St. Landry democrat., 1885-06-06
A GOOD COOK.
How Gentleman Arose Early and Sur
prised his Wife.

prised his Wife.
Early at morning Colonel Harvey Bas-
com awoke and lay for a 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
deyolve upon Mrs. Bascom.
''I used to be first-rate cook when I
was a boy" the Colonel unused. ''Be-
lieVe I'll quietly slip out and get break
fast. When she awake5 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,
/ don't blame her any. If I couldn't
cook any better than she can would
hate it, too"
The Colonel quietly slipped out and
kindked fire in the kitchen stove. He
was not like old Darby. He did not get
his hands stuck up with dough, neither
did he allow a pig to come in and upset
the churn, but with smoothly working
system, he prepared breakfast
Come, Mary" said the Colonel,
entering his wffe's room. "Come, it is
time to get up"
''Oh. DEAR yawned Mrs. Bascom.
ST do hate to go out into that old
kitchen"
The Colonel laughed. t'Why, Mary"
said he, while his face beamed brightly,
breakfast is all ready"
What, has the cook come backg"
mo; got breakfast myself. +"
You did?"
"I did,"
81 didn't know that you could cook. y
81 knew it. Hustle on you clothes
and come on. | 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, a broiled steak perfumed the
air.
"You are the smartest thing I 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 wash basin and was bathing his
face when Mrs. Bascom, in a tone of
alarm said:
"Look here, didn't you wash your
face and hands before you got break
fast?"
"Of course I did, Mary
OF course he did not, but it would not
do to acknowledge the omission.
ssColonel, don't believe you did. "
t'Mary, now why do you want to dis
pute my Word?"
'.But if you washed your hands once
this morning, why do you wash again?
/ have never before known you to be SO
particular.
"WelI, that's all right. Let's not
argue about it I may not waste as
much water as some people do, but ]
have never been arrested by the sani-
tary policeman.
81 never did have any confidence in
the cleanliness of man. You wouldn't
put on clean shirt more than once in
two weeks if I didn't keep nagging at
YOU
That's got nothing to do with this
breakfast. I don't know that ever
cooked one of my shirts. Help your
self.
Mrs. Bascom was not thoroughly sat
isfed. She never questioned the SAM
tary condition of the negro cook, al
though the cook was as black and greasy
as a primitive wash-pot, but woman-Eke,
and very naturally, too, she suspected
the Colonel
This is what call coffee, Mary. The
man who beats me making coffee must
get out 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. Bascom helped herself to aspoon,
full of egg. I 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
ssWhat's the matter2'
''What did you do to the eggs?"
cooked them. OF course you have
to find fault" He took mouthful o.
egg. His jaw dropped. 'sThey do taste
sorter curious he admitted
"What did you fry them imp
E'Bacon grease. "
ssWhere did you get it?"
"In the jar under the cupboard.
s.Wook! you've cooked them in sof
soap. "-ArkG1ssaW IraUeter.
Japan Steamers.
|