The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1911-06-02
What He
Like

| The sight OF pork roasts, Deef roaStS
and legs of mutton killed what little
appetite he could muster Chops
| fairly made him seasick and steak
was fast becoming tasteless.
1t wasn't that he couldn't think OF
things he'd like to eat. His mind these
spring days had a tendency to run to
the old place back home His hungry
soul longed for the old-time vietuals
! like-well dandelion greens or, bet
ter still, mustard green's.
Mrs. Jennings was tired of trying
to resurrect for Jennings the flavor
of the old home days. Nothing she
did suited Jennings faded appetite.
She was just making up her mind TO
try partial starvation as a cure when
Jennings remarked one evening In
last stand sort Of voice: There's
nothing in this town fit to eat except
beans Now, Mary, If you could con-
trive to cook up pot of beans that
would taste like my mothers l be-
lfeye I'd quit being so homesick for
real grub"
Mrs. Jennings was little startled
cooked beans frequently in the sew
eral years Of her married life and new
err until this moment had she suspect
ed that the method of cooking them
was below par.
How does your mother cook
beans?" she asked
Why" readily volunteered Jen-
nings, "she Just cooks them until
they're done. That's all there Is to
beans-just cook 'em enough"
No amount Of questioning could
bring out more explicitly the secrets
of this toothsome home dish
Mrs. Jennings. however, in sort Of
desperation, resolved to make ono
heroic effort Nothing that was ever
done to beans to make them tooth
some was to be left undone.
Accordingly she soaked them over
night and poured off the water next
morning. She then put them In her
best pot and parboiled them. carefully
drained them through a colander and
set them back for long and gentle
boil.
Nothing. absolutely nothing was
omitted; no time nor pains was
spared. The whole day was dedicated
TO beans.
That night Jennings gave a hopeful
smile Mt the steaming dish and helped
himself literally, only TO lay his spoon
down a moment later in utter dejec.
] ton
What did you do to them?" he al
most moancd
Mrs. Jennings drew a quick breath,
flushed a little and in voice of dead
ly calm went over infinitely the many
processes of the preparation.
What do you mean by parboiling?"
inquired Jennings.
why, putting a pinch of soda into
the first water"
We'll, that's what did it. Mother
never parboiled hers
A peculiar gasp acro.s the table
caused Jennings to glance at his wife.
! Mrs. Jennings was trying desperately
hard to say something Finally sha.
managed to enunciate quite clearly
the words, you selfish brute!"
Never in all her married life-but
what's the use of giving details? They
| quarreled and continued the perform
ance until both were reduced to that
terrible silence that always follows a
domestic earthquake.
And then the doorbell rang 1t was
Jennings mother.
Il knew I'd surprise you" she said
81 expect | oughtn't to have come. But
now that Nan is married and gone
west ! get lonesome toward spring
and Mrs Molitt persuaded me to como
to the city for a couple of days Fa-
ther1l be lonely, | expect, but he
wanted me to come, and here | am.
Mary, I'm starved. Anything will do.
Just cup OF tea and a bite of some
thing. My, What nice beans You're
fine cook, Mary"
And then 1t came out-the domes-
tic tragedy.
Mother Jennings looked at her son.
The idea. win Jonnings-you talk.
ing about my beans when you never
used 10 eat theml OF course | par
boil them, always do. know what's
| the matter with you. You've been
overeating all winter III fix you up a
dose of sulphur and molasses and
Mary viii give you plenty of rhubaro.
! sauce. That always brought you
around when you got those cranky
spells at home"