The Republican journal., 1877-07-19
Aunt Prue'S Dinner.

Aunt Prue's Dinner.
Sour bread again, dear" said, OF
rather growcd, Walter Allison. a rising
young lawyer, as he pushed his plate
away.
"Do YOU think it is sour, Wally 1t
seems to me only to taste u little of the
yeast"
"least There's always an excuse,
YOU know 1t wasn't yeast that made
the coffee bitter yesterday"
But it hasn't been bitter before for
months"
at should never be. 1t seems to me
d woman has time enough to attend
thoroughly to all these tritling matters
never knew my Aunt Prue to make Il
mistake. Pray, write to her, and get her
receipt for bread 1t was the lightest,
sweetest
He looked up in establishment. Bessy,
his loving little Bessy, had rushed from
the room.
"Always Aunt Pruc. Always Aunt
Prue," cried Bessy, walking the floor of
her chamber, distractedly. "I'm 50 tired
Of tault-hnding, when | am 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 all about it,
As she sat down to her little writing
desk a thought occurred to her which
provoked Il perpleNed and yet amused
smile, and her pen Was speedily at work.
We will only copy Il sentence or two.
Il know that 'Wally' is the apple of your eye
as, indeed, he is Of mime: but he has been So ac-
customed To yonr excellent housekeeping, to BE
cooked and cared ior' as he says. by his dear Aunt
Pruc, that he is Il little Just a little. cXacting |
know was poor housekeeper when We're first
married, then he was SO Very patient that could
bat try my best to improve: and having put heart
and will in the work. | think my efforts have been
successful Indeed do my best to please him,
but
Iou cannot tell with what delight ! look for
ward TO your long promised visit. We have talked
of ii for weeks-baby, Walter and l-ind our lit
tie one has learned some sweet words OF welcome
for Aunt Prue They sound SO prcttiy from her
cherry lips.
But to the point Walter is good husband
Oh. don't think that | like to speak of single
fault; but must tell Won how he disheartens me
When think have seasoned some f;ivorite dish
entirely to his liking he is sure to find that fail
i'll something Wait till Aunt l'rue comes Just
ask Aunt Prue how She does this or that or I'd
give half I'm worth.'-whch amt mach. poor tel-
lOW-'tu taste Of Aunt Prue's nice dinners.
for the New ears holidays, have been thinking
OF asking You if You will cook the New Years Day
dinner, without Walters knowledge Of course
'Saucy mink ! fancy. You will be tempted to
say: and indeed believe it is little impertincnt
but nevertheless. hope that You will accede to
There is some humor i'll the arrangement. too.
as look at it, and know you enjoy fun; please
say Yes When shall see if Walters criticisms
are lllSt. or whether that odious Wof-habt has
fastened his tangs so strongly upon my dear, good
husband, that he is almost, or quite unconscious
Of his fault
Such was a part OF the letter received
by Miss Prue Webster, and which she
read by her cheerful open CRATE.
"'rhe poor child" she murmure,l, tax
ing off her spectacleS'. "The pretty, proud
little thing. Wally must have trans
gresscd, indeed, to bring out a plaint like
that, for under all the playfulness there
is a cry that goes to my heart. | know
how it is, for his father was so before him.
Yes, he must have Il lesson and Bcssy
has hit upon just the thing. How much
shall enjoy his criticism, either way"
SO she wrote to her neice she had never
met i'll person, that she would cook the
first dinner, and then refreshed her i'm
aglnatlon by looking at Bcssy's photo
graph.
She had we'll called hera proud, pretty
pride are seldom combined in the same
countenance. Every feature was replete
with beauty of its kind; the nose straight
and delicate, the lips firm, yet tenderly
archcd; the eyes smiling and lustrous
the face Il perfect oval and to crown all,
the soft, Wavy hair thrown carclcssly from
the low brow, and braided in a massive
coronet. This was the picture OF which
Walter had written just two years ago,
us follows:
''It is not half as beautiful the original Color
motion and grace are wanting. But oh Aunty,
she Is thousand times too lovely and too good
tnr me. Shall | ever be worthy of such treasure 2
and now, since she has condesccnded
to step down from the pedestal of wor-
ship, and care for and cook for him, he
must needs find fault with every effort
she makes to please his tastidiUuS palate
she said, Indignantly. "Tl give him {;
lesson" And she indulged her sense OF
amusement by contemplating the sort OF
punishment she intended to mete out to
her erring nephew.
The thirtictl of December came, and
when Walter returned home, at night, he
said,
II had telegram this morning. Aunt
Prue will be here 10y the seven O'Clock
train tomorrow. | suppose you have
everything readye'
"Quite ready" was Bessy's reply, "and
very anxious to make her comfortable
Would you like to see her room 2"
"Well, yes, don't care if | do,' sale
| Walter, who had come home in an eX-
ceptionally good humor; and taking lit
tie Lulu upon his shoulder, the chilC
growing with delight, he followed his wife
up stairs, thinking that very probably he
might be able to suggest some improve
ment. 1t was his way rather to suggest
alterations. then to speak well of what
was already DONE 'Dont YOU think
you've looped the curtains too low ?" he
queried. "And isn't it rather childish t(
tie them with blue ?"
81 thought blue was your favOrte col
Or" said Bessy, who had fancied her ar
rangement of the one bay window mas
| ter-plece.
eyes; but you see the hanging -bas1-
ct in the centre being necessarily COM
posed of green plants and vines, makes
the contrast unpleasant"
"True enough" said Bessy, with the
least possible tinge of sarcasm in hel
voice. ~ might have looped them will
green. But then, you see, have draped
the toilet with blue ; and the carpet, hap
pening to be blue and fawn, perhaps the
contrast might have been still more un-
pleasant Shall | take the basket down
You know you said your aunt was fond
of plants"