Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-11-27
THAT LITTLE COOK.

" DO think 1t is too badf said
May Pentland as she rushed into the
presence of her mother, with flushed
face and sleeves rolled up to her ell
bows.
What is that which is so bad. my
dear, said her mother quietly, what
has happened to huster you so? Is the
bread burned or the cake heavy2'
oh, ever so much worse than that
mammal had just finished making
the dressing for the salad, when, hear
ing the sound of music ran to the
parlor window forgetting, of course to
take of my kitchen apron and roll
down my sleeves.
lis that all2 Well, you were little
imprudent; but perhaps no one saw
YOU
No one saw mel Why, mamma,
you know such luck as that never falls
to my lot Inever can do anything
the least bit. out of the way without
suffering for 1t. Yes, mamma, 1 was
seen, and by the one most likely, of
all others, to be shocked by my ap-
pearance.
'And who is the one, pray, that is
so susceptible of shocks?'
Why, Mr.. Walsingham, mamma
You know he is an Englishman, and
the English ladies are so correct in
their department, and have so many
servants. Though suppose most of
them are like Ariadne Shippers, who
says that she never saw coffee except
on the table ready for use.'
Indeed! And TO whom did she
makesuch wise remark
TO all of us, mamma. That is, to
the whole party, at the time Mr.. Wal
singham took us down the bay in his
yacht. You know, mamma, there was
an elegant cold collation. set out for
US, but, as there was no coffee, some
of the gentlemen begged that one OF
the ladies volunteer to make it. But
they all protested they never did such
thing in their lives; and 1t was then
that Ariadne made the remark l have
mentioned
well, what did you say, May?'
ooh, | said nothing at that time. |
had hoped to escape unobserved; but
Mr.. Walsingham, after falling with
others, came over to me and said I:
How is it with you, Miss May7 |
hope you have a little more practical
acquaintance with the coffee bean than
Miss Shippers. l felt little annoyed
for l supposed some one had been in
forming him that in our family 1 was
obliged to superintend good deal of
the cooking for the reason that we
were not rich enough to pay a first
class cook. Still l was determined he
should not think l was ashamed of
our modest means, and answered him
Il have often made coffee at home, but
would be afraid to undertake it any
where else, because l might not be
successful
"Now, please don't say that he re-
piled, Just take my arm; the steward
and l will be the cooks, and under
your superintendent there can be no
such word as fall"
Very gracefully said, May. I sup
pose you couldn't resist such an ap-
peal?'
mo, mamma. felt at once more
at ease, and, taking his arm, we walked
down into what he called the lower
regions AS we reached the bottom
of the cabin stairs be shouted: Jones,
bring out that coffee, and be quick
about it. Here's the lady superin-
tendent of this cuisine, who will see
that we don't make muddle of it.
Jones brought out a bag, which, to my
discontinue found to contain green
coffee. Have you none that is
roasted? l asked. Mr.. Walsing.
ham turned to Jones, who shook his
head saying That is the amount of
our stock in the coffee line Motto
ing my look of disappointment, Mr..
Walsingham considerably said ::
well, don't let us trouble ourselves
any more about it, Miss May; they can
do without coffee"
But I was determined now that
they shouldn't do without it. / see
you have an oven here, Mr.. Walslng-
ham, and it won't take long to roast
enough for our purpose. If the gen.
tlemen are so fond of their coffee they
can afford to wait little while for it. !"
$50 he went to work. Of course il
took some time, but when the coffee
was ready the gentlemen went into the
most ridiculous raptures over it, de-
claring it to be nectar fit for the gods,
and a great deal more of such stupid
nonsense, which finally aroused the
jealousy of the ladies, and particularly
of Ariadne, who, | am told, never
speaks of me now except as That little
cook Mr.. Walsingham will, no
doubt, think I deserve the title after
what he has seen to-day"
His opinion seems to be of great
consequence to you, May
May blushed under her mothers
searching glance.
Il should be very sorry if he had
any other than good opinion of me,