The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-09-05
A MESS OF POTTAGE.


and brought up In the country, ant
though he had spent some years in the
city he claimed he had never been en-
tirely weancd from the country
Though he had not seen a hill OF bean:
planted In fourteen years yet he die
not cease to tell his friends about his
knowledge OF farming, and how, wher
he was on the farm, his father used to
raise crops the envy OF that country
side for miles around. Once In 9
while Mr. Briggs would get notion
into his head that he wanted some oil
the old-time country fare and then his
little wife was put TO her wits end to
prepare ham and string beans or bacon
and hominy in such IA manner as to
remind Mr.. Briggs OF his long past
country boyhood. Her efforts met with
Indifferent success, for though Mrs.
Briggs can cook after the same formula
that Mr.. Briggs mother used. she can
not give him the appetite Of a hired
man, or conjure up the conditions
under which Mr.. Briggs used to relish
country fare.
One day this spring Mr.. Briggs sud-
denly remembered how he used to
relish boiled greens, and from that
| moment his one aim In life was to de-
| your some once more. Mr.. Briggs
aunt was stopping at his house for a
few days when the fever struck him
and she was consulted as to the proper
ingredients and kinds OF herbs. Spin
ach, pulse and curly dock with beet
tops and mustard leaves.
As curly dock and mustard leaves
were not to be procured in open mar
ket, small boy was commissioned to
invade the country and procure suf-
ficient quantity OF those herbs.
The boy succeeded in his foreign
mission. and il seemed rs though
Briggs was going to enjoy meal Of
old-time boiled greens once more. He
invited an old bachelor chum to take
dinner with him. and the said chum
readily accepted the invitation. not so
much on account of the dinner of
herbs, as because of "a gentle and bash
full passion that he entertained for
Briggs maiden aunt. The maiden
aunt was aware OF the tender senti-
ments OF her ncphew's friend, and
knowing that old saying: 1.-THE easiest
way to reach u mans heart is through
his stomach, has considerable truth
in 1t, she determined that the boiled
greens should be success. Mrs.
Briggs usually superintendent the cul-
mary department. but to make sure
that the cookery was going on in prop
err shape the aunt invaded the kitchen.
Now Mrs. Briggs always is sparing
OF salt and terribly afraid OF pepper"
unused the aunt. II think I'll put
little more of both in to be sure that
there's enough. And I'm afraid she
did not put in enough dock. There's
nothing like plenty OF dock in boiled
green's"
So in went more salt and pepper,
and another handful of dock. The
aunt had barely retired from the kitch-
en- when the mistress Of the house en-
tered and looked into the seeth.ng pot.
II can't for the life OF me remember
whether l put in salt and pepper or
not John always says that | never
season things enough; so to be sure OF
1t I'll put in some anyway and guess
little more dock would not 10 any
HARM. Another dose OF salt and
pepper went into the boiling caldron.
Mary Ann, who was the actual bone
and muscle OF that kitchen, looked
over the field little later and decided |
that rs her mistress often forgot to
season what she was cooking, that it
would be good plan to put n little |
extra seasoning into the greens. She !
did 80. And us she knew dock was
good she put in an extra bunch.
Mr.. and Mrs. Briggs, with aunty and
the invited guest, gathered around the |
festive board, sparkling with cut glass
and glittering with silver.
"Ah, it makes me young again,
said Briggs when the pottage was
brought in, Ito smell the savory odor !
OF billed greens once more IL hope !
you prepared plenty, my dear" Mrs.
Briggs replied that she thought she
Ind prepared a sufficient quantity, or, /
to be more truthful, aunty had pre-
pared them.
As Aunty had prepared them, the |
guest fastened TO partake OF them.
There was a smile and look OF pleasant !
anticipation on his face rs his lips
closed over generous portion. but
the smile vanished instanter ard q
look of establishment not unmixed
with terror. took its place. When he
realized the flavor Of his mouthful his
fir-t impulse was to spit, but he check
ed 1t. and chewed manfully, with
weaving jaw. like n COW with thorn
in her cud. In the meantime Mr..
Briggs aunt had taken mouthful o.
the greens. When the taste OF the
mess became apparent she barely sup
pressed scream, and in her haste TO
get the dainty out Of her mouth. the
greens became tangled ZIP In her Gus
tom-made teeth. and all went out to
gether. Briggs was so engaged wit
his own anticlpations that he did no
notice anything amiss ut the other side
OF the table.
IL tell YOU" he remarked. 1.-The Ole
time country provcnder Is best. nftc.
s!l. Now this" and he put some In
al, mouth. Dab! oh! oh! Moses