River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-12-08
THE MINISTER'S PIE.

gers had just put the finishing touches,
as she repeated rather more decidedly
"Look here, Sally! There's enough
chicken left, with the gi' lets-that !
never put in my own pie because the
deacon don't relish 'eTn-ter make a
Thanksgiving pie for the minister's
folks. 'Twon't need Ter be very large"
she added, in reply to Sally's doubtful
look; ''only the minister and his wife
and you can bake it in that smallest
yaller dish"
'Now, Pm going up stairs to look
over them rug rags, an you make 1t an
bake it right off, soft can send it over
by the deacon. He's got ter go out to
Corner this afternoon, an can take 1t
along as we'll as not"
She hustled out of the door, but the
next moment, seized perhaps with a
sudden pang of conjunction, she put
her head in again to say warningly:
"Be sure you put in good parcel of
gravy; that'll keep it from bein' dry, if
tits half giblets."
"Yes'm," answered Sally, briskly.
And catching up the rolling-pin she
brought it down with an emphasis upon
lump of dough upon the mould
board.
As the stairway-door closed behind
her mistress, Sally dropped the rolling
pin, and look of perplexity crept
over her dull face, while she repeated,
in ludicrous bewilderment-
"Giblets? What, in all creation, if
anybody can tell me- does she mean
by them p
Involuntarily she took step for
ward, but checked herself as quickly,
while cunning smile replaced the
look of perplexity, and she muttered
triumphantly-
81 guess | amt a-gOin' ter confess
my ignorance to the deacon's wife, an
hear her say, as she always does,
two terms to the 'cademy, Sally,
an not know that = No ma'am not
while there's dictionary in the
house"
So,softly creeping intothe adjoining sit
ting-room, Sally hastily opened the big
dictionary on the deacon's writing desk
and began her search for the mysterl-
GUS word.
"G-i-b-here It's !" and she read
aloud to herself, with an air of triumph,
the following dt nnltIon:
CHOSE parts of fowl that are re-
moved before cooking-the heart, giz-
card, liver, etc"
That's itl-'heart, gizzard, liver,
and so forth she repeated, joyfully,
as she retraced her steps to the
kitchen, and began, with great alacrity,
to fill, according to directions, the
ministers pie; keeping up meanwhile,
running fire of comment for her own
special benefit.
six gizzards Well, that is rather
steep as Dan Watson would say. But
guess the deacon's wife knows: if she
don't faint none o. my business. Six
hearts Them's small, and tuck into
the corners handy. Six livers Seems
ter me they don't fill up much" and
she glanced with a perplexed air at
pile of denuded chicken-bones that
formed fer only resource.
"Now / WONDER" with sudden IN
SEPARATION, "what that and so forth
means! Here's hearts, gizzards and
livers,' plenty OF 'em, but no and so
FORTH and the pie amt more'n two
thirds full yet. 1t must mean," and
she cast a bewidered look at the half
filled pie, "the chickens legs. l never
knew nobody to put 'em in a pie, but
that must be what it means, an they'll
Just fill up.
No sooner thought than done. In
went the three pairs of stout yellow legs
upon which their unfortunate owners
had strutIed so proudly on the day be-
fore. On went the well-rolled dough,
covering them from sight, and in the
oven went the minister's pie, just as
the mistress of the house re-entered heI
kitchen, and with an approving glance
at the snowy pastry, remarked encour'
agingly.
THAT pie looks real neat, Sally.
shouldn't wonder if in time you came
to be quite cook"
1t was Thanksgiving morning, and
Miss Patience Pringle stooo at the
minister's back door. To be sure II
was rather early for callers, but Miss
Patience was, as she often boosted
zone of the kind that never stood Oh
ceremony" Indeed, she didn't con
siderer it necessary even TO knock be
fore she entered the door, although she
was thoughtful enough in opening it tc
do So softly. The ministers wife was
inst taking from the oven the newly
warmed chicken pie, which she nearly
dropped from her hands, so startled
was She by the sharp, shrlll voice thai
spoke so close to her ear
Good mornin', Miss Graham. Halnt
been 10 breakfast yet, see; we had
ours half an hour ago. know my
mother used ter say that II anybody
lost an hour in the mornin', the mlgh'
chase after it MI day, an not ketch up
with it then
There's a good looking pie, pretty
rich pastry, though, for chicken pie
| don't never put much shortenin' II
ANYTHING of that kind, it's itch enough
inside ter make up. But you're young
and have got a great many things tC
learn vet. run in ter seeif you could
spare me a cup o. yeast, mine soured
an the last batch of bread | made
had ter throw To the hogs"
Certainly" and a roguish smile fit
ted over the fair face Of the minister
wife. at this specimen of her NEEDLE
some neighbor's own economy. Bu
she had learned the rare lessen OF 1
iadicious silence, and taking the cul
fhat Miss Patience produced from be
meath her shawl. she babe her yisito
be seated while she left the room to sc
the desired article.
As Ler steps died away Miss Patienc
noiselessly arose from her seat, and ap
preaching the dresser upon which Tn
pie stood, peered curiously into the ap
ertures in the crust, her sharp face eX
pressing eager curiosity.
'Ill bet a ninepence she didn't know
enough ter put crackers in. l wish't
could get one look jest ter satisfy m,
own mind" she added. And deter
mined to accomplish her object at al
hazards, she ran knife deity aroun,
small portion of the edge, and insert
ing four inquisitive fingers, lifted tn
brown crust and tsok glimpse of tn
contents.
A look of unmitigated disgust passe
over her face Dropping into con
yenient chair. she actually groane
aloud: