Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-08-22
PhyiIis Provides.

OoLUm, Oxford Democrat. South Paris. N
Phyllis Provides.
"You've read sPlashers Mead haven't
your' asked my pretty young oousir
abruptly. "That now story By Comptor
Mackenxief"
Az the question popped out In tht
middle Of an absorbing discussion Of the
relative prices Of sheet-and- curtain ma
terials for her new nest, / looked up q,
Phyllis In surprise.
"Why, yes. But why?"
"Because Il Just came over me that
when Il comes to furnishing my kitchen
and the shelves Of my pantry, I'll be like
the dreamy young poet In the story, who
took house In the country 90 no could
write bis poems there, and was 90 pusz'e cd
about pots and pans that he went to %
auction In tho neighborhood and bought
the entire contents Of somebody else's
kitchen, to be on the safe side. There
were 90 many enormous dish-covers that
he hid them In the spare bedroom, to
get Thorn out Of the way. OF course,
Granny taught me to cook, but In her
dear old kitchen, az well a. In every
other one I've ever been In, there seemed
20 many things that I wouldn't need,
when Jack and I are just beginning.
And tho lists In cook.books, meant to
help, don't have any meaning to me,
when read them over. Why, ct home
In Granny's kitchen were paus and
kettles and things, tucked away at the
back of oupboards and shelves, that she
hardly ever used. But she never dis.
carded them"
laughed. "Almost every house.
keeper Of long experience has one OF
moro 'fetiches' like those. Ny mothers
first housskee ping was In . tiny fur
nished cottage just vacated BY the own.
ora, who had prospered and built larger
homo for themselves. One day Mrs. s.
came flying in, begging for her especial
iron sponge cake pan. They hunted for
Il together, and to Mothers consterna.
ton, 1t proved to be the old one she had
taken to use a. drip-pan under the re:
frigerator! 1t was half-full OF melted
ice, and rusty around the edges; but Mrs.
s. seized it with joy, and wouldn't hear
of Mothers buying her . new one, In
place of 1t. She declared that, rust or
no rust, no other pan could give the per-
feet result, and she bought Mother q
new drip. pan, insteadp'
"Well." Phyllis told me, "a young
couple Jack knew boasted that they
moved into perfectly empty fiat, and
bought each single thing a. they needed
It. And they had to cook their first
beefsteak on new tin dustpsn. because
the stores were closed when that need
presented itself Now, isn't there some
more practical way Of deciding before
hand what 10 really necessary to begin
with.-both in the way Of kitchen ware
and of the staple provisions for our first
stocking OF the pantry"
"Wby, yes" said. "Pencil, paper,
and . good clear Imagination will solve
the question as we'll az any expert could
do 1t for you, If you use them with
brains"
"And the cookbook lists, and the
hardware and grocery catalegues?''
questioned my little bride to-be, a. she
cleared space for writing materials on
the table and looked up expectantly.
shook my head. mot when one
knows already how to cook, a. you do.
Well simply follow the example OF
Jacks friends, and move in off.hand.
Here We are in your new home-kitchen
It's bright and sunny, and It's new, but
IL needs Just trifle Of cleaning. Set to
work, Phil. What do you need for get
ting 1t spandy neata"
"Broom, dustpan and brush, scrub
bling brush, cleaning. cloths, soap, scour'
ing powder" she began, her pencil fly
ing.
sand what do you do the washing
with?" I inquired.
She looked puzzled. "Wbv-with
water! Oh, l see! / want pail"
"Preclsely. And q polish. to hang
above the sink. Don't You find the sur
pretty strongp"
"Shades, -good washable ones" wal
her terse reply.
EXACTLY. Now that we're clean, you
can take your time deciding on floor Gov
eripg. Table and two chairs you have
At present, you are going to get your
first breakfast. What will It beS
Phyllis's cheeks grew very pink, bul
she went at the menu very seriously.
Coffee, quick bisouIt-ss there
wouldn't have been time for me to have
set and baked bread or rolls 90 early IL
tie day,-cereal, bacon and Omelet OF
poached eggsl viii that do?'
nodded. Light the FIRE first"
$50 / do! Coal, kindling, matches
shovel, scuttle, lid-lifter; brush auG
blscking and mitten to use when clear
it,"
"Well doner' applauded. "What
will you need for making ooffsep"
"Mocha and Java mixed, mill to grind
It. cup and spoon for the measuring
coffee pot, egg for settling. audi didn'
forget-a big white enamelled tea-kettle
Just come TO boil"
"Aud for the oereal?"
"Littls agate ware milk boiler with
double copper bottom, like Granny's, tt
make it In; cereal itself. salt and spoor
to stir It With"
"Bisouit next"
"Flour, shortening, baking powder,
salt, milk, and pinch Of sugar"
MAKE them and show meP I OF
dered.
"Yes'm!" She set to work In panto.
mine. "Mixing-bowl, four-bin, sitter,
baking board, baking pan, rolling pin
biscuit cutter, another big spoon q
CREASED the pan before ] began, Cousin
VIM. holder to take the pan from the
oven when the biscuits are golden
brown and puffy. Butter to eat with
them, and perhsps-honey"
"Next"
"Pan for bacon, knife to trim 1t with
little board to trim 1t on. Saucepan fol
poaching eggs, skinner to take them
out. Perhaps I'll have Q regular egg.
poacher, but won't need II, at first. II
I make omelet instead, I'll want . cur
for breaking eggs-fd want 1t anyway,
wouldn't Ip-snd another bowl, and an
egg beater or fork. Oh, and dust oil
black pepper. / said salt, BEFORE"
"And you already have china and
linen and silver. But how about clear.
ing up, after breakfastf"
"a tray, Mum, and q big dishpan,
mop and brushes and soap shaker,-bet.
ter mako 1t two trays,-a wire drainer
and plenty Of hot water and clean
towels"
"You sec the idea, thenf' I asked.
Phyllis nodded. "Apd I'll cook The
meals for week-on papsr--to be sure
a ~