Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-05-25
Pancakes and
Pumpkin Pies
By NJ QUAD
Copyright, 1911, by Associated Lit
erary Press.

her husband, who was a hard working
farmer; then the hoof rot got among
the sheep; then the barn and contents
burned; then she broke leg and was
laid up for months and had to sell part
Of her land TO pay off the bills.
One summers day, when Aunt Sally
was resting In the shade of a cherry
tree after hoeing In the garden, a tin
peddler came along.
Nothing today" said Aunt Sally.
'Then I'll get out Of the hot sun for
a few minutes" he replied as he took a
seat under the same tree. Haven't
you got a husband or son to do this
work.
Then the widow told him that she
was alone and victim Of Ill luck. She
wasn't whining and complaining. but
putting on brave front. She got the
mans sympathy and admiration.
Say. b'gosh, it's hard linesr' he said
as he thumped the ground with his fist.
"I've been jumped on myself, and |
know how it Is. I'm just working out
of the worst streak Of luck man ever
had, and I'm going to win out"
us there heap Of money in ped
dlingW she asked.
mo. Pm looking around for some
thing better. I'm getting my dollars
together to 60 to New York. Aunt Sal
ly, can you cookT"
1--WE had to do it for about forty
years." she answered. with a rueful
smile.
Eyes, you've had to cook meat and
taters. but have you got a speciality?
Have you cooked something that
everybody has praised?"
II amt no brag. stranger. but I've
had fifty people praise my pumpkin
pies"
Anything elseY'
Eyes, my pancakes. When they used
to have a summer hotel down by the
lake | used to sell 'em pumpkin pies,
and dozens of people used to come here
to eat my pancakes. On. l got lots Of
praise"
''Anything pecAiar about your pies
and pancakes" asked the peddler
81 can't say as there was, but they
got the praise. Mebbe it was peculiar
twist of the wrist. Some folks said
So"
Peculiar twist, eh? Well, that's
what New York is always looking for
peculiar twists. I'm! Um! A pc
culiar twist in New York means bar
rel of money for the twister Look
here. now. Got the stuff in the house
to make pies and pancakes|
With trembling lips and tears ready
to start, Aunt Sally replied she was
very poor.
'Then tell me what is wanted and
I'll drive over to Bristol and get it,
It'll be canned pumpkin this time Of
year, but Wen make that do. Go
ahead"
but don't understand"
'"Then listen to me- I'm looking to
go to New York and open lunch
place. There's got to be something to
advertise it. l have got to have a
peculiar twist to some dish. If you've
got twist on pumpkin pies and pan
cakes our fortunes are made. I'll d.
vide with you
The astonished and frustrated Aunt
Sally told the peddler what she must
have to make a trial on, and he drove
away and returned with them. Then
he took the ak and cut up a lot Of
wood and then put In two hours
work in the garden. By that time the
pies and pancakes were ready for him.
He looked with pleased eye at the
deep rich brown, and he minced and
chewed with the palate Of an epicure.
Then he devoured. He "hogged down"
two pumpkin pies and more than half
a dozen pancakes and then showed
back and said:
widow, you've got it,!
1.-THE peculiar twist?"
That's it. Never ate such pies and
pancakes in my life. Well have all
New York running after 'em. Now.
you just keep quiet for month or so.
l want to sell my horse and wagon
and stock. l want to borrow every
GALL anu W oul W ~ " AhC
city and look up a place. When I'm
ready I'll come for you"
But I'm old. and I'm homely. and
hain't got no good Clothes" she pro-
tested.
Don't you worry about that. You
Just practice away on that twist Of the
wrist and expect me back here in four
weeks"
Whether stranger or New Yorker,
you've seen the place-you've lunched
there. The sight Of Aunt Sally in the
window with her calico dress and
white collar frying those nut brown
pancakes at a gas stove has made you
hungry at once. Yes, there's a sign to
tell you that it's Aunt Sally and an
other telling Of her pumpkin pies, and
inside the place you'll find everything
as clean as q new gold dollar and the
ex-tin peddler keeping an eye on wait
sers and patrons.
The twist caught on from the first
day. and 1t is staying right by the