Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1884-08-14
Miscellaneous.
A Natural Cook.

threw down the newspaper had been read
ins, and took UP medical work instead.
Say, what's The matter nov ?" sang my
sAucy sister Jenny. as she picked up the Of
tending paper and lad it carefully in it>
appropriate place.
"Why, here !, long story TO prove that
men cannot cook"
And can they ?"
What a question OF course they can #
they will bring their mind, down TO such
trihng empioymenls. Can YOUR hands ac
compIsh anything mine cannot?" And
held up my ten digl;> shaped and colored
like her own.
But this writer--l nave read the story"
She replied, makes out her story from the
ignorance Of her hero. not his incapaci,y"
Exactly, But how long would it take a
man Of common sense and the least obser-
vation TO learn to prepare 4 meal am
sure ! can do now. and YOU know | am
seldom in the kitchen. and when | am my
thoughts are on more important matters"
Jenny smiled demureiN she replied -
Perhaps YOU could Dut must go there
now, for Anna has been called away TODAY
and II Is her week To help mamma. and
mine in the chambers 30 | have double du-
y, YOU see;' and she went out. leaving me
% wonder why authors would write and ed
itors publish such unreasonable stuff.
NV mother was a pattern housekeeper
and since my fathers death-two Years ago
had managed, with the help Of nv two sis
ters, to do without servant for our family
of four persons. Our home was situated in
a small village, where | was now practicing
medicine with tolerah. success.
This is delicious corn bread. mother"
said. a, the table, helping myself 10 a second
square did YOU make it, or did JENNY ?"
Jenny made it," she replied. with
glance Of appreciation at my sister. "She
is learning very fast: shall give her the
pastry when her next week comes around"
"Oh, ma there Is no use talking about
learning to cook to Edward he thinks
knowledge Of ,ha, employment comes natur-
ally TO au-hoys as well as girls-and that
he could prepare meal now if he would
only bring ms mind Gown to such trtiing
occupation"
Very likely" va, the reply; "and then
make the corn bread YOU relish so well ?"
The easiest thing in the world, mother
First take the square board"
"Molding board" suggested Jenny.
"Never matter for the name so long as
know the use.' | replied; ION that should
set q pan Of meal. and 10 the meal should
add some liquid to make it moist, and then
roll it on the board and put j, in the dipper,
and into the oven TO bake"
But my mother, in her gentle manner.
gave me verbal recipe then and there and
beng little nettled at NV sef-important
sister, treasured IL ienaciousiy. determined
to show her al some future time that con
ceit was the most prominent fault in her
character.
\ few days later. the family received an
invitation to a double wedding. of some
cousins in an adjoining state. A week was
the shortest time in which the trip could he
accomplished, and could not think Of
leaving my patients SO long but my mother
and sisters could go, certainly,
But who will cook for you ?" my mother
asked
Edward Cooper. of COURSE" ! replied.
III he cannot cook enough for one 10 eat,
for one week, | have greatly overrated his
powers"
Mother and Anna objected strongly. and
each insisted upon remsining; but Jenny
some punishment will overtake that girl yet
declared that it would be pieposterous for
any one to remain just TO keep house for
[ me.
.'he thinks he can cook lust as well as
any Of us. and Of course he knows what be
I can do" she said, with droll look at
Z Anna.
Their scruples were overcome at last, and
the next day had the satisfaction of assist
/ ing them into the stage coach, on their way
| to the railroad, ten miles away.
For a day or two | enjoyed my 'soi
| disant" bachelors hail immensely. There
was no necessity for cooking anything but
meat, potatoes, tea and coffee, and l sue
/ ceeded admirably. The steak was rather
! dry and tough, from an old or poor animal,
1 undoubtedly. And my first cup of tea was
decidedly bad could not imagine why |;
for put in just the specified quantity
was particular to ascertain the measure of
tea and coffee-and boiled it all the time my
potatoes we've baking. Still it was bitter,
dark and stringent, instead of the fragrant,
amber colored beverage my mother usually
placed before me. But half the quantity
was an improvement, and prided myself on
my economy.
The coffee was better until the third
morning, when put in stale egg by mis-
take but that was no loss, / told myself,
for it would teach me to be more careful in
the future, and accordingly l examined each
one carefully.
One morning l resolved to have some
fried for breakfast, and the first one took
up having a suspicious look, to test it l
shook it near my ear, when pop went the
abomnable thing, and ear, beard and mouth
were sprinkled with the unfragranl liquid.
Faugh! can smell it yet.
But this was not all for stepping back to
reach the hand basin, trod on Jenny's cat
Il wonder if cats are possessed Of an evil
spirit ?-and to save the squalling brute,
hurriedly raised my foot and planted it
square in the egg basket, tangled the other
in the handle, and measured five feet and
ten inches on the kitchen floor, to the horror
Of the wretched cat, that fed splitting and
snarling to the garret, satisfied, doubtless,
with the mischief she had done.
kicked the basket from my feet, and
should not be willing to swear that did
not use my feet somewhat more than was
absolutely necessary for that purpose.
The good and bad eggs were most unmis-
takably mixed now. and hastened to
throw the horrid slimy mass out Of doors,
with decided antiPathy for eggs for break