The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-05-22
A GOOD COOK.


How . 0entleman Arose EarlS and Sur
prlsed his wife.
Early at morning Colonel Harvey Bias.
com awoke and lay for time in the
contemplation ofhis coming days work.
He remembered that the cook had gone
away on an excursion and that during
her ABSENCE the culinary work would
devolve upon Mrs. Bascom.
i used to be a first-rate cook when
was a boy" the Colonel unused. "Be.
lieve I'll quietly slip out and get break
fast. When she awakes and finds ev-
erything ready. she'll feel that great
burden has been lifted from her shout
ders, for she does hate to cook. Well,
l don't blame her any. II l couldn't
cook any better than she can 1 would
hate it, too"
The Colonel quietly slipped out and
kindled fire in the kitchen stove. He
was not like old Darby. He did net get
his hands stuck up with dough, neither
did he allow pig to come in and upset
the churn, but with smoothly working
system, he prepared breakfast.
"Come. Mary" said the Colonel
entering his wife's room. "Come, it is
time to get up"
"Oh, DEAR" yawned Mrs. Bascom.
81 do hate to go out into that old
Kitchen
The Colonel laughed. "Why, Mari"
said he. while his face beamed brightly,
breakfast is all ready"
"What, has the cook come backp"
"NO; got breakfast myself"
"You did?"
~ did,"
81 didn't know that you could cook"
81 knew it. Hustle on you clothes
and come on. 1 must be getting down
town"
When they entered the dining-room.
Mrs. BaScom was amazed. A steaming
dish of scrambled eggs, occupying a
central position. was particularly at
tractive; and. as an alluring adjunct to
the feast, broiled steak perfumed the
air.
"YOu are the smartest thing l ever
saw" Mrs. Bascom declared.
The Colonel was pleased. He was
tickled. The sounds of praise fell with
sweet cadence upon his ears. He turned
to a wash basin and was bathing his
face when Mrs. Bascom, in tone of
alarm said:
"Look here, didn't you wash your
face and hands before you got break
fast?"
"Of course did, Mary"
OF course he did not, but it would not
do to acknowledge the omission.
Colonel, l don't believe you did,"
MARY, now why do you want to dis
pute my wordP"
But if you washed your hands once
this morning, why do you wash again?
/ have never before known you to be so
particular
swell. that's all right. Let's not
argue about it. l may not waste as
much water as some people do, but l
have never been arrested by the sani-
tary policeman.
81 never lid have any confidence in
the cleanliness of a man. You wouldn't
two weeks if didn't keep nagging at
YOU"
That's got nothing to do with this
breakfast l don't know that l ever
cooked one of my shirts. Help your
SELF
Mrs. Bascom was not thoroughly sat
isfied. She never questioned the sani-
tary condition of the negro cook, al
though the cook was as black and greasy
as a primitive wash-pot, but woman-like,
and very naturally, too, she suspected
the Colonel.
This IS what call coffee, Mary. The
man who beats me making coffee must
get ont of bed before the ROSTERS begin
to crow, and even, then, if he don't mind,
I'll stay up all night and beat him any
how"
Mrs. Bas:om helped herself to a spoon
ful of egg. l know these eggs are good
for broke them in the pan last night.
In the matter of eggs, | risk no judg-
ment but my own. Bah! my goodness,
Colonel"
whats the matter?"
"What did you do 10 the eggs?"
Cooked them. OF course YOU have |
20 find fault" He took mouthful of
egg. His jaw dropped. "They do taste
'orter curious" he admitted.
What did you fry them IMP"
''Bacon grease"
''Where did you get it?"
SIN the jar under the cupboard.
''WOok! you've cooked them in soft |
'oap. "-ArkdnsaW 1rdceter.
An cMDpECC IN NtIM o00rc