The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-04-27
Alma's
Overcookery.
By HENRIETTA CRAWFORD.
Copyrighted, 1908, by Associated
Literary Press.

There were at 1ehSI lWO pcISOAs WIN
loved Jennie Norris In spite of her
very extreme and thorough shortcom-
ings in culinary way. One was her
younger brother, Frank, and the other
her sweetheart, Ned Barnes.
There were also two persons who
most emphatically did not love her.
One was her rival for the heart and
hand Of Ned. Alma Goodwin, and the
other was Mrs. Barnes, the mother Of
her sweetheart.
Alma was a natural cook and espe-
cially proficient In the baking of pies.
and Mrs. Barnes had two great weak
nesses or, rather, strengths.
One of these was an overwhelming
love for good cooking, and the other
was a still more overwhelming love of
economy and thrift. Miss Alma had
always showed great aptitude for the
latter virtues. and that added to her
pies, had won the heart Of Mrs.
Barnes.
One day Farmer Norris came In with
the announcement that Mr.. Barnes
had broken his leg. This caused Jen-
ME to look very sad and to mingle
with her sorrow the selfish thought
that Ned would be kept at home more
closely in bearing his fathers share Of
the work.
Its too bad, just as the husking
season is on" observed Mr.. Norris.
A bright thought seized Jennie.
Father, why don't you suggest to
all the farmers in the neighborhood to
go over to the Barneses and husk for
a day? They wouldn't miss day
from their work, and it would do Won
ders for Mr.. Barnes"
Jennie's brain was very active in
reference to all things concerning Ned.
"That's good idee, Jennie, and I'll
hook up now and go and call on all
hands around"
When Mr.. Norris returned from his
campaign he said that all had willing
ly donated a days services to the
cause and Thursday had been the date
set for the husking bee.
him about the huskin', and it did him
good. l told him that it was all your
idee, and spoke up real loud so Mrs.
Barnes could hear She looked quite
pleased like, and Ned spoke up and
said as how you was always thought
full. 1 cal'late you made ten strike,
as Frank says"
Jennie's face frightened, and her ia
Their continued: when l come past
Almy's she run out to ask about Ned's
pa, and l told her about the huskin',
and she was let down for a minute,
then she perked up and looked real
clipper"
"Shes thought Of something to do"
sighed Jennie "Alma's so clever"
"You always let her outwit you,
Jen," said Frank Indignantly. "She's
full of mean tricks, and no one sees
through her but. Ned and me-"
"She's got Ned's mother, body and
SOUL" said Jennie.
"She knows how to pull the wool
over her eyes. Why don't you, Jen?"
Jennie shook her head She would
not stoop to deceit.
Il won Ned fair without any tricks,
and l want to win his mother the
same way, If l ever can"
Just then the telephone rang. When
Jennie had answered 1t and turned
from hanging up the receiver her IA
Their asked, what makes you look SO
disturbed, Jennie?"
"Alma has gone me one better, as
usual. She's been around to the homes
Of all the neighbors or telephoned
them and asked them to send In dona-
lions for dinner ito save poor Mrs.
Barnes feeding all those men, She
has told each one what to bring
Bates, beans; Hayes, doughnuts;
Lukes, biscuits, and so on OF course
she's going to send mince pies. She
makes the best of any one about here. "
''What did she ask you to bringY
Pumpkin pies" replied Jennie bit
terly. "She knows that mother is
away and chat l can't make a pie fit
to eat"
Toward dusk Frank Norris appeared
in the Barnes kitchen.
II came over, Mrs. Barnes, to see If
I couldn't fetch wood and water or do
anything. Don't you want me to wipe
dishesY' he suggested, observing the
dishpan piled full of crockery. Il new
er break them"
ooh, Frank. wish you would. LIB
bic was just mean enough to leave me
In the lurch at the time l needed her
most"
Frank caught up the dish towel and
was soon dexterously at work. The
act of disnwashing is quite apt tc
promulgate confidential chatter be-
tween washer and wiper, and Mrs
Barnes unbent in her thoughts Of Jen-
ME to the extent of remarking how
thoughtful she had been. But Alma, y
she concluded, ''has taken such load
from me. l never could have cooked
dinner with Mr. Barnes sick and
ALL"
Eyes, 1t was real thoughtful in Al
ma" asquiesced Frank. Say, Mrs
Barnes" he added in lowered tones
won't you ever tell If l tell you some
thing?"
NO" she promised eagerly. what
is it, FrankT'
"You know ma is away, and Aims
asked Jennie to bring pumpkin pies
and she makes the very worst ones
you ever ate Jen's so polite she didn'
ask If she could take something else
It's too bad to waste good stun IL
something no one can eat"
IT think so. too" agreed Mrs. Barnes
who ever preached and practiced 1901
omy.
Jennie makes awful good butter,
continued the young diplomat, IAN
you'll need a lot for potatoes and BIZ
cults. Why don't you tell her you
rather she'd bring butterY
Now, butter was bringing a prett
fair price at the present time, and tn
selling of shat article was one OF Mr.
Barnes chief revenues.
"Why, yes" she said affably; II
rather she'd bring butter. One kind
pies enough anyway, and Alma make
such good pies no one would touch an
other kind but her mince."
When Frank returned home he tol
Jennie Mrs Barnes wanted her to brin
butter instead of pies.
Blithely did Jennie sing as she worl
ed the churn the next morning. Blu
terlnaking was her one achievement
She worked the rich, golden, Glove
scented substance into rose stampe
pound pats and sent ten of them ov'
to Mrs. Barnes, each reposing in