The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-04-25
tkSSzs 80.
%, 1901.
HIS PINK HASH.
The Story Of q Big Cabbage Crop ana
Grossly Deceived Husband.
Nv SUSAN BROWN ROBBINS.

copyright, 1901, by American Press AssocisuohJ
"Tbere! You've always complained
that we never had cabbages enough,
said Enos Soper as he drove up TO the
cellar door and stopped. Il guess
therell be enough for you this year.
There's all the horse wanted to draw,
and you can have 'em all to yourself.
l won't rob you of one Of EN-" And
he chuckled
His wife. Betsey, had come out to
zee the load. She looked at 1t critically.
"There's a good lot Of 'em, sure
enough she said. She reached up
aud took a large head off the cart.
"It's as heavy as can be. don't know
when I've seen such handsome mess
of cabbages. Won't they be good next
winter, though"
Il hope you'll like EN-" said Enos,
going down the cellar steps with two
heads held by the roots In each hand.
You won't get me to taste Of EN-"
AS she went back into the house Bet
sey Soper smiled broadly. Il won't,
won't II" she said, and then she smiled
again.
Il s'pose she thinks she can eat all
those" said Enos as he set the last
head in it's place on the cellar bottom.
well, | could tell her, only she
wouldn't believe it, that just about
two-thirds of them cabbages will go to
the neighbors and to the hens before
spring comes"
Going to have q boiled dish for din
ner? he asked a week later, coming
into the kitchen in the middle of the
forenoon. That's good"
Its so queer you like boiled dinner
and don't like cabbage" said Betsey
at dinner time. Wont you just try
little mite? It's the best cabbage l
ever saw"
"No, thank you" said Enos jocularly.
''I'm afraid there won't be enough left
for you. I'll eat the other things and
that pink hash you make. but draw
the line at cabbage"
The next morning Betsey went into
the pantry to make the hash. She put
cold potatoes, turnip, one small carrot
and two small beets into the choppng
tray: then she removed the cover from
a large earthen dish and took out two
generous forkfuls OF cold cabbage,
which she also put in the tray.
When Enos came in to breakfast, the
pink hash was steaming hot in the
middle of the table and beside Bet
sey's plate was a small dish of warmed
over cabbage.
This is 'mazing good hash, Betsey."
Enos said as he helped himself for the
third time. Pm sorry the turnips
didn't turn out any better Prhaps
you'll have TO be a little sparing of
'em"
"All right" said Betsey demurely.
Through the fall and winter pink
hash appeared frequently on the Sopers'
table. Only once did Enos make any
criticism Of 1t.
"This hash amt so good as common"
he said. whats the matter with i'll
1t tastes different, somehow"
'P'rhaps it amt salt enough" Betsey
suggested.
Tasted different" she said after he
had gone out. "Of course it did! I've
been putting in about half the bulk of
cabbage, and this morning he was
fussing round the pantry all the time,
and | didn't have chance to put 1t in
without his seeing me, and there's so
few turnips. no wonder 1t tasted queer"
''The last cabbage" Betsey said one
day toward spring.
Enos laid down his knife and fork
and stared at his wife. 'The last cab
bagew he echoed.
She nodded.
He said nothing more, but after din
ner he went down cellar.
How many Of them cabbages have
you thrown awayY" he demanded when
he came up again.
''NOt one" answered Betsey. II did
give two to Sister Abby. but all the
rest have been eaten in this ROOM"
Enos looked at her In awed amaze
ment. II wouldn't "a thought you could
"a done IT," he said. and he went out
without another word.
At night, however. the cabbages
seemed still to weigh on his mind.
Had better raise more this yearT
he asked.
NO" she answered. 81 think there
were just enough this time"
Il should "a thought it would "a
made you sick he said thoughtfully.
"Well. II didn't. and guess you
needn't worry about it any more.
don't believe there's anything much
cheaper that you could feed me on"
Enos laughed. Il don't knows there
is" he agreed.