Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-07-04
THE MINISTER'S PIE.


filled kitchen table, with its generous |
array of unbaked pies and cakes, the |
plump turkey stuffed and trussed.
ready for to-morrow's baking, and the |
big chicken pie to which her skillful
fingers had just put the finishing touch |
as she repeated rather more decidedly
"Look here, Sally There's enough
chicken left, with the giblets-that ]
never put in my own pi c, because the
deacon don't relish 'em- ter make a
Thanksgivin' pie for the minister's
folks. Twon't need ter be very large"
she added, in reply to Sally's doubtful
look. "Only the minister and his
wife-and you can bake in that small
est yaller dish. Now, I'm goin' up
stairs to look over them rug rags, an
you make it an bake it right off, so't
/ can send it over by the deacon. He's
got to 60 out to the Corner this after
noon an can take it along as well as
not"
She hustled out of the door, but the
next moment, seized, perhaps, with a
sudden pang Of conjunction, she put
her head in again, to say warningly:
"Be sure that you put in a good par
eel of gravy that'll keep it from bein'
dry, if tits half giblets.'
"Yes'm," answered Sally, briskly,
and catching up the rolling pin she
brought it down with an emphasis up
on a lump Of dough upon the mould
board.
AS the stairway door closed behind
her mistress, Sally dropped the rolling
pin and look Of perplexity crept over
her dull face, making it ten times more
stolid than usual, while she repeated,
in ludicrous bewilderment
"Giblets What, in all creation, if
anybody can tell me, does she mean by
them 2"
Involuntarily she took step for
ward, but checked herself as quickly,
while q cunning smile replaced the
look of perplexity, and she muttered
triumphantly:
81 guess amt goin' ter confess my
ignorance ter the deacon's wife, an
hear her say, as she always does, 1.-TWO
terms in 'cademy, Sally, an not know
that ?" No, mann not while there
a dictionary in the house."
So, softly creeping into the adjoin-
ing sitting-room, Sally hastily opened
the big dictionary on the deacon's
writing-desk and began her search for
the mysterious word.
"G-i-b-here it's and she read
aloud, with an air of triumph, the fol-
lowing definition
'Those parts of fowl that are re-
moved before cooking--the heart, giz-
card, liver, etc."
''That's it .-'heart, gizzard, liver,
and so FORTH" she repeated joyfully,
as she retlaced her steps to the kitchen
and began with great alacrity, to fill,
accordingly to directions, the minister's
pie; keeping up, meanwhile, a run
ming fire of comment for her own spec
ial benefit.
"Six gizzards Well, that's rather
steep, as Dan Watson would say. But
1guess the deacon's wife knows; if
she don't faint none o my business.
Six hearts Them's small, an tuck
into the corners handy. Six ivers
Seems ter he they don't fill up much q
and she glanced with Il perpleXed air
at a pile of denuded chicken bones
which tormed her only resource.
"Now, | wonder" with Sudden IN
spiration, what that and so forth
meant ? Here's hearts, gizzards, and
livers, plenty Of 'em, but no and 50
forth, and the pie amt more'n two
thirds full yet. sit must mean,r and
she cast bewildered look at the half
filled pie, the chicken legs. | never
knew nobody ter put 'em. in Il PIE, but
that must be what it means, as they'll
just fill it up
No sooner thought than done. In
went the three pairs OF stout yellow
legs, upon which their unfortunate
owners had strultcd 80 proudly on
only Il day betoir; OH Welt The we'll
relied dough. covering lhtm from
sight, and into the oven went tue min
listers pie, just as the mistress Of the
house re-entercd her kitchen, and,
with All approving glance at the snowy
pastry, remarked encouragiI sly:
''That PIE looks real ueat, Sally; |
shouldn't wonder ii in time you came
to be quite ii cook"
1t was Thanksgiving morning, and
Miss Patience Pringle stood at the
minister's back door. To be sure it
was rather early for callers, but Miss
Patience was, as she often boosted,
lone of the kind that never stood in
ceremony" Indeed she didn't con-
slider it necessary even to knock be-
fore she opened the door, although
she was thoughtful enough in opening