Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-11-27
MisftIlantous.
The First Dinner.

''Oh. ye.. mother. please let her 20
iun. Don't say no
And YOU really ihiuk you can do Il!
''Oh. YES. am sure we can. | We &c;
Into any trouble, there's oil Dinah 10 put
us n sh; again
Very vel. then. Matilda II Miss Ret
IA l. willing to undertake getting dinner,
you NAY go" And thus settling the ques-
tinn. moihsr resumed her Interrupted read
ing. ihoush tor some moments Au amused
smile played about her lips.
1t VA. the first Foufih OF July after the
war. and though al OF our old servants had
remained wilh u, until then. they were
now anxious To- attend a grand celebration
that wa, to take place on al adjoining
piautaiiou. and 10 which they had beeu IN
vited
30 each and all had received permission
TO 20 bat the cook For how MAS It pos
,iolc for the cook to eaY". Mother could
not get dinner hri >elf. even II .hc Knew
how. which she did not: she Ma too deli
cate For sister aud | TO attempt II >--mri
equally absurd. WAIST could gIr,>. uuAc-
Cu>tomed even TO dressing ihrm.r.y"-.
know Ot coohinsS There seemed To be- no
help tor il, aud mother wA> just saying. Il
am sorry to dsappoiui you. Matilda.
when the thought which fJTm- our in
uuductory remarks suggested H.cli - my
mind and so. a. We have said, II was sell
tied
Prepare iu-t what you please, but do
not attempt too much. vas mothers final
advice, aud highly delighted With the per-
mission. ,i-i-r and | proceeded TO make
out our bill OF fare Baked chicken. cold
ham, rlce. sweet potatoes. loai-oresd,
pickle and preserves. With canned peaches
for dessert, We're the articles finally agreed
upon
Don't YOU think, my dear" said moth
er, ''you had better dispense with chicken
Who viii prepare 1t:
We hadn't thought Of that Bu, to give
Il up!
Never" said sister. "I'il run out In
the kitchen aud tell Matilda she must pre-.
pare II for cooking before she leaves.
/ That's all right she continued, retutuIng z
after ies moments absence. Matilda
says she'll see that Ben catches and Kills a
chicken a. once"
| Was so impatient TO begin my novel EN-
ployment that | scarcely waited for the
servants to leave, before fastened TO the
kitchen. There. TO my surprise, saw Ben
sitting npon an uptarned bucket, and wear
ing upon his dusky countenance, an In
de.crbable look of detection. Resting his
elbows on his knees. with a chicken dang
ling between them, he looked up wistiully
as | entered
why, Ben, why didn't you 20 with the
croHdr What are you waiting for;'
"Didn't git fru wild dis here chicken in
time. and mummy said had II to do. fore
l sot my iooi across de fence. Neboer did
| see such hard Old thing TO pick" he adj
HaH rn.rttfr he yaza1 lnpt,iutrty
the field and over the hill beyond which
the last Of the happy throns had a few mo-
ments before disappeared.
"lou have done it very nicely. indeed"
said |, encouragingly. for thought IL look
ed quite perfect. What else is there 10 be
done? Maybe can finish il.
"Got 10 be singed, and dc feet cut off y
he replied. course you can't know how
to do dat. Singeing chickins 'quires
'speranced hands. If il amt muffin but hol.
din them over der fire.
ION. no; that's easy enough cried.
"Cut of the feet, and III do tue rest
kin you. sure nut nowy' inquired the
boy, his face frightening op.
''Oh. yes. OF cour.e can. But II yon
don't hurry. you wont be able TO overtake
the rest OF them"
"Yaas. ms'am. will he exclaimed; :;
-FiZlug tue Tue lsgs
at the proper joints, and placed the fowl Ia
my outstreiched hands.
Ben had Just disappeared when sister
entered.
You are in good time" said 1. Run
and ask Aunt Dinah how this chicken must
be treated to bake it, Aunt Dinah was
bed-ridden old servant, the only one left at
home And then wash and put on the
potatoes. | think this sort of thing splen-
did-don't you:-and well get on so swim
mingly.'
Alas for human nature. Turning to leave
the kitchen, sisters foot slipped upon the
feathers. which Ben in his haste had neg
lected 10 gather up; aud though she was
not seriously injured by the fail. her ankle
received a wrench which rendered her un-
ft for work. Thus was left alone in my
glory. or course. now that the getting of
the dinner developed entirely upon me.
drew on my thinking cap with renewed Wig
or.
Biscuit. Let me see-they are made out
OF fiour. salt. lard, and water. No" said | ::
"upon reflection am convinced that wa
ter is only used TO econOmize lard, and II
shan't go IN. Dear ne, there is no salt in
the box, sud now, with my hand all stuck
up 10 this way, must 90 to the storeroom.
wonder, too. how much ought TO put 10 !.
A half teacup will do, suppose. How it
sticks to my hands! Not greasy enough,
perhaps. 50 IN add another spoonful OF
lard. declare it is strange how hard 1t 10
to make biscuit all Of size. give IL up I;
and so they must go to the oven In shape
li.e verbs-regular and defective.
Il believe Dinsh said something about
putting a little water In the oven with the
potatoes 10 steam them. ! wonder what
good ii will do them7 Oh! l remember.
she said il wsuld soften them! But why
put su iiuie? Ii will only soften one side.
and certainly am not going To turn them
over while hot No. indeed. I'll oil the
oven and be done with il.
"Now, for the conee-pot. A measure Of
coffee, three pints of water. Il don't sap