The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-08-13
NH. MEEK'S DINNER.

81 wonder, James," said Mrs. Meek.
doubtfally. to her husband one morn
ing. ''if you could get your own din
ner tonight. You see, have had to let
the servant go on her holidays for day
or two. and they want me desperately
at the Woman's Aid and Relief bazar,
to help them with their high tea from
1850 to $50. If you thought you could
manage by yourself"
''I'Il try to survive it," observed Nj.
Meek, good-naturedly. 81 don't fancy
it will prove fatal"
I'll get a roast and cook it this
morning. then" went on Mrs. Meek.
checrfuliy. land you can have it cold
for dinner"
THANK YOU" replied Mr.. Meek, ''you
will do nothing of the kind. l fancy l
haven't gone camping pretty much
every year of my life for nothing l
suspect can manage a hot dinner
about as well as most women"
Mrs. Meek had her doubts, and, I'M
like most wives, expressed them.
Mr. Meek viewed his wife's doubts
most husbands, expressed it.
Thus it finally resulted that Mrs.
Meek abandoned all idea of preparing
MIR. Meek's dinner for him, and betcol
herself TO the bazaar. So it resulted,
furthermore, that Mr.. Meek left his
office about four o'clock that afternoon,
and proceeded to collect, on his way
home. the necessary supplies for a
dainty little dinner.
An alluring display of chickens were
the first thing to catch his eye, and he
was just on the point of securing one
of them. when, by good luck, or, more
probably, through the natural sagacity
of the man, he recollected that-well,
that you don't, as rule, cook chickens
as they are. In the momentary reac-
ton that followed this feat of mem
DRY, he bought a couple of mutton
chops and three tomatoes.
I'll have a good, plain, old-fashioncd
English dinner" thought he, as he hur-
ried past the deceitful chickens, with
something almost akin to reproach.
--None of your finilly, poultry dinners
for met"
''By joye!" he exclaimed a moment
later. "Pll have an apple pudding and
some oyster soup to begin on"
He was so tickled with this idea that
he promptly rushed into a grocery shop
and purchased half peck of their best
eating apples, and then hurried home
without thought of the cab he was
TO order for his wife at ISL 80 sharp.
by five o'clock he had the fire going
beautifully and everything ready for
start.
By six o'clock he was just beginning
TO enjoy the thing; the tomatoes were
.stewing divinely; the potatoes were
boiling to their hearts content; and the
milk for the oyster soup was simmering
contentedly on the back of the stove.
The oysters, by and by, had not ar
rived.
''Dear me-" thought the ambitious
gentleman, Il wish | had thought of it
in time, and I'd have had some oyster
patties for sort of final dessert. Hell
10, what's this? By thunder, if that
everlasting pig-headed woman hasn't
left me some cold ham and custard
pie! by the old Harry, for two cents I'd
throw the whole thing out into the
back yard!"
The natural docility of his nature,
however, prevailed, and he left the
obnoxious viands unmolested, and pro-
ceeded with his dinner. At 80 he put
the chops on to broil, "as in the good
old days of yore"-this poetic allusion
to the style of cooking being occasioned
by one of them accidentally dropping
into the fire, whence he rescued it with
great presence of mind by the joint as
Sistance of the stove litter and one Of
the best table napkins. BY the time the