The Lambertville record., 1912-12-06

mouse from 'front.' TO Dack. Mr.. Top
ham leaned back In his chair and
smoked easily and read the paper from
beginning to end, not even omitting
the want" columns, which were pain
fully suggestive of work.
In the kitchen Sarah Topham few
around from table to stove, to sink and
pantry and back to table again. There
was a high color In her cheeks, and ]
her blue eyes flashed strangely as she
went to and fro, preparing the good
dinner, filling In gaps of time with the |
making of cake or a batch of biscuit |
for the customers who were only too |
glad to buy her toothsome wares.
A knock came at the back door, fol- |
lowed by the anxious face OF her near
est neighbor, Mrs Morris.
'Tm in a heap of trouble. Mrs. Top |
ham," began the visitor, sinking into .
chair, land when / smelled your boiled |
dinner | wondered IL you wouldn't help |
me out"
What is it?" asked Sarah prac-
tically.
you know we never have dinner at
noon on Saturday; always wait and !
have It when William comes home at 7 |
o'clock. Today l only had few sand |
wiches for lunch, because Pm going |
down to my sisters to dinner tonight, |
and William will meet me there. Not |
FIVE minutes ago had telephone call |
from the depot saying that my aunt
and her husband and their four chill |
dren are passing through here on their
way to Westlake and will be at my
house at dinner time; that's fifteen min
utes, and | haven't got mouthful In
the house to eat. and they are great
providers and have regular farm appe-
tites. Would you sell me your dinnerf'
Sarah puckered her brow an instant
and then 1t cleared. "Yes, of course"
she said sensibly. "Shall dish 1t up
for you, or will you carry the pots over?
I've got pot of potatoes boiled sepa-
rately."
'I1l take the pots over. Have you
got pie to spareT'
"Yes," said Sarah calmly, bringing
the last pie in the house and folding 1t
I'm clean napkin. want any help?'
mo, indeed. I've got time to run
back and forth. I'm thousand times
obliged to you, Mrs. Topham. I'll bring
my pocketbook over next trip
At 1890 Sarah Topham called her
seven little girls In to dinner. and as
this was the signal for Samuel to also
appear at the table. they all gathered
about the board together.
The little girls clapped their hands
over a great dish OF boiled rice and a
huge pitcher of milk that formed the
principal dishes on the table.
The face of Samuel Topham was
study in disappointment when he sur
veyed the plain meal Sarah avoided
his eyes and poured out two cups OF
tea.
you've forgotten the boiled dinner"
he ventured rather timidly.
"Oh. no; there isn't any boiled din
ner," returned Sarah calmly. II sold
It to Mrs. Morris She had unexpected
company"
Sold the dinnerf Are we to eat this
--rice?" Mr. Topham's voice was elo.
quent of disgust.
"Of course It's very uourishng.
Samuel You know the japanese I'VE
almost entirely upon rice aud fish
They whipped the Russians. you
know"
Il know. But fm hungry, Sarah.
''lf you eat rice enough, Samuel. I'm
sure you cnn get along I've been
thinking that we would live entirely
on rice until the automatic grlddIe IL II
success. Rice Is cheap, and We need
all | can earn to-
"Oh. very well. Sarah. you needn't
explain any further" said Samuel. with
great dignity. and forthwith atinrked
his rice aud milk gloonlly
All the afternoon he spent In moody
cogitation before the air tight stove In
the parlor lie did not see his wife
slip quietly out OF the side don ana
hasten down the street and nlrn into
the wide driveway of Moses Bowmhn
handsome home He did moi see her
when she returned with nnshed cheeks
and resumed her work in the kit' hen
Rice for supper, too" he asked dis
mally Mt q o'clock that night
Eyes, indeed I'm greatly taken with
the idea. samuel cried his wife en
Enthusiastically Let us live upon rice
aud milk until one of your inventions
is perfected I'm sure the children nre
willing to do It.
Mr. Topham said nothing NJ all In
reply. and when the meal was con
Ill, Ia h,t i.,ff
house 1t was significant that he, too,
turned into the Moses Bowman place
AT o he returned to tind Sarah darn
ing stockings before the fire
I've got job. Sarah" he said In
henrtbroken voice. Moses Bowman
says he will give me life job in his
office rs assistant bookkeeper I've
taken II and go to work Monday morn
ing can't live ON rice and milk
whether the world loses llHpjack grid
dies or not, don't suppose there ever
will be an invention to equal that one"
Il don't know about that" said Sa-
rah Tophnm to herself as she broiled a
steak she had Secreted to celebrate this
anticipated event II don't know about
that Eve an invention of my own
that would make me Il millionaireSs II
! could get II on the market. hut |
guess ri have to give II Ia my daueh-
ters for wedding gifts some day I
guess III call II sarah ropham's An |
tomato Genius cure for II certainly |
will make n man work when nothing |
else appeals To htm Starve 'em out, |
| SHY That's my tnvrntion,"
A Baking Hint.