Middletown transcript., 1903-02-07
ELIZABETfi-- THE COOK !.
By SARAH JOHNSON

Ga IAAUo6Oo uAAUh 0aDs
made as much or more of them
that those who were unculturee
were not rude, but had the in
stincts of very civilized society
I, myself, have had my hear
warmed many a time by tht
thoughtfulness and courtesy D
the native mountaineers, WHIT
have had no advantages, bu
were born courteous. | RENT 10
Der one WELL. With a party o,
friends I was driving along
mountain road ~ near the tim
ber line. Down below was
cabin with a man standing in it.
| doorway. Soon he saw US, ant
| waved his hand. Then he gath
cred a huge bouquet of the Col
| umbine which was growing pro
fusely about, and, scramblins
up the rocks to the road, all ou
| of breath and perspiring, but
beaming, with hat in hand, he
presented them to the strangers
with a Kindly grace that | have
never seen surpassed anywhere,
Yes, Elizabeth was learning
many things.
The foreman's cabin was only
200 yards distant, and when not
employed she was always there.
A great friendship had sprung
up between the two women, and
their mutual love of little Harry
cemented it.
Mr.. jeffrey was like a father
to her. She was always "our
little girl" to him.
AS for Tom Landon and Will
Jenkins, they were both fine
fellows, and her good comrades
and friends, whose society she
enjoyed very much indeed; and
though a warmer sentiment was
awakening in both men, Eliza
beth had not as yet dreamed of
such a possibility. So the
months few and February was
at hand.
CHAPTER III
EEzabeth was baking pancakes
one morning, and Joe was watch
ing the process.
II am something of a cook my
self. When I was over the range
camping with some fellers, / used
to bake pancakes. But I did not
have to use no knife to turn 'em.
1 jest up with them and Topped
them right over" he remarked.
Chopped them over on the
ranger" asked Elizabeth.
"Ye-es. And there was d fell
ler over the other side of the
range baking pancakes, and he
was jest Topping his over at the
same time, and mine lit on his
griddle, and his lit on mine, and
went right on cooking drawled
Joe solemnly. Joe was always
most solemn when he wanted
to laugh tho most.
"Joe, I would refer you to the
Good Book, which tells of the
fearful things in store for those
who exaggerate unduly," said
Elizabeth, severely.
"That is not exaggeration.
That is jest downright, honest
lying. No deceit about that.
amt expecting nobody to be-
lieve that, and nobody amt ex-
pecting I'm expecting them to
believe it."
"Did | ever tell you about the
cook we had afore your" he con-
tinued presently.
ST think not.
"She was a good one., Tell We
she could swear like a buzz saw"
"'Joe, I am afraid I am not so
accomplished as your former
cook"
"Complished. We don't want
no sich complished cooks. Wel
don't hire cooks to do our swear
ing. We kin do it ourselves if
it's necessary. Though for that
matter we are refined and cul.
toored around this camp. If we
have to swear, we do it under
ground, where it will blast out
the rocks and save giant pow
der, /" said Joe.
"Joe, not that wish to change
the subject at all, but that was an
unusually heavy fall of snow last
night, was it not?" said Elizabeth
suddenly.
eyes, it was, and we do not
like to see it either, miss"
"Why?"
Because it means snowslides
somewhere later on, and they
are nightly dangerous.
"Well do not worry aboutit.
"You have never been down
in the mine, have you, Miss