The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-08-21
For the Farmer and Mechanic.
Housekeeping in Hot Weather.

take my place in the kitchen, and at the
cooking stove. And to make the matter
still more tantalizing, a lot of books, which
l had been wanting to read for years, were
sent in tC me just tfen, by some kind friends.
But what is the use of ~fretting over what
can't be helped? | went bravely into the
kitchen and looked around. Breakfast was
to consist of beefsteak, hominy, biscuits and
coffee. Very simple breakfast, say the eat
ers thereof, but not so very simple to an in
experienced cook. But at length it is ac-
complished and with a face the color Of a
boiled lobster, | ring the breakfast bell. |
then lie down to rest while one of the yonng-
er members of the family undertakes the
dish washing and kitchen cleaning. But
dinner is a still heavier job, and supper caps
the climax. After breakfast next morning,
| sit down on the cool front piazza, and take
my Bible to read. 1t opens at the 10th
chapter of St. Luke, and presently | come
to the verse, Martha, Martha, thou art
careful and troubled about many things
and then our Lord adds, consolingly, but
one thing is needful." remember hearing
that Adam Clarke translated this passage,
but one dish is needful.' Somewhat
afraid that this rendering might be consid-
cred protane by those who had always
thought the expression referred to redemp-
ton, | decided to look into a Greek tesla
ment, with a literal English translation IN
terlined. | found it thus: Martha, Mar
tina, thou are anxious and troubled about
many things; Of one bit IS need"
rect English when literally translated, but
things for much serving) about which Mar
tina was so anxious, only one was needful.
The next clause undoubtedly, does refer to
eternal redemption, MARY hath chosen that
good part which shall not be taken from her."
Had Martha been willing to set before her
guests the ''one dish that was needful' to
satisfy hunger. she too, might have sat at
Jesus feet and learned the great truths of
salvation.
| felt like a load was removed from my
shoulders, and determined to cook but one
dish for each meal; at least as long as the
thermometer ranged between SO and 100. So
that day for dinner, | copied the French
woman's ~pot-dujeu. | put the beet, toma-
toes, peeled and slicedl, one or two onions,
green corn and cabbage all into a large porce-
lain lined kettle, and 'iet it rip" while | sat
down to reading, not IN the kitchen, but just
outside on the piazza, where | could hear it
my soup boiled over;-or smell if it burned
to the kettle. And with an interesting book
before me, how delightfully."- spent the NOR
ming. Just a half hour before serving my
Sup 4 liz III " 1obASoloO1A'A Al - -
and one of sugar with the necessary pepper
and salt. The flour gave 1t the cOnslstence
of thin cream, and the gentlemen OF the
family pronounced it capital. Cold bread
and butter and a dish of uncoOked sliced to-
matoes, with Just as much fruit out Of the
orchard as they chose to gather, completed
the repast. Now | know this is not fash
ionable soup, but | know also that it is de
| licious and healthful, and that a woman who
L. -, nurn anol,nr 20 aAnrl 70 no
fashionable. While my soup was boiling, |
filled the oven of the stove with large, nice
baking apples, and they baked beautifully
by the time dinner was ready. ) you had
tuo cooked dishes instead of one exclaims
some merry girl, glad to catch somebody
tripping.
Not at all, my dear young.lady, those baked
apples were set away and eaten cold Tor sup
per, with Just as much milk and sugar to
deluge them with, as everybody pleased
/ but no tea or coffee. No cooking at all for
supper. If people cannot eat cold baked
apples or pears or raw soft peaches with milk
and sugar and cold bread and butter for
supper, they deserve to go hungry. Next
morning my one cooked dish was hashed
beef. Bakers bread and exc, lent coffee
and butter completed the meal. Every wo-
man In the country can use baker $ bread IT
she wills it. Some of her family are in town
every few days, and can bring out a supply
of bread. 1t is a duty which farmers owe to
their wives and daughters to tighten their
labors that much. And | believe that moth
ing would improve the art of cookery SO
much as having but one dish at each meal.
They would take 50 much pains to make that
one dish perfect. We ought also, like the
better class of French and Spanish, to have
fruit at ece,y meal, and not allow children to
eat it at any other time. Figs and cante,
loupes for breakfast, water melons and
grapes for your dinners desert; and soft
peaches, or baked or stewed apples or pears
to add to your cold milk and bread for sup
per. Live like rational Christian people;
but one dish is needful'' whether you are
rich or poor.
Nv cook is now convalescent however, AMI
| as she can't read and cooking IS rather ,1n ~
teresting% occupation to her, | let things take
their usual course. But advise al women
49, - ,oaI j pIaaSant hook now and