Year: 1870

little Mary had got into her steady
little head.


Everything came off on that bak
ing day precisely as Mary would
have wished it. Her bread was light
and sweet, and white as a snow flake
with just a golden brown line OF
crust surrounding it; her cakes
were perfection her crullers crisp
and delicious. Then she knew that
her preserved fruits were nice, and
if ever there was sponge cake
more like solidified froth, she would
like to see it Everything was sent
in to Mrs. Vane on ednesday af.
ternoon, and she had all Thursday
to devote to her dress.


Mary looked very pretty that
night at the tea party, for her eyes
shone with purposr and she had
just excitement enough about it to
redded her cheeks in very becom-
ing manner. Add to this that she
was dressed with neatness and taste
and you will not be unwilling to be.
lieve me when say that she was
quite the belle of the 'ccasion. Joe
evidently thought so himself; for
strange to say, he made no remarks
on her appearance that night calcu-
lated to lower her self esteem; but
contrariwlse, gazed at her from time
to time with the most profound sat
isfaction.


But, murder will OUT 1t came
out on this occasion, when they sat
down to supper. Everybody was
delighted; there had not been such
an unexceptionable 'tea' in that
neighborhood for a long time. Coun-
try people are very fond of their
tea; they compare one with anOth-
er with admirable cOnnoiseurship.
This one was triumph.
Mrs. Nane. you are the perfection
of breadmakers. Your biscuits are
quite beautiful. Were ever such
crullers made! How do you manage
it, Mrs. Vane I. What lovely sponge
cake"


Mrs. Vane and Mary occasionally
exchanged glances and smiles, but
nobody noticed it. Joe had been
behaving so beautifully all the even
ing, that Mary began to be afraiC
her plans had failed. He came out
now, however, greatly to MaIy's sat
isiactiOn.


This is a feast, indeed lie said
"A fellow is fortunate who has wifi
that can make such bread as this
to say nothing of the sponge cake
| can't see why it is, Mary you i'm
prove, it is tue; give you credit
for that; but don't see why it il
that women cannot have the knacl
that Mrs. Vane has, at cooking t.
perfection. If you could make sucl
bread as this, Mary, your husband
would be happy laan.'


Mrs. Nane looked at Mary, and
Mary looked at Mrs. Vane. Ligh,
had broken upon the mind of tho
latter. 1t broke like a fash of light
Mug, and then there was an explo
sion not Of thunder, but of flaugh
ter.


Joe looked up amazed. He wa'
a man who petted his dignity enOr
mously. What did these wOmel
mean, to laugh so at a sober, scnsl
bic remark of his 7 Particularly
what could Mary mean, to so trifl'
with the respect she owed her hus
band


He began to grow very red, in
deed. Mrs. Vanc saw it presently
ard came to his and Mary's relief
for poor Mary had already begun t.
be little frightened at the success
of her own scheme. She did no
like Joe to be angry at any rate.


'Mr. Starr said Mrs. Vanc, q an
truly glad you like this very excel
lent cookery, for it is all your wiic's
BY your own showing you had ough
to he very happy man.


Here the whole company caugh
the infection, and joined in the laug
against Joe. IL was Of no use +
get angry with so many people; sc
before long, Joe joined the chOru
himself.


An so the tea party broke mp wit
the greatest good nature all round
and Joe went home with lesson h
never forgot for it was the las
time that Mary heard any complain
from him. He is now the most c:
silly pleased of any husband for te
miles round.