St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-05-05

Hastings imagined.
She had seen it made at home under
her mothers supervision, and making
it herself she fancied would be quite
as easy.
"Dear me, how the time flies! Do
hurry. Jane. What lot there is yet
to strain! But we must get done.
dare say it won't take the juice long
to thicken. Mamma used to make it
in no time. What are we to do about
dinner. wonder? We can't cook the
ham-there's no room on the fire. We
must have makeup dinner when we
have finished. Mr.. Hastings will ex-
cuse us, I'm sure
And, arrayed in her Holland apron,
with her pretty braids all pushed back
and her sleeves tucked above her
| elbows, Nell worked away with all
her might, picking, boiling, straining,
until her cheeks were flushed and her
head ached.
why. Jane, this juice won't jelly,
and it has boiled so long. What can
De the matter!
There's something you put in it to
make it jelly, think, ma am.''
'Oh, DEAR no. Mother never did,
Pm sure. I'll add more sugar and let
it boil another hour. Dear me! l
thought we should have had our last
kettle on by this time. We shall be
SO late, and I'm tired to death now. /
wish l had done as mother said. She
advised me to send the currants over
there and let Hannah make the jelly,
but was sure could do it myself"
The steaming kettle boiled another
hour.
The summer sun hung above the
green summit of the poplars.
Surely it will be jelly now, Jane"
said the weary housewife. pouring
some of the hot, red liquid into cold
water.
But juice it remained, for all the
cooking and stewing it had under
gone.
ooh, what shall I do? Surely the
stuff must be bewitched. I've a great
mind to pour it all away" cried poor
Nell, ready to cry with vexation.
q tell you, a'am. you put some
thing in to make it jelly" persisted
Jane.
''Oh, Jane, hush! You know moth
ing about it. l tell you, you don't
put any thing in. What must do?
Cook it more? 1t is burning to the
kettle now, and I've wasted ever so
much sugar. Jane, run over to moth
er's and ask Hannah to run over, will
your She'll know in minute what to
do. Do pray, be quick; it is dreadful
late.''
Jane departed.
'If cooking will do, I'll make jelly
of it before Hannah gets here,'' she
said.
But instead of boiling to Jelly, the
currant juice boiled over in great
foamy, red waves.
The fire Kissed, and dense smoke
and apungent scent of burning sweets
filled the kitchen.
Spattered from head to foot with the
hot liquid. one hand scalded. her pref
ty face besmeared, Nell retreated to
the door in utter despair
''Oh, wish had never''-
!. The sentence was never finished.
She stood dumb with horror, for
coming leisurely along the sandy
garden path she saw her husban and
his particular friend, Mr. Warburton.
He has invited him home to din
ner!'' she gasped, darting back into
the smoky kitchen. "Oh, what shall
IdoP"
Two or three narrowing minutes of
suspense and her husband entered.
Nell, are you here? And what is
the matter? Is the kitchen on fire?
The whole place is in fog"
Nell came forward, looking more
like tattooed Indian than the pretty
woman she was.
I'm making currant jelly and
thought you wouldn't be home till
late, Ned
docs it require such a mess as this
to make currant jelly? And what a
fright you are, Nell! I've brought
Warburton home to dine. NJ
There not mouthful of dinner,
Ned t.@
WHAT Didn't send a ham and a
pair Of chickens?'' x
Il had no time to cook; I've been
making Jelly all day.
'Confound the jelly! Come, Nell,
you must get up some show of din
ner.''
Il can't Ned! I'm tired to death,
and my hand s burned. You shouldn't
have invited Mr.. Warburton without
letting me know"
':Now. just hear that" cried the
provoked husband, latter telling me
so often to bring friend whenever
liked! Tn surprised at you. Nellr'
Nell sank into seat, and, covering
her face with her sticky apron, burst
into tears. while the jelly began to
stream over again.
Her husband. half beside himself
with the Kissing noise and his own
vexation, made dive at the kettle, |
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