St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-03-21
SPOOPENDYKE'S PIE.
He Shows Mrs. S. How His
Mother Used to Make 'em

My DEAR said Mr.. spoopendyke,
folding his napkin and pushing his
chair back from the table; my dear,
you are pretty good housekeeper, and
; once in while you contrive to cook up
a fair meal, but you have no business
fooling around mince-pie. There
never was but one woman who could
make a mince-pie, and that was my
mother"
" thought this was nice,' returned
Mrs. Spoopendyke, with just little
culver resting on her lip. II got it out
of the cook book
And you'd better put it right back
in the book as a warning to other anna
Tours" continued Mr.. spoopendyke.
IT don't say that this is especially bad,
only it doesn't meet with all the require
ments Of pie as they were instilled into
my young mind. You might work it
on founding hospitals that never had
any mother, but it hasn't the soul
used to get out of pie when lived at
home.
How did your mother make the
mince-pies, dear?" asked Mrs. Spoop-
endyke. eff | knew what she used per-
haps could get up one of which you
would eat six slices instead of four"
And with this purely feminine dig Mrs.
Spoopendyke looked modestly down
ward and began folding knife-plaitings
in the table-cloth.
Gomez exclaimed Mr.. Spoopen-
dyke, jumping impetuously from his
chair. 'If you've got the ingredients
I'll show you how to make a pie that
will draw bowls of envy from the
neighbors," and Mr.. Spookendyke led
the way to the kitchen. where's your
chopping tray and the apples! Fetch
me the hand guillotine and the beef!
Look alive now, my dear, and well
startle the world with some revelations
on the abstruse subject of mince-pie!''
LET me put this big towel around
your neck, SO you won't grease your
clothes, , suggested Mrs. Spoopendyke,
dragging out huge crash towel.
whats that's for?' demanded her
husband, contemplating it with no
amount of favor. (Which end of the
pie is that thing supposed to have in
fuence withP If make up my mind
when get through that this pie wants
to be shaved I'll put on this skirt, but |
in.the meantime | want room for all
my limbs. Now he continued as he
dumped the beef and apples into the
tray and went at them vigorously with
q chopping knife; now, you watch the |
proceedings and note how the pie be-
gins to assume proportions. -
Didn't your mother peel the apples |
before she chopped them?' asked Mrs.
Spoopendyke, quietly.
'Ehr' calculated Mr.. Spoopendike,
slowing up little and looking into the
tray distrustfully. 'sOf course not,
and he resumed his labors with still
more energy. eff you did, there's
where you make your mistake. I sup
pose you peeled the beef, too, didn't YEP
Though / don't know" and he stopped
short and regarded his work attentive
~. ut strikes me this meat would
chop finer if some one had dropped
on it once or twice. Any
way, you don't want your meat too
fine. and / guess this will do, and Mr..
Spoopendyke set the tray full of Jumps
On the table and rolled up his sleeves.
What will you have now, dear?"
inquired his wife, tenderly.
"Some -four and water replied Mr..
Spoopendyke, cheerfully. Its the
crust Of a pie that is its genius, and I'm
going to turn out slab of pastry that
will be monument to the artist who is
weaving this job. Gimme the flour and
water while I feel as one upon whom
,he spirit of 8 successful pie rests Wis
bly!h
Mrs. Spoopendyke brought out the
material and once more resumed the
'elation of pupil to the exercises.
ANYTHING else, dear?" she asked, as |