Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-03
THEIR WISE OLD UNCLE

When Appieby broke the news to his young wife that his Uncle. Jack was coming to make them a. visit she expressed pleasure at the prospect as cheerfully as she could, but she look ed alarmed. .I
 ss9e1s a jolly old boy,' said Applehy. q know you'll like him. Arabella."
 'But I'm afraid he won't like me. John
 Nonsense, why not I'd like to knowf Of course hell fall in love with you at the first glance just as did"
 '.FIatterer!' laughed Mrs. Appieby srBllt seriously I know he'll be sean dalized at the way we live.
 Why, my dear girl what's the mat a cozy little flat, and don't we get ex- cellent meals in the very first apart ment below?"
 @Yes. but you know you have told me yourself that Uncle Jack has very rigid. old fashioned opinions on the lazy and incompetent because I don't cook our own meals myself. I just know he will"
 Well, of course, it's true he does think an awful lot of the domestic vir- tues. Being an old bachelor he can afford to- Jack whistled meditative- ly.
 Why don't we begin to have our meals at home?" he added after a time, and with all our wedding silver and china it wouldn't be any trick at all to get ready"
 'eBut, John, simply wouldn't dare to begin to cook when we have a guest. You know I'm terribly mex perienced. | warned you when you asked me to marry you.'
 Yes, Arabellas but you're so quick and bright, you could learn to cook in no time. All you need is a little prac- tice.''
 But I don't want to practice on your uncle. Jackl That would be a fearfully dangerous experiment"
 Well, then, why can't we employ a cook?" Appleby asked grandly.
 "Oh, that would be dreadfuli I don't know anything about managing ser vants I should be awfully frightened begin to direct a cook. Now you see, sir, the results of marrying a home less orphan right out of boarding school"
 man, so don't you go and criticise my wife"
 Dear me" Mrs. Appleby's eyes gloWed affectionately. But what about Uncle Jacks visit? Can't we promise to keep house? 1SSJ we COu1Q QO It 6eSlIys Briggs could send our meals up the l back stairs, and I could put them on the table and we'd serve them just l as if they had been cooked in our own little kitchen. I think it's a splendid plan
 Appleoy seized upon the idea eager ly, for he realized that his uncle was 1 not likely to look with favor upon their present mode of life Inside of half an hour they had persuaded Mrs. Briggs, at whose table they took their
 meals, to do her share. When Uncle Jack arrived he showed | every sign of being highly pleased with his nephew's wife and their l home He continually congratulated the young pair on their good sense l in starting out so early to make a real | home instead of this 'infernal board . l ing," as he called it, and at every meal nearly he praised Mrs. Appleby for her good housekeeping. And things run | With astonishing smoothness. Now don't blush. little girl,'' he l said when the young woman was one day quite overcome by his warm ap- preciation of the cooking. John is a mighty lucky chap to have such a l capable helpIneet as you' l Another time she was almost re- l duced to tears when. handing her his note book, he asked her to Jot down the rule for the delicious pudding they had had that night, so that he could ] have his housekeeper make it. "Oh, Uncle Jack, Pn have to look .,l l the book and see,'' she said. ''pll copy I 1t for you tomorrow" Very well, my dear. You see. I'm anxious to carry home some of youI l culinary secrets
 At this Appleby laughed so unroar- l iously that his wife was obliged tc l retreat from the room in disorder. an6 | when John hastily joined her she ex- ~ ~cIalmed between laughter and tears: l I'm not going to carry on this de ception any longer. I'm ashamed oi 1 myseIf.'
 Don't be ashamed" said Uncl, | Jack. He had followed them unoh.
 served 10 the Kitchen. They turned