Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-08-20
CHAPT Err ~.
Too Manv Cooke

see Nate Scudder again. I'd been out
In the sloop with a parcel OF boarders
they we're beginning 20 get thicker
at the Old Home now, same as tho
N osquitoes--and on my way home |
met Nate driving down the Neck road.
He was IN the carryall and | hailed
him as he come abreast Of me.
Hello, Nate" says. Taking the
air, are YOU
lie pulled up his horse--it didn't
take a hard pull--and, while the crit
ter leaned up against tho shafts and
took nap. Nate talked to me. 1t
appeared that thcre'd been more or
less trouble down his way. Hubby Ann
and Lord James hadn't agreed any too
well.
You see" says Nate, taking calico
swabhing his bald head with it. its
that valet fellc--he's too stuck-up to
live"
want go.nS to fight with him on
that point. so he went ahead with his
yarn.
He come parading out TO the barn"
says Nate. and give out that he'd
been appointed cook in Hubby AIMS
place. Well. she'd been sort Of laying
herself ont, as you might say. to
please them two UP at the house
giving EN- spider bread and dried ap.
pie pie for breakfast. and the like OF
that-cnd II rled her 70 be chucked
overheard that way. So she got sort
sarcastic. That Opper man. no"
His names Hopper" says.
He don't call It so, then"
That's all right Him and I had
spelling match here tother day and
Hopper 1t is" says
We'll, then. this Hopper Teller he
lorded It round asking where the
double biler was and complaining that
he couldn't cook steak without a char
coal fire, and SO on. Hubby took him
down, | toll YOU
"'Charcoal your granny says she.
I've fried more steak than you've got
hairs on your head. and a plain wood
fire always done me- she says.
He cooked that steak, and say. I'll
bet the Iron-Jawcd Man see once at n
dime show W TO Boston couldn't have
got away with H. Tough, Why the
pesky idiot never pounded 1t a bit!
How do you expect to get tender
steak If you don't pound ct? Haw!
haw."
When he got through laughing he
J., 4 I,,i A. No.
decided 10 90 over TO her sisters At
Ostablc for visit.
We've been intending 70 go for a
good while" he says. And now We
can do 1t without its costing much.
Pay for the house goes on whether
farrell be more than made UP by the
saving In our own grub. I'm a peace
able felfer, anyhow" says he, 'and
there'd be no peace while Hubby and
that Britisher was together"
Case Of too many cooks spelling
the soup. hey?" says l.
Soup" he says. Well. you wait
little spell, II they amt chasing
around after a new cook inside OF q
week I'm Jonah, that's all"
He was right. Couple OF days later
l heard from Emmie T. that the Twins
had hired Hannah Jane Purvis to do
the cooking for EN-. Hannah James
late lamented had been cook on .
Banks boat when he was young. 50 !
suppose she callated she'd inherited
the knack. But had my doubts.
was getting real chummy with the
Heavenlies by this time, so one after
noon l walked up TO the Scudder place
to see EN-. They were SPRAYED out
on the piazza chairs with their feet
on the railing and they hailed me as
friendly as II was rich as they was, IN
stead Of being poorer than Jobs tur-
key, noticed Lord James tiptoeing
around in the parlor. so l naturally
mentioned him.
Your valet man. here" says; ne
want quite to the shippers taste as
cook hey"
They both laughed. Van Brunt with
his big good.natured "Ha. ha'" and
Hartley with that quiet chuckle Of his.
Jdh0S, calu YOU,
success in the wardrobe. but he dis
likes to hide his talents under a kitch-
en- bushel."
James" said Hartley. appears to
apply the same methods to trousers
and steak"
Presses both OF EN-. don't hop I
says, thinking OF Scudder's yarn.
Flat as a board says Van. Be
sides which. this is supposed to be a
pleasure cruise for Martin and me,
and James serves with the cheerful
dignity of an undertaken He's too
complex; we yearn for simplicity and
rest"
grinned. We'll you've got the
simplicity with Hannah. amt your"
asked. Il amt saying nothing about
the rest"
Both OF EN- groaned. knew Han
nah Jane Purvis, and she had the
name Of talking the hinges of Q barn
door.
Lord" says Van. Lets change
the subject, BY the way. Martin; it's
odd that Agnes hasn't written"
Hartley was setting ont towards the
front OF the porch where the sun could
get at him. Now ne shifted back int
tha shadow ~ the ytuea Of