Graham guardian., 1909-11-12
who ever preached and practiced econ.


omy.
Jennie makes awful good butter.
continued the young diplomat. ''and
you'll need a lot for potatoes and bis.
cults. Why don't you tell her you'd
rather she'd bring butterT'
Now. butter was bringing pretty
fair price at the present time, and the
selling of that article was one Of Mrs.
Barnes chief revenues
why, yes" she said affably; I'D
rather she'd bring butter One kind of
pies enough anyway, and Alma makes
such coed pies no one would touch any
other kind but her mlnce."
When Frank returned home he told
Jennie Mrs. Barnes wanted her to bring
butter instead of pies.
Blithely did Jennie sing as she work
ed the churn the next morning But
termaking was her one Il hievemcnt.
She worked the rich. golden, clover
scented substance into rose stamped
pound pats and sent ten Of them over
to Mrs. Barnes. each reposing in a
crisp lettuce leaf Lavishness was a
Norris characteristic.
"Well. Jennie can make butter, that's
sure" exclaimed Mrs. Barnes as she
feasted her eyes on the platter of pats
that represented so much coin to her,
I'D rather have good bread and but
ter than pie any day." asserted Ned.
Franks Italian hand had still work
to do. On his way home from deliver
ing the butter he stopped at the Good
win home.
Jennie got her pies baked?' asked
Alma sarcastically.
"No." replied the lad. Mrs. Barnes
said no one would touch any pie when
they could get piece of yours. so she
asked Jennie to send butter"
Alma's plain face beamed at this
compliment.
"Well Pm going to beat my record
this time. am making the best mince
meat ever"
"Let me taste It," pleaded Frank.
"All right. wish you would and
tell me how you like 1t. can't bear
the taste Of 1t before it's baked"
She brought forth the mince meat.
which Frank proceeded to sample.
''It's prime. Alma. If i were you
I'd put In little more brandy and
bake a whole lot more. Pa said that
was what he liked about your pies
you were never stingy with the pies
or the brandy"
"I'll put In q little more, them" said
Alma. going into the pantry.
As soon as she was out Of sight
Frank hastily took great case bottle
from his pocket and poured good
quart of brandy into the mince meat.
The empty bottle was back In his
pocket when Alma returned.
"Just little more. Alma" he ad-
vised as he stirred the mince meat
Alma baked her pies that afternoon
and carried them over to the Barnes
homestead.
Lets have one for supper" pro-
posed Mrs. Barnes. "There'll be plen-
ty for tomorrow"
When she carried her husbands sup
per In to him she put generous cut
Of pie on his plate. He promptly ate
a piece Of it.
20 Lord!' he calculated taste
this oncer'
Mrs. Barnes did so and held up her
hands In horror. What extrava-
Cancel" she said Its awful! Why.
pa. there's enough brandy In that.
mince meat to last good housekeeper
for year,
When she came out into the dining
room Ned was the picture of disgust.
II hope" he said 'sarcastically. that
you'll never hold Alma's cooking up
to me again This isn't pie; it's a
drink
When, In addition, the flattered Alma
capped the climax by sending over ut
least twice as many pies as the whole
assemblage could possibly eat her cup
Of iniquity was full and overflowing
In the sight of Mrs. Barnes. Waste
and prodigallty." said she Anybody
can be good cook with such extrava-
gance. I'll have no daughter like
that"
Ned carried the glad tidings to Jen-
ME that night
Alma never learned how her hopes
and plans had come to su b sudden
shipwreck. No one ever did until
year later, when Ned was told In con-
fidence by his young brother-in-law.