Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-12-23
The Evening Story
thanksgiving
Surprise
By ESTHER VANDEVEER


her services cook for Mrs. Chambers
/ coming Thanksgiving dinner. There will
be no charge, Miss Chefton desiring to do
the work for practice and to observe the
effect of her different methods of cooking
on those for whom she cooks.
This application came while the
Chandler family We're at breakfast
Mrs. Chandler was a widow with a
grown son, Dick; a daughter. sixteen
Alice. and two boys aged respectively
twelve and ten, Jim and Fred She
read the note aloud. then threw It down
as unworthy of consideration
Mamma Alice spoke up, 'let her
do it. You know, they're giving US
cooking course at school. and I'm much
interested in it. ] should love to watch
her methods and see how they turn
out"
/ Mrs. Chandler took up the note, read
| 1t again aud wondered why Miss Chef
ton had made the application to her.
She had never heard Of Miss Chefton
and did not know how Miss Chefton
at her mother till that lady consented
ihat her daughter should write Miss
| Chefton telling her what would be
provided for the dinner and that ie she
chose to cook the viands named she
! was welcome to do so The Chambers
were poor, and their dinner was to be
simple one.
Miss Chefton replied that the sim
pier the yiands the better opportunity
this would give her to show what she
could do with small provision She
added that she would bring a few In
gradients which she needed and might
not End at the Chambers. but they
would occasion no expense TO those she
served
When Miss Chefton appeared she
turned out TO be so dark complexioned
that 1t was suspected she was quad
room. Singularly enough, her hair was
a fiery red She was ushered into the
kitchen. where she said she would
prefer to be left alone. but Alice asked
her II she might not watch her and
permission was granted.
or course there was a turkey, not
wlthstanding the fact that the price
Of turkeys had risen to such a height
that the family had thought OF subsu-
tuting some cheaper meat The Chan
dlers had a little kitchen garden. and
there We're vegetables in.plenty. Alice
Chandler watched the professional
cook with intense interest. noting the
way she put into a dish bit of favor
ing pinch of salt or some extract
she had brought with her and what
delicious food she produced The
dishes seemed to grow savory under
her hands, and yet she did not appear
to take any trouble She was very
good to Alice, telling her what she
did this for. and why she did that.
and why she didn't let the other thing
come TO a boil Indeed, Alice learned
more In watching the preparation of
that one Thanksgiving dinner than she
had learned about cooking up to that
time.
Since Miss Ghefton had saved them
the trouble OF cooking their dinner
they kept no servant-besides giving
them delicious one. and since she was
GBh0l4s WILL lItllEtlf6S llltlG
waH nothing to do but ask her to sit
down to the table with them and par
take OF the meal She accepted the
invitation, but asked for a room In
which she might change her cooking
uniform for ordinary apparel. This
was accorded hes. and. taking suit
case she had brought with her, she
went upstairs.
The family were standing about the
table when she came down, and the
moment she appeared each one OF them
started and exclaimed:
Gwen
Her complexion had changed to a
fair one Her hair had become blond.
She stood looking at them with smile
on her lips and a twinkle in her eye.
What a SURPRISE exclaimed Mrs.
Chandler
Where have you been hiding SO
long, asked Dick. Eve hunted for
you everywhere. .
Allee's comment was throwing her
arms about the cook neck.
what did you go away for. Cousin
Gwen?" asked the youngest boy.
Let Us eat our dinner" said Gwen, |
while It is hot, and when we get to
a stopping place I'll tell you"
1T was only yesterday" said Mrs. |
Chandler that | wished you would
come back to us for Thanksgiving"
When they reached a stopping place. |
as Gwen had called it, she laid down |
- q vi
1T was very good Of you all to wish
me to stay. very nice for Dick to wish |
me for himself, but you knew well I
how l came to you when father died I
bankrupt and there was no one else
to take me In. ! knew nothing about I
housekeeping. and II Dick and mar
ried we couldn't afford to keep a
servant, In addition to this. living
has been rising frishtfully. | deter |
mined to at least learn how to cook If !