Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1912-12-20

otHNotN Ideti} uuu ledt tue phijtf tIOul
beginning to end. not even emitting
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 high color In her cheeks, anc
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 batch Of biscuit
for the customers who were only too
glad to buy her toothsome wares.
knock came at the back door. fol
lowed by the anxious face Of her near
est neighbor. Mrs. Morris.
I'm In a heap OF trouble. Mrs. Top
ham," began the visitor. sinking into a
chair, ''and when smelled your boiled
Sinner wondered II you wouldn't help
me out"
What is ity' asked Sarah prac
tically.
You know we never have dinner at
noon on saturday; always wait and
have 1t when William comes home at Z
o'clock. To-day / only had few sand
wiches for lunch. because I'm going
down TO my sisters to dinner tonight
and William will meet me there. Not
Eve minutes ago had telephone call
from the depot saying that my aunt
and her husband and their four chill
dren are passing through here Oh tEeir
way to Westlake and will be at my
house at dinner time: that's fifteen min
utes. and | haven't got n mouthful in
the house to eat. and they are great
providers and have regular farm appe
tites. Would you sell me your dinnerT
Sarah puckered her brow IN instant
and then 1t cleared. "Yes. Of course. -
she said sensibIy. "shall | dish 1t up
for you. or will you carry the pots over!
I've got pot Of potatoes boiled sepa
rately."
"I'li take the pots over. Have you
got pie to spareY'
YES" said Sarah calmly. bringing
the last pie in the house and folding ii
in clean napkin want any helpr
mo. indeed. I've got time to run
back and forth. I'm a thousand times
obliged to yon. Mrs. Topham. Ill bring
my pocketbook over next trip"
at 1870 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
huge pitcher OF milk that formed the
principal dishes on the table
The face of Samuel Topham was n
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.
"0h. no: there isn't any boiled din
ner," returned Sarah calmly. 81 sold
it to Mrs. Morris. She had unexpected
company"
Sold the dinner? Are we to eat this
-ricer Mr.. Topham's voice was elo
quent of disgust.
"Of course. It's very nourishiue
Samuel. You know the Japanese live
almost entirely upon rice and fish
They whipped the Russians. you
know"
II know. But I'm hungry. Sarah"
''If you eat rice enough. Samuel. I'm
sure you can get along. I've been
thinking that we would live entirel.
on rice until the automatic grlddIe is
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. aud forthwith attarkeu
his rice and milk gloonlily.
All the afternoon he spent in mood,
cogitation before the air tight stove In
the parlor. He did not see his wife
slip quietly out Of the side door and
hasten down the street aud turn into
the wide driveway OF Moses Bowman's
handsome home. He did not see hei
when she returned with flushed cheeks
and resumed her work In the kitchen
Rice for supper. too7" he asked dis
mally at o'clock that night.
"Yes. indeed. I'm greatly taken with
the idea. Samuel" cried his wife en-
Enthusiastically. LET US live upon rice
and milk until one of your inventions
is perfected. I'm sure the children are
willing to do it."
Mr.. Topham said nothing at all In
reply, and when the meal was con
Guided he put on his hat and left the
house 1t was significant that he. too.
turned into the Moses Bowman place.
At he returned to tind Sarah darn
ing stockings before the fire.
''l've got job. Sarah" be said IN
heartbroken voice. Moses Bowman
says he will give me life job in his
office as assistant bookkeeper I've
hken 1t and go to work Monday morn
Ing. | can't live on rice and milk
whether the world loses fapjack grid
lies or not don't suppose there ever
will be an invention to equal that one"
Il don't know about that" said Sa-
rah Topham to herself as she broiled a
steak she had secreted to celebrate this
anticipated event Il don't know about
that. I've an invention OF my own
that would make me a mlllionairess II
! could get 1t on the market. but |
guess I'll have to give II to my daugh-
ters for wedding gifts some day. |
guess I'll call 1t Sarah Topham's Au-
tomato Genius Cure for 1t certainly
will make. man work when nothing
else appeals to him. Starve 'em out,
say ThaEs my inventioni"