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

yeS-the rice. | wonder now muCh Ougnt
to get OUT There's mother standing Oh
the porch. III call and ask, A nice dish
fun Oh, yes, of course. How absurd In
me to ask. when | see Il on the table so Of
ten, And now that everything Is cooking,
III get something 10 read. Tor they say a
watched pot never boils, aud won't risk
IT,
But soon my rice-pot claimed attention.
Ii was boiling over. I've put on the
wrong pot, that's all" WAS my mental
ejaculation. as drew forth "A larger vessel.
and proceeded to make fair division.
Then side bv side | swung the pots.
What an unsavory odor. That. perhaps,
Ia a peculiarly OF chicken, and as It has
been on long enough to be tender. I'll put
1t In the oven to bake. not forgetting 10
sprinkle II with -four, pepper, butter and
salt according 10 directions, or occasion.
ally put a little more butter on while bak-
ing. That, suppose, is to make It better.
And now for my book again.
But what Is the matter with that rices'
| stood sghasI and gaxed upon the pots
and their snowy white contents, like ore
In dream. In desperation seized third
and still larger pot, and from both vessels
proceeded practically 10 MI Il.
That rice, Even now | never think Of
Il without 4 slckening sensation. For two
days II was served 10 every conceivable
style; a. substitute for tea. fried for
breakfast, and pudding for dinner.
Just before dinner. father returned from
town, accompanied hy cousin viii. who
Was my special aversion. insomuch a. he
never let pass an opportunity to plague me.
On ihis account, therefore, was, II posst-
bic, more anxious than ever that my din
ner should be a success. With them also
came Harry Lee. Now. | had often been
leased by Harry. He certainly came 10
the house great deal. aud danced With
me al all the parties. and in other ways
showed his admiration tor me. ~ yet.
however. | could not make up ny mind
whether liked him or not. lie was rich.
accomplished and handsome. and the girls
all euyied what they called my good for
tune" but | was. must confess. a lItlc
afraid OF him. lie was so self-coutaincd
that had an Idea that he was severe. |
was all IN nu;tcr. therefore. when
found lie had come To dinner. and trembled
lest there should be some mistake. |
almost regretted that bad undertaken TO
play the part OF the cook. What in the
morning had seemed 10 me such rare fun
how appeared to be the very reverse
But there Was nothing TO do bat TO put a
good face on the matter. aud 90 on. All
things being ready. | set the table. sweet
enei can OF peachc-, and proceeded 10
Lake Up the dinner The chicken | CON
.iiercd done 10 a turn; but neither biscuit
or potatoes had exactly the right look. the
former being undeniabiy yellow aud hard.
One accidentally dropping on the floor.
startled me with il. heavy ihuj. The pn-
latnes. regTc, 10 say. were IN a condH on
that rendered the use Of spoon not ,imp.
is useful. but essential.
AZ length, with beating heart. flu. .hrI
cheeks and burnt fingcr,. | announced a.l
things ready. aud the family a>..nbIrd 10
the dining room
"A very hIce looking dinner, indeed. "
said father. wisely nxlug hi, eve upOa the
side table where stood the de- OF cake
(not oi my own making aud the canned
lruil.
Herr, Will" he added. Il have head
ache take thi, seat, II you please, aud
carve"
And 50. Cousin Retta you have turned
cook" said VIII. "A very uice looking
dinner. considering" Here he suddenly
paused. laid down the carving knife, aud
for an Instant a puzzled expression stole
over his face. Ineu, In spite Of all his
Efforts TO restrain himself, he burst Into an
uncomfortable nj OF laughter. What's
the matter wiki the chichen:" he said at
length. Mother. Ia mild tones, come 10
nv relief.
They forgot 10 slnge II properly for
ReIta. she said, apologetlcally. Sup
pose We have 1t taken away. Let Us try
tn, ham"
II Is useless for me 10 try 10 enter Into
the details OF tnat dinner, or attempt TO
repeat the many JOKES that VIII made al
nv expense. Duuug that hour saw the
importance OF grinding coffee, and dis.
covered that hot water MAS preferable 10
cold In making that delightful beverage.
That part | listened 10 In meekuess OF
spirit. but when the whole egg which had
been put into the coffee WAS taken out, and
even mother laughed. II was more than |
could stand. The tears would come
II was with feeling OF relief that rose
to remove the dishes, aud help to dessert.
This al least, Is one thing shout which
there can be nothing wrong" said 10
myself. Had | not, in remembrance oil
the family propensity tor sweet things.
put two cups Of sugar into the peachesi
Was not the cream rich In quality and
abundan. in quanrItyi What more could
be desired:'
80. Retta. TO atone for your peculiarly
served dinner, you have given us our favor
ite dessert" said father, leisurely stirring
the cream and sugar into bis peaches be-
fore eating them.
''And full atouemeDt ii is replied VIII.
still laughing, as he raised the spoon 10
his lips.
How shall | tell the sequel. The next
instant Will sprang from the table and
rushed from the room with father close al
his heels. | turned from mother 10 sister
Tor explanation-l did not dare TO look at
Harry-but had they taken dose OF quiz
nine they could not have worn on their
faces look expressive of greater disgust
or .isInay.
had not yet helped myself. but s.izing
spoon | plunged it into the peaches
When | had tasted all was clear. had
saited instead OF sugared the fruit.
| afterwards found that | had mistaken
the sugar barrel Both stood together in /
the store-rODm side by side, and had used
their contents without looking critically at
them. Hence my mistake.
All this time, while Will was making
open fun of me, while mother could not
always keep back smile, Harry had not
for one instance changed countenance 10
his easy. well-ored manOer, he kept up the
conversation as il nothing had gone wrong.
Had he been dining at Delmonico's, with
everything working smoothly as il al |
ways does there, with each separate dish
the perfection. in Its way, OF culinary
science. he could not have worn = more
uncorcerned look. At the episode OF the
chicken, not q muscle OF his face relaxed.
When the peaches came on, be WAS the
first TO taste them. but he gave no sign
whatever OF their condition. and all
through the dinner. with its other mistakes
which gladly bury ia oblivion. he showed
the same delicate consideration for my
feelings.
What wonder that. fIom that hour. I be-
gan to like himf He was no longer stern
and severe in my eyes. He was, oa the
contrary, the embodiment of knightly
courtesy. He carried his forbearance TO
such point that he Gever, even after we
were engaged, alluded to that unfortunate
meal Ii was |. myself, that first spoke
OF IL.
IL often wonder, darling" he said one
evening IS we sat hand in hand alone, in a
lovers tete, e,a-tete. when you began 10
love the. l know. at hrst. you were In.
different. and. oh! how often il used to
pain ne! Often have l wondered II | ever
shA in.