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

MELISSA Is UUUklNU,
Mrs. Orena Fales had lost her house
kesper-by death. IL was a great ca
II lity--to Aunt Re. For twenty |
years old Nabby had taken charge OF
her house, having full control of every
thing but the garden. The garden
was Aunt Res realm; here only she
cared ohold sway. She had passion
for flowers. She hal neither husband |
nor child, and the roses and lilies, the
pinks and pansies, were her delight,
her darlings, her babies. She tended
them, caressed them, held her breath
over them lest they be disturbed,
And richly they repaid her care
From May to November the flower
garden at The Chestnuts was blaze of
beauty Rather close otherwise, Aunt
Re never spared expense to crafty her
passion. A root or bulb, if rare and
beautiful, was never too expensive for
her purse. 1t was said that she had
once given ten dollars for tulip bulb
which could not be obtained for less.
For keeping her house she had not
the least taste Old Nabby had kept
the house swept, garnished, bought
i The provisions, ami cooked them.
But old Nabby was dead.
Immediately upon this event Aunt
Re shut up the house and went to
/ Florida for the winter. But in April
the neighbors looked for her return
and wondered where she would look
for housekeeper.
"Mebbe shewill bring home cullud
woman said Melissa Rugglts.
"a colored woman, who couldn't
keep the accounts straight-she'll
never do thatr' said Mrs Brown
"But it's nice chance for some one.
Pleasant place up there at The Chest
nuts good beds, good food; thouql.
Aunt Res alittle near An it's worth
o.e dollar week to have her posies to
/ look at all summer"
"Posies TIL last thing I'd set by"
said Melissa.
"It's money you're after-eh? Well,
Aunt Re gives five dollars to them
that'll take all the care an work to suit
her. There's not much to do for them
that has faculty, an it's life-berth, to
say nothing Of what might come in the
will ] say, Melissa, you're second
cousin or something to Aunt Re why
don't you try for it?"
"Mebbe l shall, said Melissa, mod
estly.
Melissa Ruggles was an "old girr' of
forty, who had a habit of bridling her
head, and believing that "she knew a
thing Or two
She had gone out nursing and had
the reputation of being good cook.
She was alone in the world, but was
known to be "beforehanded" having
quite an account at the bank.
Still, there were those who did not
like Melissa's cold gray eyes, eminently .
respectable though she was. Mrs
Brown hal heard Aunt Re remark
something Of this kind
81 shouldn't wonder, after all, if she
took Sylvia"
Sylvia Fales was Aunt Res niece
her deceased brothers only child. She
was poor. worked at sewing and sup
ported her mother, and was just seven
teen.
She was pretty and good, and when
Aunt Re returned she came to the cot
tage to see them. She had not been
there before for two years.
you're quite young woman now
amt you, Sylvia? And you look like
your father Daniel had the same dark
blue eyes, with black lashes; only
you're little too pale. Are you well
and strong?"
'It's the confinement and thesewing
makes Sylvia pale, Aunt Re- said Mrs
Daniel Fales, an invalid.
Aunt Re looked thoughtfully at
Sylvia; still, she did not ask her to come
to The Chestnuts.
Melissa had already offered her ser
vices.
81 am thinking of asking my niece
and her mother to come and live with
me-" Aunt Re said to her. "Sylyia's
young, but with her mothers help
Law! Sylvia don't know thing
about cooking and her mother can't
make anything but Cruel"
THAT settles it. VIII you come
Melissa"
"I'll try to-" said Miss Ruggles.
Yet Aunt Re gave up the thought OF
Sylvia with a secret sigh. She was
young, fresh, pretty as one of her
tav rite white roses, and she knew she
might have been kinder to her poor
relations than she had been.
But Aunt Re, who had good health,
and spent nearly all her time in the
fresh air among her flowers, had good
appetite, and must have an experienced
cook. So she took Melissa
"Here are the keys she said.