Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-07
MAYS THUNDER CAKE.

From the time she was big enough
70 remember anything. May forgot"
1t was not willful forgetfulness. for she
was as good as gold. but she was alb
sent-mlnded. Whatever she was doing
at the moment absorbed her to the ex-
eiusion Of everything else. OF course,
this was excellent for the thing she hap
pened to be doing. but rather hard on the
| things she left undone
May had many ambitions, among them
the desire to be good cook; this was
one of her earliest ambitions. Since then
she had grown up, and others have grown
| with her. but at the time her laudable
desire was far from fulfllment
Her education began with a sponge
cake. She was to receive instruction
from certain worthy lady who lived
nearby, and to whom Mays absent-mind-
edness was well known. So when the
girl came In armed with her materials
and big cooking apron, Miss Armisted
at once forestalled the greatest difficulty
as she led the way to the kitchen.
You mustn't let your thoughts wan
der moment from your cake until It is
safe In the pan." she said, as sne steered
her through minute measuring Of in
gradients. for Miss Armisted was very
precise. -
You mustn't start beating until every
NAAAAi6 10 iSooJ, BIC S1lu, anu
the yolks and the sugar take quite half
nour, and an even. steady hand, without
interruption; SO don't fly Off and think
of something else she ended with a
| smile and warning shake of her finger.
May began, determined to make a sue
cess of her first effort, and her thoughts
never strayed one moment from the cake
1t grew light and fluffy under her hand
but she never ngticed how dark ana
stormy it was glowing outside There
was rumble nf thunder huf CHI oil
no heed; when the lightning darted
through the open window she never no.
ticed. but kept on beating. Soon the
rain came in torrents, driving everything
before 1t, but it made no difference to
May; her half hours beating was not
over. Peal after peal of thunder crashed
and shook the house, but she kept on
beating; she was not afraid of thunder
and lightning, and there was a certain
exhilaration in working steadily through
SO much confusion.
One loud crash, as Of falling timber
made her jump. but there was no sound
following, and so she went on beating.
She did not notice that she was quite
alone in the kitchen, and that the water
was running in rivulets over the floor.
but when she had gone stolidly through
the half hours beating she went on just
as calmly with the rest of the recipe.
forgotten; her every thought conferred in
the billowy looking cake. which she was
now putting gently and carefully into
the oven, with hushed, rapt look upon
her face, as if she were feeling the pulse
Of beloved patient.
"May!'
She started up. and before she turned
round she carefully shut the oven door.
II think it's a grand success" she
said. and then she caught sight of Miss
Armisted's face,
why. what's the matter. she said.
now thoroughly reused. ,
Matter! Didn't you hear the crash?"
Miss Armisteds tone was a little sharp.
Yes-I-that fs-you told me, you know,
not to stop beating-so went on-1 didn't
Il should think not" said Miss Armis-
ted severely. Come and see what has
happened; your cake is safe for a while"
May followed meekly to the library, and
piece of ceiling had fallen in, the book
case glasses were smashed, and the
storm had left its mark on everything in
the room. ..fs.
Such time as we've had. and you
never even heard?'
+ May looked SO crestfallen that Miss.
Armisted's wrath melted away. g.
Il was SO afraid Of spelling my cake"
she 81 e explained "and you know you
Miss Arri,isted broke into laugh.
Poor little Casabianca! should have
put exceptions to my rule Hereafter
will say: May. in case of a cyclone, stop
beating and find out what is the matter"
rs everything ruine6?' asked May.
1T looks awful"
There's more plastering than dam
age; but come. 1t is time to look at the
cake. It's a monument, and we mustn't
let it burn"
1t came out faky and brown to Mays
delight. but in speaking of this first
triumph she always called it her thunder
cake,' ----