The river press., 1886-03-24
"BAcHING IT."
nna Experience of u Couple Of Pllgrlms
Who Have Bought Out an
Improved Ranch.


f.ow; wonder how Wen make out. I'm
,ot ouite dead sure on the cooking de-
.,ortment," meditatively smoking his
pipe
aOb. guess we'll get along all right.
rbose folks left us bread enough for day
or two, and we ought to be able to cook a
bt Of meat and potatoes. Amy way, it's
late enough, Ned, to retire"
This agreed to, they are soon slumber-
mo soundly Ned having agreed to be up
oarIv) and dreaming of a variegated jun
Me Of pies, cakes, burnt bread, etc.
uJerusalem - (Ned has just awakened
IN find the sun far up in the heavens.)
sgrom. Tom. TOMn he yells, at The
came time giving his companion vigor-
ous shake.
eyes" answers Tom, drowsily, at the
came time pulling the blankets more
hohtIy over his head. Ned seizes some
sbayings he had prepared the night before
ond holding them in his hand, proceeds
IN LIGHT them. At this moment his atten-
finn Is attracted by looking out Of the
window and seeing that one of the horses
bas wound himself up in his picket rope
couch! confound the things, sud-
denly letting the shavings, which have
burned his fingers, drop on the floor.
"Tomm he yells, grasping hold of that
worthy and shaking him violently; s'get
up"
"What the deuce's the row." says Tom
seepiy and slowly rising.
Grow! enough's the row; there's one
Of the horses burnt mean tied up In
the picket rope, and the cussed shay
ings-" .= ...- 4..
"What in thunder's up now," continues
Ned, something burning?' and he hur-
ries to the stove only to find that the
lighted shavings have fallen on his socks
and burned several holes in them. Look
ing at them ruefullY moment, he throws
the socks oat doors and then proceeds to
make another attempt to start fire, this
time successfully.
"Now, then, Tom, if you will just get
dressed and attend to the horses, I'll try
and get some BREAKFAST looking rather
doubtflilly at the stove and cupboard.
Crushing down his doubts, however, he
picks up a piece of beef and proceeds to
cut some nice, lean steaks, which he puts
in the frying pan and sets on the stove,
then thinks he had better put some water
III the coffee-pot "a good-sized one). This
he does, filling the por nearly full, and
setting it on the stove also.
"Guess we'll want some potatoes; put
them in pot with some water and let
them boil till they are soft? Yes, that's |
the way" and with satisfied mien he pro-
ceeas to put his thoughts into execution.
"Confound it! tt seems to me that
meat smokes a good deal; guess I'd better
turn it,, and, taking knife, he attempts
to turn the meat, finding it stuck fast to
the pan for want Of grease.
Stick, confound you," he mutters as
he works. At last he has turned it and
then remembers that coffee should be |
ground. Ii is question how much is
needed, but at last concludes that about
two mill-fulls will be about right, and sets
himself down to his task. By the time he
has accomplished this the smoke from the
meat has filled the cabin and he makes |
another effort to turn it, burning his fin
gers, losing his temper, and getting heated |
Turned at last he leaves things I
20 cook while he sets the table, and in a
little while discovers that the potatoes are
done. The meat he is not quite sure
about and the coffee water has not boiled,
so he takes the pot off the stove and sets
" on the floor. From the smoking Of the |
meat he is sure it must be done by this I
Time, 50 he takes the frying pan of and
puts the meat in dish >after considerable I
Rronble), and sets it in the oven to keep
warm. True, 1t has kind Of peculiar
odor, but hopes it is all right. Seeing the
Steam issuing from the coffee-pot he con-
cudes it is time to put the coffee in, which
pc does, and then starts to cut some bread.
Scarcely is his back turned before the
water in the pot boils over, and, quickly
turning, sees coffee and water running
aown the sides of the pot and onto the
s'ove. lie makes u frantic grasp for the
handle, only to scald his hand with the
pot steam and water. Some rather strong
language is used about this time, and he
'fles to snatch the pot of the stove. but
somehow it catches, and i'm Il moment he
leeIs the hot water burning his legs and
'eet' With a yell he jerks up the half
Empty pot, determined to save what he
cah for breakfast.
VI course, gravy is quite necessary with
pOhed potatoes; he remembers seeing Mrs.
pFoWn put some flour in the frying pan,
FiEer frying the meat, stir it around awhile
PUG then add some water. Feeling sure
IN ls on the right track, he puts about a
gupfull of -four in the nan. sets If on the