The Grenada gazette., 1888-05-12

her might, picking. boiling, stfalhlhg,
until her cheeks were flushed and her
head ached.
"Why, Jane, this juice won't jelly,
and it has boiled so long. What can
be the matter?'
There's something you put in it to
make it jelly, l think, ma
"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 Tn tired to death now. l
wish had done as mother said. She
advised me to send the currants over
there and let Hannah make the jelly,
but l was sure l 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.
on, what shall l do? Surely the
stuff must be bewitched. I've great
mind to pour it all away" cried poor
Nell, ready to cry with vexation.
Il tell you, ma'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 l doP
Cook it more? 1t is burning to the
kettle now. and I've wasted ever 50
much sugar. Jane, run over to moth
er's and ask Hannah to run over, will
YOU? She'll know in a 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 hissed, and 4 dense smoke
and pungent scent of burning sweets
filed the kitchen.
Shattered from head to foot with the
hot liquid. one hand scalded her prct-
ty face bcsmeared, MI retreated to
the door in utter despair
"Oh, wish | had never -
The sentence was never finished
She stood dumb with horror. for
coming lcisurely along the sandy
garden path she saw her husband an d
his particular friend, Mr.. WArburton,
He has invited him home to dim
ner!' she gaspcd, darling back into
the smoky kitchen. "Oh, what shall
Idop"
Two or three narrowing minutes of
suspense and her husband entered.
Nell, are you herc9 And what is
the matter? Is the kitchen on fire?
The whole place is in fog"
Nell came forward, looking more
like a tattooed Indian than the pretty
woman she was.
"Tm making currant jelly and
thought you wouldn't be home ill
late. Ned.
Does it require such mess as thi'
to make currant jelly? And what ;
fright you are, Nell! I've brough
Warburt on home to dine.
There's not mouthful of dinner
Ned
.What9 Didn't send ham and :
pair of chickens''
Il had no time to cook; I've beer
making jelly all day"
"Confound the jelly! Come, Nell
you must get up some show of din
ner."
'Ican't Ned! Pm tired to death
and my hands burned. You shouldn
have invited Mr. WUburton withou
letting me know"
Now, just hear that" cried th'
provoked husband, latter telling M
so often to bring n friend whenever
| liked! Pm surprised ut you, Nell!
| Nell sank into 4 seat and, covering
her face with her sticky apron, burs
into tears, while the jelly began t.
stream over again.
| Her husband. half beside himsel
with the Kissing noise and his owl
vcxation, made a dive at the kettle
and, in his efforts to get 1t off th
stove, upset it, deluging the floor.
Tm glad of it! You've no buslnes
attempting to make the confoundee
stuff when you don't know how h
cried, flouncing out of the kitchen
and leaving his wife to have her cr
out. I'LL 60 and send Warburto
J away"
Poor Nellie sobbed convulsively, un
, mindful of the meandering red rive
at her teet, until Hannah entered.