Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1890-05-29
CAKE.

There was hustle and preparation
in the farm. house at Oak Hill.
Mary Chester, the farmers eldest
daughter, was to be married, and a
wedding did not take place at Oak Hill
every day.
Indeed, the last one had happened
twenty years ago, and that being the
wedding of Mr.. and Mrs. Chester, nei-
ther Mary nor her younger sister Kate
could be expected to remember much
about 1t.
No; weddin's don't come along ev-
cry day-the more's the blessin's. An
Pm goin ter see ter it my own self, that
this ones what it he'd oughter be. lucky
cake an all. No KNOWN who that
cake might affect. An eff do say it,
as hadn't oughter, defy emmy one ter
beat me on that said Aunt Hetty
Blake, Mrs. Chester's maiden sister, as
she took her post in the kitchen, and
vail ntly refused to leave it.
To tell the truth, no one tried very
hard to persuade her to do so.
1t was pet superstition in the city,
that certain kind OF cake. compound
ed by certain kind of recipe, would
surely influence the destiny Of one, at
least of the family or invited guests,
and while all of Aunt Hetty's cooking
was excellent, her lucky cake was al
ways as perfect as could be, although
she had never had any use for any her
self.
So, while the wintry air without was
filled with feathery snow flakes, and
the cold, north wind sighed through
the leatless branches Of the great oaks
around the house, within the kitchen
the air was fragrant with the steam of
viands, which surpassed Mrs. Chester's
far famed Thanksgiving feasts.
''Pears like as you warn't much
good here, Mary, cried Aunt Hetty,
with nervous laugh. AN yer am t
to blame bit, child. Amos Is as like
ly feller as the sun shines on, an a
gal don't 90 to Ler own weddin' so Oft
en- as ter get used to it, 1 reckin'. So
we'll excuse ye fer bein' dreamy.hke !;
but guess yed better 60 an help yer
ma about setting things to rights. Kate
an me kin manage here, with Sary
Anus help. 'Taint good fer bride
ter see her cake before she's married,
much less to help make 1t, an Jest now
I'm goln about that lucky cake So
'Oh. I'll 90, aunty,' answered Mary.
hastily, as she espied manly form
coming down the road, and remember
ed that the parlor had not been
inspected. Only be very careful about
that cake, for as there are no invited
guests, it is sure to bring good luck to
you, or Sarah Ann, or Kate
1T amt likely ter be me !! answered
Aunt Hetty, with deep sigh.
Law, Miss Mary, ta,nt me noway J
cried Sarah Ann with Il toss of her
head.
But her face famed as she remem-
bered what Tim Mccarthy, the young
butcher, had said to her the day be-
fore, when he came to buy Mr.. Ches-
ter's prize oxen.
Kate said not word, but she bent
her head lower above the raisins she
was stoning that the others might not
see the happy love light in her eyes, as
she looked half guilty at the new ring
on her finger, which no one had notlc-
ed in the hurry.
A modest trinket it was-only neat
band Of gold, with true lovers knot
IN the centre, and one tiny pearl-but
Charlie Turner had placed 1t there just
the evening before. and his whispered
words gave value to the golden circle.
Come, Kate, don't yer 90 to dream
in too? Than raisins must be ready