The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-04-14
THU wuEE1 ENC DAILY REGISTER.

toes and coffee-sn cooking. What's
= next2 Oh, yes the rice. / wonder
how much ought to get outl There's
mother standing on the porch. I'll call
and ask. "A nice dishfulT Oh, yes, OF
course. bow absurd in me to ask when
I see il on the table 90 oflenl And now,
ftha. everything ois cooking. Ill get
something to read, Tor they say q
watched pot never boils, and l won't risk
IT,"
But soon my rice-pot claimed sttsn.
ton. It was boiling overI "l've put it
IN the wrong pot, that's ALL" was my
mental ejaculation as drew forth =
larger vessel, and proceeded to make fair
division. Then, side BY side l swung
the pots.
"What an unsavory odor2 That, per-
haps, is popularity OF chicken, and as 1t
has been on long enough to be tender,
| I'll put it in the oven to bake not for
getting to sprinkle it with -four, pepper,
butter and salt, according to directions,
or occasionally put q little more butter
, on during baking. That, suppose, is
to make it brown better" And now
for my book again.
But what is the matter with the
rice?' l stood aghast, and gazed upon
! the pots and their snowy white contents.
like one IN dream In desperation
l seized third and still larger pot, and
from both vessels proceeded TO practical
ly ill it.
That riceI Even now l never think
of 1t without sirkening sensation. For
two days it was served in every conceiv-
able style; as a substitute for tea, fried
for breakfast, and pudding for diner.
Just before dinner father returned
from town, accompanied by Cousin Will,
who was my special aversion, insomuch
as he never let pass an opportunity to
plague me. On this account, therefore,
was, if possible, more anxious than ever
that my dinner should be a success With
them came also Harry Lee. Now, l had
often been leased about Harry. He GER
tainly came to the house great deal,
and danced with me at all the parties,
and IN other ways showed his admira-
ton. As yet, however, could not make
up nv mind whether liked him or not.
He was rich, accomplished and hand
some, and the girls all envied what they
called "my fortune" but l was, L must
confess, little afraid of him. He was
60 selt-contained that had an idea be
was severe. l was all in flutter, there
FORE when found he had come to din
ner, and trem bed lest there should be
some mistake. l almost regretted that
[ had undertaken to play the part OF
G ok. What, in the morning, had seemed
to Inc such rare fun, now appeared to be
the very reverse.
But there was nothing TO do, but to
put good face on the matter, and go
on. All things being ready, l set the
table, sweetened can of peaches, and
proceeded to take up dinner. The
chicken | considered done to turn; but |
neither biscuit nor potatoes had exactly |
the right look, the former being undenla
bly, yellow and hard. One accidentally |
dropping on the floor, startled me with |
It's solid thud. The potatoes, regret to
say, were in condition that rendered |
the use OF spoon not simply nvenlent,
but simply essential.
At lenght, with beating heart, flushed |
cheeks and burnt fingers, | announced |
all things as ready and the family as
sembled in the dnniDg-room.
"a very nice looking dinner, indeed
said father, wisely fixing his eye upon the
side table, where stood the desert of cake
mot OF my making) and the canned
fruit "Here, WILL" he added, Il have
the headache; take this seat. if you
please, and carve.
"And SO, Cousin Retts, you have
turned cook" said Will "a very nice
looking dinner, considering" Here he
suddenly paused, laid down The carving
knife, and for an inst,nt puzzled ex-
preston overspread his face. Then, in
spite of all efforts to restrain himself, be
burst into An uncomfortable tit of
laughter. "Why, what's the matter
with the chicken" he exclaimed, at
length. Mother in mild tones came to
my relief.
They forgot to SINCE it properly for
Retts" she said apologetcslly. sup.
pose we have it taken away. Let us
try tae ham,"
II would be useless for me TO try to en-
ter into the details of that dinner, or to
attempt TO repeat the many jokes that
Will made at my expense. During That
hour | learned the Importance OF grind
ing coffee, and discovered that hot water
WAS preferable to cold in making that
most delightful beverage. That part OF
nv instructions l listened to IN meekness
of spirit, but when the whole egg, which
had been bofled in the cotfte-pot, was
taken out, and even mother laughed, 1t
WAS more than [ could bear. The tears
would come.
1t was with feeling OF relief l arose
to remove the dishes and help to dessert.
"Tbis ut least is one thing about which
there can be nothing wrong l said to
myself. Had not, in remembrance OF
the family propensity for sweet things,
put two full cups of sugar on those
peaches? Was not the cream rich IN
quality and abundant IN quantity? What
more could be deslred2
80. Retta, TO atone for this peculiar
ly.served dinner, you have given us our
fsvorite dessert" sad father, leisurely
stirring the cream and sugar into his
peaches before tasting them.
"And full atonement 1t u.s. replied
Will, still ughing, as he raised his spoon
to his lips.
How Shall tell the sequel? The next
instant Will sprang from the table and
rushed out of the room, with father fol-
lowing close at his heels. | turned first
from mother to sister tor explanation,
did not dare to look at Harry, but had
they taken dose of qainine they could
not have worn upon their faces look
pressive of greater dlsmsy aud disgust.
I had not yet helped myself, but selz-
Ing q spoon plunged it into the peaches.
When I had tasted all WAS clear. had
sailed instead of sugared the fruit.
[ afterwards found that L had mis-
taken the sugar barrel. Both stood to-
gether in the store-room, side by SIDE,
and | had used their contents without
looking critically al them. Hence my