Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-01-01

prairie pr E.
tentious because it contained two |
rooms instead of one, and each room
had two windows of glass-and you
have the setting of a rather interest
ing New Year celebration. Nor was
the inside view of this sod house at
all disappointing to expectations
fired by the sight of those real win
dows of glass, for there was furni-
ture more than the actual needs of
the occupant demanded. To be sure,
it was nearly all of home manufac-
ture, but it was evidently the work
of one who might have earned a liv-
ing as cabinet maker, and some of
it was upholstered.
The owner of this house, Jack Wal
worth by name, sat porting over
cookbook. He was a merry-eyed
young fellow of 25, tall, athletic, and
in every way good to look at. AL
though many miles from any human
being, so far as he knew, his hands
were clean and his hair carefully
brushed - two characteristics not
very pronounced in the makeup of
individuals in that part of the world,
for they were nearly all men, and
approval to give them a proper re-
gard for their personal appearance.
"These are mighty good recipes"
murmured Jack, as he slowly turned
the leaves of his book, ''but they do
require such an ocean of stuff!
Why don't they write some especially
for bachelors on prairie farms-lone-
ly old bachelors who have a banker
ing for a holiday dinner like mother
used to make?"
This was said half whimsically and
half sadly, for tomorrow a new year
was to begin, and Jack was home
sick. There had been a time when
he was quite sure that the opening
day of this new year would see the
beginning of a new life for him-a
life in which Nellie Rogers would be
the central figure. Jack turned to
the fly leaf of his cookbook and re-
read the words he had written there.
my first New Year resolution he
proclaimed, in tone that ought to
have frightened away the most per-
sistent attack of the blues. land I'm
bound to live up to it. I, Jack Wal
worth, being of sound mind, ETC..
have resolved that my life shall not
be spoiled by'-Pshaw!'' He threw
the book on the table almost vicious
ly. There was no fun in acting with
ou1 an audience, and he. must try in
some other way to convince himself
thai he was Hot SO very unhappy
after all.
- moped all day on both Thanks
giving and Christmas he said, reso-
lutely drawing the cookbook to-
ward him again, land I'm going to
begin the New Year in manly fash
ion! I'll stick to my resolution
Early that morning Jack had de-
ciGed TO cook grand New Year din
ner for himself and the fine wild
goose. shot for that purpose, now
hung in the outer room all ready for
the oven. But roast goose and baked
potatoes, while good in their way, did
not seem sufficiently festive to the
fastidious Jack, whose New England
mother had made reputation for
herself on her holiday dinners. His
soul longed for something in the way
of goodies" and that is why he hap
pened to be porting over a cookbook
at an hour when he was usually
sound asleep in his comfortable bed.
''Mince pie is what I want" he
said, but my cupboard is against it.
I've got the meat and vinegar and
sugar, but there are no spices, and
I'd have E Gse oried apple, and I'm
not sure know how the crust is
made. sender if could use cram
berries and dried blackberries in
stead of raisins and currants?
have half a mind to try it, anyhow"
Suiting the action to the word.
Jack dnlmed his oil cloth apron, and
49,, >aea M work. There was plen-