The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-12-16
EMILY,s SPECIALITY.

ankle, the first weeks of what had been
anticipated as a most enjoyable visit.
"a telegram, auntie! Uncle Edwin
and Ethel leave Boston this morning,
and they will be here to-day. What
shall do? How provoking it is that
mother was called away to-day, of all
daysr
fore night. Surely you can en-
for few hours" quietly returned Miss
Bradley.
"But the dinnerI"
| Emily's tone was one of tragic despair.
"Ah, l see. 1t is pity L am i'm
prisoned here, a burden instead of a
help to you. But don't look so dis
tressed You have plenty of time; the
train is not due till after H."
but, auntie, you don't seem to con-
slider. | know so little about cooking,
and they are used to every sort of mag
nlficence in the way of dinners, l sup
pose. To begin with, they will think
dinner at noon relic of barbarism."
Emily was almost in tears. She really
had very little experience in the kitchen.
1t was only short time before that her
mother, firm admirer of the domestic
virtues, had insisted that Emily should
lay aside her studies for time to cult
vate the arts of practical housewifery.
where is your good sense, Emily?
They come to youI home and your ways
OF life; whatever you do, you will not
make useless attempt to make these
like theirs. Probably it would not be
wise for you to try to serve the dinner
your mother would if she were at home.
| The question is, what can you prepare
most successfully What is your speci-
alty?"
81 havn't any," said the gloomy En-
| lily. 81 have tried very few dinner dish
es. You know mother believes in begin
ming at the foundation of things always,
and she has kept me making bread and
doing very simple cooking"
Thanks to her wisdom, you make
bread that is nearly perfect; and you
baked yesterday? So far, so good.
Have you really learned to serve no hot
dishes?"
Emily laughed. so, yes; creamed
Goldfish. | took fancy to try it once,
and now the boys tease for it continual
| ly when they come home. Mother dis
likes it, so she says she is willing to
shirk preparing it But that is no use
| in this Case,h
"And why not?'
80, goldfish! The idea. How it
would sOund-for dinnerm
"The important thing is, how 1t will
taste. What can you prepare that will
be better?"
Nothing" Emily confessed after a
minutes thought. $40 you really think
| might? They wouldn't think it too
countrifed and common"
81 don't know that we are called upon
to consider what they think of it. If
you set before them the most appetizing
meal in your power, no more should be
expected of you. What can you make
in tie way of desserts?"
Not thing. Well, | can make a
bread pudding, Thatwould be eminent
ly in keeping with Goldfish, she added in
a disguised tone.
Can you make good one?"
Eyes, l can; the boys think so, at any
rate. have tried other buildings, but
I'm never sure how they will turn out.
Somehow, / caught the knack of getting
a bread pudding just right, and my rule
never fails me-"
Make your bread pudding. Serve
the food neatly, set out your prettiest
dishes, don't get heated and Hurried,
and III warrant the success of your din
ner."
Aunt Marcia's confidence was inspir-
ing, Emily took heart and flew to work,
becoming so interested in making the
most of her simple bill of fare that she
forgot to worry about the possibility of
its appearing meagre to her Boston
relatives.
II am glad didn't try fussy dishes
that might have spoiled at the last min
ute and left me in u fix" she reflected,
giving the finishing touch to her arrange
ment Of the table. Il am glad it hap
pens to be rOse-time; these beauties all
around the room make decorations any
one might envy. There! | can run up.
stairs and dress now"
"Well?" Aunt Marcia greeted her,
sharing Emily's suppressed excitement
and anxiety, but determined not to be-
tray herself.
1--WE had the greatest good luck
Everything is just right, so tar, and
have time to change my dress before
they come The table will look ever Sc
pretty, with the radishes and lettuce fol
colOr,-there the whistle of that noon
train!"
keep COOL" cried Aunt Marcia, seem,
ingly with exasperatng lack of feeling
for the trials of very young house
keeper.
No one who saw Emily receive her
guests would have thought the advice
needed. Apparently lf-posessed and
at ease, she played the hostess as grace
fully as Ethel herself could have done
even while at heart she was constantly
lamenting the misfortune which kept
Miss Bradley from giving her assistance
While the guests hastily shook Of
some of the dust of travel in their room
she had time to serve her dinner. She
met them at the table, still quiet ant
graceful. Her uncle and cousin were
cordial and chatty; she enjoyed renew
ing acquaintance with them.
1t happened that the course of CONVEX
sation led to point where Ethel said
II see the servant question is not the all
absorbing one here; you are so fOrtu
nate, judge, as to have good help"
ut is a very simple question here a
present." Emily smilingly answered
Mother took me out of school last win
ter to study housekeeping. She sen
away the girl we had, and we enjoy on
freedom thoroughly"
Ethel raised her eyebrows, with
comprehensive glance over the table anC
around the room. Mr.. Seabright lai(
down his fork and surveyed his niece.
DO you mean to say you get up meals
like this entirely alone? Ethel, I'd give
you four years with Madam What-d'you
call-her to see you such a practica
hOusekeeper."
~ wish were" said Ethel. humbly