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

will be so convenient thought. This cook
ing every meal is bore.
| After long search found the sack that
contained them, and turning out two quarts
perhaps, washed them, and then selecting a
nice piece Of salt pork placed it over them
in the pan, and then put them in the oven
to bake.
But, have since learned. dry beans and
salt pork have no affinity, and the more |
cooked them the harder they became If such
a thing were possible. The pork sputtered
and snapped. but the beans remained small
and shiny as at first. Two. three hours
were given them, and then | took them from
the oven to make a diagnosis of the case.
| But one thickness Of Goth is not enough
between the hand and smoking hot metal
at least. such i my judgment, and coming
TO that conclusion before reached the ta-
BILE, let go. and they came rafting to the
floor like hailstones, giving a map of Greece
! (grease) not down on any geography, ancient
or modern.
Blowing my blis,ered fingers at intervals.
| stoveled the bewitched things into the
back yard. fervently hoping they would not
take root and produce second crop obstin-
ate as themselves.
But must have something besides meat
and potato-s the bread was all consumed.
and was becoming desperate. Some corn
bread yes, could recall the recipe |
found the meal, turned on the scalding
water. added the other ingredients, and
soon had brown loaf. tempting to the eve,
at least. But soon found that the beauty
was its principal charm. If it did not ',urn
TO ashes on the lips it did something much
coarser; and there was an uncooked taste
about it decidedly unpleasant. The few
mou'hfuls ! managed To swallow scratched
my throat numerically that was fearful
OF some mortal disease having its seat in
that part but careful examination relieved
my fears. And may as vel! state here
that ny unfortunate cake was made Of some
coarse, unsfted meal my careful mother had
reserved for the chickens
did not like corn bread. that was GER
tain but could try some biscuit Accord
| ingly substituting flour for meal, added
the rest, hot water and all. But shades Of
Tantalus' 1t was neither butter nor dough.
and adhered to everything it touched
broke the mixing spoon in trying TO stir 1t.
plastered my hands IN the endeavor to re-
move the broken spoon-and dropped the
rolling pin on my most thrifty corn
Just then the door-bell rang. and forget
ting all but my profession, ! brushed the
hair Of my forehead With NJ, sticky fingers,
aud answered the call. a the no small sur
prise Of the who wa, seut flr me. and
who reported that DR.. Cooper "gin bread
pills cause he had with his own eyes seen
him maxim EN-"
The summons was urgent, and, catching
ny hat and gloves. was soon with nv pa
tieut who was not too sick TO wonder. as
hi' attendants did. if was trying to take a
cast of myself, clothes and all, in plaster
Released at last, returned determined
10 finish those biscuits. The mass worked
little better, now il WAS cool. but still
would take no form resembling biscuit.
dabble IN il as ! would. Completely dis
gustrd with the glutinous pile. that clun.
yicously 81 everything il came IN contact
with, and crawled 70 each side OF the board
as if anxious to get away from itself. | stood
and eyed Il savsgeiy, aud wondered what
should DO next.
Il viii tumble it into the pam | said to
myself, "and perhaps ii will be bread |
like new bread.
But this was a fea, easier contemplated
than accomplished. The board was covered
with the ahominabc stuff. and every particle
stuck Ike melted wax but, hy dnt OF pok-
ing, pushn. and dragging, the greater part
was transferred 70 the pan; and then. with
thoughts Of d warmer place, | sent II into
the oxen, and turned .ny attention TO clean
ing up the debris.
With cloth and some water ! com
menced with the board or rather with the
plaster that covered il but the water soon
looked like milk. and the cloth refused To
remain III my fingers, lnca>ed was it with
slime.
Another ring Confusion Must every
body get sick on this uniucky day, Of all
Others.
wiped my hands as well as | could al
though shrcds Of that detcs,able dough
cluhg to them, and went % the door
No cali from patient, this time. but from
Ms. Dossell and her beautiful daughter,
who resided IN an adjoining county. aud hay-
ing occasion 70 pass through our village by
stage, had called 10 see my mother and SIS
tiers. with whom they were intimately ae-
qua:nted. | could not shat the door in their
faces, and invited them To the parlor, and
then stood staring heplessly at them and
wondering why they did not do something.
The Younger one looked at me- as If she
half suspected was an escaped iuna,ic, and
as dangerous as was dirty but the elder
lady, with a practical woman's penetration,
understood the situation al once. and came
readily TO the rescue
"lou are irving 10 cook, doctor T. she a.
serted. rather than asked, as She glanced at
my betaubed fingers, plastered garments
and -four powdered face.
"A little. | replied, while | felt my tace
was ike fever patients,
And are somewhat dOu5itu. of success"
and she smiled in her own peculiar manner.
thought OF that "moding board and
wished my visitors in Jericho.
She seemed TO read my thoughts by intui-
tion, and said with d decision not TO be
questoned:-
Il shall claim your hospitality for myself
and daughter until Tomorrow as the stage
will not pass before ; and as | am 50 conceit-
ed as 10 think ! can cook better than you,
will you allow me 10 prepare the meals while
| remain ?"
thought Of that mummy looking loaf in
the oven and a chill followed my fever. Bat
bright thought presented itself
While they were unrobing and washing
in the guest chamber, would make way
with 1t BEYOND the ghost of a chance of a
post morlem examination; that was, if it
had the same appearance as when | last saw
/ it.
accordingly expressed my pleasure may
the recording angel be merciful and escort
ed them to their room and then, with few
words of welcome, left them, TO hurry to
the kitchen, tumble the board, rolling-pin,
and every other bedaubed thing but myself,
into tine woodshed: and finished by taking
/ the shrunken loaf from the oven and bury
! ing it in the garden.
This accomplished, returned to the
kitchen, where Mrs. Dossell soon joined me,
with her dress caught up, and her sleeves
| pinned back with an eye to business.
! She asked a few questions as to the where
\ abouts of certain articles, and then hinted
pretty strongly that she had no further use
for me. l understood and went to my room,
where the miserable, dirty, forlorn wretch
who glared at me from the glass did more