Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-05-22
4 BATCH OF BREAD AND 4 PUD-
DING.


Nancy Newton was a bunderer, said
folks who ought to know. If it wasn't
laundering it was worse; and here they
tapped their heads, signifying there was
something within those precious spheres
which Nancy's Uranium lacked.
Her aunt Felicia-what name to go
with sallow cheeks and frame like hay
tedder!-felt that she could have done bet
ter by Nancy if she had had an earlier
start For the child was ten years old
when her father left her doubly orphaned,
and Felicia Newton, spinster, was called
upon to fulfil the duties of kinship, and to
atone for "such a bringing up as men folks
give" A straight diet of femininity, tower
and over seams, bed-making, dsh-wash-
ing, Miss Newton prescribed. and admins
tered her own medicine. Nancy took it
meekly, but grew more reticent, asked few
er questions, and solved her problems by
making reckless dashes at them, so win
ming her reputation for laundering or
worse.
81 declare l don't know whether you are
too bright or amt bright enough" said
her aunt, after finding the girl laid fiat on
the kitchen floor. fitting herself to an old
in the name of goodness Turn round
here" Nancy revolved, showing her small
back with the large garment pinned across.
There were Sits in the cloth, where altera-
tons were to be made Glow you ever
twisted and turned" went on Aunt Fell
cha, taking out the pins and slipping the
sleeves on the girls unwilling arms. "If
you wanted it fixed, why didn't you come
to me?'
Nancy murmured some unintelligible re-
spouse. She could not tell her aunt that
any contortion was preferable to such an
appeal for help.
Eight years failed to alter the relations
between the two. Nancy grew more sea
pable," but not whit more confidential.
Aunt Felicia openly eXulted over the re-
suits of her own training, but eyed the
blank, fair face before her with suspicion
wellnigh distrust. "She's glib enough out
side, makes friends, has attentions. won
der why we two don't get on better?"
unused the old lady. She was sixty-eight,
or would be on the morrow. The nearness
OF the festival, the prominence it gave her
mounting score of years, brought a pen
sive influence to bear upon her The old
heart yearned over the young one.
Mamie" she said, gently, GIVE ben
telling Mis- Barker an Mis- Shelton an
Mis- Briggs, that's comm to dinner to-
morrer how you could cook. Now I'm
goin' to lay back and let you do it all
wont raise finger, so to show 'em what
l says true. How'd you like that?"
1t was delicate compliment and tender
ed generously without hint of possible
laundering. Nancy nodded appreciatively:
"First-rate, Aunt F'licia What Won poin'
to have?"
Eve promised 'em billed DISH cause
they don't all of 'em get it nowadays
leastwise Mis- Shelton an Mis- Briggs
dont-an' billed Injin puddin'. You'd
best set pan o. biscuit dom tonight.
Come to think of it, we need bread: NAV
as well make a whole batch while you're
about it,"
There was meeting that night, and af-
terward Nancy loitered through the fra
grant lanes with her escort, 10 Barker
The whippoorwlls were singing as if their
honor depended upon getting in as many
notes as possible before daybreak. A wild
grape vine climbed the rail face, and held its
fragile blossoms out to the moonlight
and the soft night breeze.
"M-m-m! Amt that sweetr' cried .Jo
rapturously. 81 don't know ANYTHING
sweeter, less it's"-here the precaution of
a glance at his companion told him to
hedge little less it's roses. Bv the
way, our sweetbrier's out full. Don't YOU
want pitcher of 'em for your table to-
morrer?' For Joe's mother was one of
the prospective guests, and Nancy's debut
as cook had been theme of converse
ton on the homeward walk.
eyes, indeed" responded Nancy, cor
daily. YOU'RE just as good as YOU can
be to think of it,
Don't know bout that" said 10, with
proper humility.
Then the two said goodnight, and Nan
cy went in to her bread-making. Aunt
Felicia had retired for the night. The
kitchen fire was out and the lamp was fru-
gally turned down. The place seemed
chilly and dull after the radiance without.
Rapidly, and as quietly as possible, Nancy
put away her bonnet and shawl and
brought flour, milk, and the jar of foaming
yeast. "Wish t aunt had left a coal or
two, enough to warm the milk" she
thought. Guess t II be all right.
though"
1t looked promising, a round smooth
mass, firm and white as the young arms
which wrestled with it. They turned and
kneaded and turned again, with rhythmic
motion; then she caught a sharp knife.
cleft the mass, gathered the pieces deity
together, and fell again to kneading.
After all, innocent and hopeful as the
infant batch looked when tucked into the
pan and covered with clean crash towel.
Nancy somehow distrusted it in her heart,
awoke at intervals during the night to wor-
ry, and stole down into the kitchen with
the first CLEAN of daylight to learn the
worst. Inert and helpless lay the dough,
precisely at low-water mark.
"What ever shall do?' sighed the I'M
fortunate d6butante. sit III never do to
let Mis- Briggs and Mis- Shelton and JOS
mother put that stuff into their mouths. 4"
She glanced wildly about her. The odor
OF burnt sacrifice would not be pleasant to
the divinity abOve-stairs, who was to be
heard even now preparing to descend.
There was no time TO be lost. Nancy
caught up the dough, bore it hastily to the
flower bed, where trim geraniums left the
ground open between their stems, dug a
grave in their midst, dumped in the Offend
ing dough, and covered it with earth.
When Aunt Felicia appeared a few min
utes later, there were no signs of the re-
cent tragedy.
Seems to me you're pretty airly," said
Aunt Felicia, not disapprovingly. dBread
rip Why, you don't mean to say you for
got it9 That's just like you, Nancy New