Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1884-02-01

GU "aS large and pleas |
ant, the adjoining sitting-room over
looked the Beautiful garden, and a nice
bedroom ior the help" at The Chest |
nuts opened from the kitchen baII
Melissa found her domain pleasant.
and resolved TO make her situation =
permanent one
"Do you like sweet potatoes." she
asked, rather timidly
"Yes" responded Aunt Re. briefly.
She did not like be consulted re-
garding the dishes cooked.
Now. Melissa had discovered arnonr
the apple Barrels ana potato bins Of the
dry, airy cellar a few gray-aolored
tubeis. It vas 1.-THE time Of year for
sweet potatoe', and these might con,
sequently be considered choice
She thought she would not cook anv
for herself, ,bOtshe boilel four for Aunt
Re-the tubeBbeingrather small-and
thought they would go nicely with the
chicken she stuffed and roasted
But in Der anxiety to boil the sweet
potatoes 70 turn she forgot to baste
the chicken, and it was dry ana un-
savory. As for the sweet potatoes
Aunt Re cut open one after the other.
and left then uneaten upon her plate
"rn bake some for breakfast"
thought Melissa. "Baked sweet
potatoes are always good"
So, the next morning, she bakel four
more. But Aunt Re seemed to relish
these still less, and they did look very
pale and vatery Mells ia thought, us
she surveyed the broken fragments
which Aunt Re had failed to partake
of. But the latter liked good din
ner, she hid the idiosyncrasy of never
remarking upon what she ate; and
Melissa secretly troubled by these two
failures, ydIyaliantly resolving never
to give W 4 decided to make pie of
the renal. ig four sweet potatoes. So
/ she consufd her cook book, and care.
fully reaa he receipt:
"Boil hr medium-sized sweet
potatoes alsift Beat the yelks Of
thrse 1ght Stir, with a pint o.
s"0vsT 3ato the p6tats,.s Add ]. sfiaas
tcacuFfh hugar and pinch Of salt
FlavOyH NJ lemon and bake as you dc
pumpts."
MeIA ot the directions well into
her bead, Iaqd proceeded to make The
pie. u
1t was Baked in large, deep, tir
plate and looked very nice wher
baked delicate brown.
"Thge, she'll like that can't hell
it." said Melissa, when the pie hat
cooled, and she placed it upon the din
ner-taJe.
The lamb stew was very nice, ant
Aunt Re, who had been sorting ou
pansyrOots and tying up tulips all Tn,
morning, ate with an appetite Ther
Melissa helped her to a generous slicl
of pie, Aunt Re tastel, and shudde
stolcover her countenance. She taste,
again and pushed aside her plate,
"The pie stammered Melissa
Isexecrable" pronounced Aunt Re
with emphasis Such a very peculia
flavor. Bat am through with dinner
Perhaps | shall want your help a littl
while this afternoon, Melissa; | hav
so much to do! 1 am going now t
plant my dahlia bulbs. Will you e.
down the cellar and get them? The,
are on the swing shelf twelve of then
in wooden bowl. Ihope they hay
kept we'll, for they are very rare an,
expensive. only got them as a favor
No one in town has any like them. b
as quick as you can, Melissa; | am il
a hurry"
Melissa stumbled down the celia
stairs and stood looking at the empt
wooden bowl upon the swing shelf lik
one in dream. Then she wen
slowly upstairs again.
"Aunt Re. Imay as well tell you frs
as last, I-I-boiled them things.
thought they was sweet potatoes"
"BOiled my bulbs-my magnifcen
Queen Anne dahlia bulbs, that I pai
twelve dollars dozen for?"
Melissa bowed dismally.
"What fool' calculated Aunt RI
and then was speec' less for te
minutes.
q don't think your style of cookin
suits me, Melissa she said. at las
sylvia Fales would never have don
such a thing as that. If you will lie
me know what you think l owe yo
for your services, we will part at once
and l VIII send for Sylvia this eve
nirg"
"0h' you don't owe me nothin
Only don't let folks -'twoul
make make me such a laughin' stock.
"Ieach yon to have more sense" n
spOnded Aunt Re, as she left tn
kitchen.
4
In the shades of evening, wise
and let us hope, a better woman
Melissa crept down the avenue of Ih
CheS'nu's' followed by man bearin
her soodS and chattels upon whee