the people in the east, ex-
cept Holen-my Helen, you remember,
Maria?" s.
l had bren wondering who this Helen
could be, whom l had never before heard
of; but when he spoke in a lower tone
and said "my Helen" then I knew.
While the people were listening to the
music, | slipped into the back room to
see Uncle Seth. The committee were
buzzing like three great bumble-bees and
Uncle Seth vas looking on quietly, rub
bling his hands and smiling, when sud-
denly the three women all stopped
scattering and held up thef hands in
horror and wonder. SAT last one. of them
spoke, "What in the world is this mess?'
Then the third says: at is colored
salmon" AS if that itself were enough
to condemn it.
Then the third, as if a new idea had
occurred to her, proposed to taste it.
"You may said the first, ~ don't
want to. It's something from the shan
ties, / know"
Then Uncle Seth came forward and
looked. Yon ought to have seen his
face; first he turned red, and then white,
and then went back to his chair.
What could it be? Whatever il was
only m dared to taste it, and by
universal consent it was put aside.
Then / went around by Uncle Seth and
said softly:
What do you suppose it is? A kind
of witch compound
Eye of newt and toe of frog.
Wool of bat and owIet's wing,
Nose Of Turk and Tartar's lips -"
1T would take the nose of a Turk to
know it, or else mine," said he. "Bring
it here, Polite. Let me try it. / don't