Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-14

| tne evening Win you. So Ill Just have
to do the best | can and make m,
apologies to Uncle Ned and youn,
Cousin Frank. But though we are t,
be found in this predicament, I can
not feel sorry that uncle and Franz
are coming, for l always loved uncl,
as though he were my brother. Yo,
knw he is only few years older thar
! am, and Frank is just three year.
older than you. So the visit-thougi
short-will be such a pleasant one
Estelle had risen from the table anE
was quickly clearing the things away
| Now, mamma, it's getting close upor
school time, and I must help you will
this breakfast work before l CO. So
let's not fret ourselves about tomo..
row till it dawns. You know wha
papa always says? Never cross the
bridge till you come to it. So I have
partly made up my mind what to dc
for tomorrow; but shall give. you m.
suggestion this evening after School"
'Estelle, you're going to be practi
cal. capable woman; know it." AnC
the mother stopped stacking up dishes
long enough to kiss the cheek of hei
pretty daughter who was bustline
about as busy as bee
We'll, mamma I hope shall always
know how to act il an emergency
Estelle replied, putting on a bic
kitchen apron and beginning to wash
the dishes.
"And it's the emergency that puts
ms all out, and gets me frustrated, ;
said the mother. 81 never was good
at planning ways and means"
We'll, We'll have our ways and
means this time" laughed Estelle.
Half an hour later Estelle was off to
school, her bright face serious as she
hurried along. Let me see-Ill just
drop by the grocers and the butchers
this evening, and give. orders for to.
morrow. Well have roast fowl and
cauliflower. dressed with cream, and
but there's the school bell! No
more about victuals, Miss Estelle
Brown, unless you wish to miss your
grammar lesson. Grammar doesn t
mix well with cauliflower. So let
things to eat wait their turn"
That afternoon after school Estelle
hurried round to the grocer's and the
butchers giving orders for the follow
ing morning. You'd best deliver the
chicken this evening, so that | may
have it all picked and prepared for
roasting tomorrow morning. she said
to the obliging butcher.
When Estelle reached home she
found new complication. Her little
brother, called Baby, had crushed his
fingers between some stones in the
yard and required much of lis moth
er's attention. And there, sitting in
the rocking chair, the crying baby on
her lap, was poor mother, her face full
Of distress. ooh, daughter she
moaned; poor, baby's finger is badly
bruised and just can't put him down
to attend to preparations for tomor-
row L guess you'll have to phone to
the grocery and the bu-"
Eve been at the grocery and left
our order for tomorrow, said Estelle,
STOPPING to kiss the now hushed
brother.
why, you thoughtful girl" exclain;.
ed Mrs. Brown. "But-chicken? Why.
how did you ever think to get one?
hadn't made up my mind yet just wha.
we'd have for dinner tomorrow. Once
I thought we'd just have a outlet or a
steak"
'.And have decided on the menu, if
you please, mamma. For the first
course We'll have grape fruit. It's so
much nicer this warm weather than
soup. Well omit fish and have the
apple dressing. caulifower,
Drowned sweet potatoes, pickles, thin
slices of bread and butter for second
course. Then we'll have mixed veg
etable and fruit salad, followed by
ice cream and cake. Then cheese,
crackers, coffee.
"Well, daughter, that sounds tempt
ing enough to suit anyone" declared
Mrs Brown. But it will require lots
of work and I'll be all tired out and
not feel like enjoying uncle and Frank.
It's such a task to prepare a dinner for
dear
Not when you have cook, and a
assistant said Estelle. "What time
does Uncle Ned arrive?"
cat precisely 2 o'clock, and leaves
at ~
Then We'll dine at exactly 81 said
Estelle. can early hour, but it can't
be remedied."
What a little helper you are,
dearie," said the poor mother, feeling
that a load had been lifted from her
shoulders by this dear 14-year-old
But you said we have a
cook and cooks assistant, dear
Pray, who are they?'
I'm the cook. mamma and you're
the assistant smiled Estelle 10
is to be my day in the kitchen,
and I shall be all rested before the
arrives, too The dinner
will be ready for the cooking before
they come. and all I'll have to do is
to put it in and on the stove and let
the heat do the rest"
I've spent the day laundering
some napkins, our best table cloth and
going all over the china and silver"
explained the mother, catching some
of Estelle's enthusiasm
The next day Mrs. Brown found
just how capable Estelle was in an
emergency. The guests arrived on
time and found Mrs. Brown in dainty
frock waiting to receive them in the
parlor. Estelle had decided she