Middletown transcript., 1903-02-07
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK
CHAPTER II

# @CQN NI1NOEQ Eh0M LAS
CHAPTER II
Elizabeth was bustling around
her new domain early the next
morning in 8 fresh wrapper and
gingham apron. The domain
did not exactly suit her, and as
she cast her eyes here and there
she smiled and nodded. as though
she were putting up invisible
shelves and little curtains, and
quaint advertising conceits, and
tacka Ind nails. She was like
the woman of whom someone
said that if you put her in a
desert, and gave her a news
paper and a pair of scissors she
would make a home.
II think this must be about
q peck of potatoes, she observed
as she surveyed the painful she
had pealed, and I never saw a
pot-roast like that in all my life,
Now if I make a six-quart pan
Of Johnny cake and a half gal
lon of apple sauce, ! should think
they would not starve, till sup
per time. Now its nice to not
to have any table linen to iron.
And its lovely to not have any
hand painted china to get nicked,
and Elizabeth threw a tin cup
at the opposite wall, and let q
tin plate fall just for the novelty
of the thing.
4 wonder why my family does
not come to dinner she said
later, as she surveyed the table
all ready to groan with meat and
potatoes and Johnny cake and
apple sauce, the minute the men
appeared. She took the water
pail and went out and filled it,
and as she turned to go in, all
the family" fled around the
cabin. At sight of her, six min
ing caps came off, and she re-
ceived at least three courtly
bows. asTalk about drawing
room courtesy. What is this, I
wonder?" thought Elizabeth.
Joe, being naturally master cf
ceremonies and the situation,
came forward. "Miss Elizabeth,
this is Mr.. Thomas Landon, and
this is Mr.. William Jenkins, both
Of them way up, high -faluting
college professors, or somethin'.
This is Tim and this is Jack,
who are jest kind of common
folks. And this is Mr.. jeffrey,
who is neither one nor tother,
but kind of both of them put
together. Jest now they. all
looks alike to you, but they won't
when they gifts some soap and
water, " he said.
Elizabeth viii always remem-
Der that first dinner in the cabin;
how she replenished the dishes
again and again. How she turn
ed the potato kettle upside down,
scraped the roasting pot for the |
last bit Of gravy, dished up the |
last Of the apple sauce, brought
the last piece of Johnny cake, and
saw it all disappear like mist |
before the MONDAY sun.
He was right. I must always
cook more of it, she comment
ed.
AS they left the table Mr..
Jeffrey assured her that her
cooking was appreciated. I'll
she doubted it, just gaze on the
ruins.
aWill you tell us, fair shade,
are you Queen Elizabeth, or
Saint Elizabeth. or Lisbeth who
called the cattle homer" said
Tom, regarding her quizzically. |
"On my honor, sir, I am none
Of the three. I am Elizabeth,
the cook" quote Elizabeth. !
sBut / never heard of Eliza
beth, the cook, in song or story
said VIII Jenkins.
my song is still unsung; my
story yet to be written she said,
waving the dish towel in the air.
dramatically.
The days sped swiftly and
pleasantly to Elizabeth. She
was in her element. The cabin |
took on q very different look
from her deft fingers. She
tucked branches Of aspen and
pine in unsightly places, and put
bright and cherry little things |
here and there on the walls, |
made dainty curtains for the
little windows out of her old !
swiss aprons; and kept every
thing in it 50 wholesomely clean |
II was q pleasure to sit there.
The men were unfailingly kind |
and courteous, and We'd with |
each other in their culinary at
Bentions, keeping the kitchen
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