The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-01-29
Written for the BANNER
AT CHERRY CROFT - GRANDMA a
wAsHBURN'S RECEIPTS.

Written for the BANNER
AT OHERRY CROFT GRANDMA
D.. wAsHBURN's RECEIPTS.
1t was lovely afternoon in October,
The cherry trees were still green, but the
naples had chung their crimson banners
out''-crimson and yellow. The topaz
tree by the gate was glOriOusly Deauu-
full in the afternoon sunlight. inns Tree
was Nelrs especial delight in the fall, ana
had been so christened by her because IL
reminded her of the gem, and of line
I she had read in relation toit. The sun
filled rapture of the topaz" was the
quotation which kept repeating itself IN
her mind as she sat by the west window
( in the sitting room, engaged in the num-
bic occupation of pairing apples TO stew
I for conserve for tea.
The while Nelfs hands were busy (and
her thoughts soaring alofD, Master Rob
Roy's hands were also engaged" but
| his thoughts were not soaring very hlgh
not much higher than his curly pate,
over which he was industriously twirling
an apple pairing, "a nice long one, III
order to have it drop on the floor in the
form of desired letter. He could mex
out" any letter he chose, and after drop
ping pairing from each hand, he re
marked in satisfied tone, 'there, I've
"Speit what?n asked Nell, coming
down out of the tree, so to speak.
"Why, can't you see, 'Ellen'?'
81 only see two quirly-qs," said Nell.
"Thero' 81 and IN, " announced Rob,
land that's Ellen-Ralph said So
''Of course it's %. X them" said Nell,
'but now you just hustle, hustle, rustic
and grab up these parings and put 'em
in the pan for the pigs desert. Scamper
now, I'm in an awful hurryW And in
her haste Nell did not notice that he
threw the paIings out on the stone steps.
remarking to himself that "he guessed
that would do for this time, can't both
er with 'em, Nell's too fussy about every
old apple parings."
Nell had carried hers away and gone
to the well for water, and off went Mas
ter Bob for his wheelbaTTow to wheel in
a big load of wood This small convey
ance had a long and peculiar name in his
ocabulary-nothing less than Bartholy-
wheelbarleymew The concern con
structed for him by a man named Bar
tholomew, and the pames of ''the man
and the machine were somewhat mixed,
in his mind. He was just coming from
wood pile when his mother came out on
the steps to call HIM, and in tlice had
slipped and fallen on the edge of the
step, giving her ankle painful wrench,
and hurting her arm ut the same time.
Rob was alarmed and conscience e-smit-
ten. "Oh, mamma! I'm so sorry" he
cried; "what can do? Tllnever throw
another pai1ng on the steps, honestly
aud trulc mammal"
81 hope not said Mrs. Beebee, trying
to regain her feet, but finding herself
unable to walk. ''Go get my cane,
please"
Rob found Nell and Nell found the
cane, and they helped her into the house
and made her lie down on the sofa.
Here is a situation!" lamented Mrs.
Becbee, smiling family. Think of all
the work had on hand for tomorrow,
baking and brewing and sweeping and
sewing, I'D iafRitum, What shall we
do?"
"Grandma will suggest something"
said Nell, assuringly.
When Nell entered the room grandma,
too, was sitting hy a west window, with
portfolio ON her lap. She had been
reading selections i'll prose and poetry,
md in particular bit of birthday verse
which Nell had lately given her, and her
race wore such-a peaceful, happy express
sion as her gaze rested on the western
horizon. The hit Of verse which grand
ma loved to dwell upon, was this:
drop down ehind the solemn hills
q dqy wi, so enn skies!
| se enc, above Ihe failing glow,
| igh', starry crowned alisr!
| SO beau iiul u ay heaven be.
| hen liie's last suub am d!cs!'
Nell dislikcd to disturb the old lady,
but grandma had faculty of dropping
| from poetry into prose without any ado.
She had had long lines of hard prose set
before her many times in h'r life, and
had studied them well. She knew that
beginners must first read prose, and then
Unu poetry will fall into line"
On this occasion she perceived that
something was out Of tune. and asked
Nell what it might lie. Nell explained
and Grandma rose to the OCCASION"
She was very lame and did not often 60
INTO the kitchen to cook. but cheerfully
lassured Nell that she thought they could
Iel along very well for day 0 two.
Aunt Minimi Will have to take care OF
your mother, and we viii try to look
after the harder, he other work will have
to watt and so saying grandma hob
Jled out TO see Mrs Beebee, whose limL
was very painful.
Nell was fourteen, but small, owing tc
certain circumstances, had not learned
% cook much. Grandma superintended
everything, pro TEN, and ut last, wher
yhe work was done, told her grand
laughter to go to bed and get good
sleep, and we will begin our culinary op
eratiOns bright and early in the morning
| Next morning Mrs. Beebee was little
more comfortable, but they determined
not to bother her about de ails any more
than they could help. The first thing
Utter breakfast grnndma's r ceipt boob
was brought into requisiti II, and she
said to Nell:
"We will have loaf OF brown 0reaC
made first, twill aye be steaming whit
we're working" And grandma reaC
rom her boOk-reading and commenting
alternately. "This is your Aunt Emily
receipt and is very reliable. First, pu
lhe water to heat, see that it bOils whei
ou put the steamer over and that you
keep the pot boiling all the while con
stant' for three hours, then take the loa
out of the steamer and bake it i'll mod
crate oven half an hour to brown it
Bring me two cups of meal and one O
flour, two cups of buttermilk or SOU
milk, half cup of molasses, one teaspoon
of soda and a pinch of salt. Grandmi
soon had these ingredients mixed to
gether and bread was off the docket.
~ think, said grandma, after TAXI
ian account of stock, that with som'
soup for dinner and loaf of cake fol
pper that we shall do very well to-day
with what we have on hand. We will
make the cake next. Wen try this re
ceipt for layerc cake; it is marked Puss!
willows receipt. That was pet nam'
for a girl used to know years ago. Sh'
was nice cook and her cake was always
good. We will make tie custard first
Measure out one cup Of milk, and, re
serving little. put the remainder in
basin and set the basin i'll spider hal
full of water, ON the stove; mix togethe
thoroughly tablespoon of flour and ON
of sugar adding a teaspoon Of corn
starch. Pour gradually on this thu
cold milk reserved, then pOu
this thickening into the hot mill