Year: 1872

e~N ~s6"sSOu y0oto VI oSV Wu0
fully convinced that nature had been very
bountiful to me 10 the way Of ability and
intellect, and so carried my head very high
in consequence, allowing my delicate nose
to take tho same upward tendency when.
ever any youth Of my own age presumed
to intrude himself upon my notice. No
masculine thing under thirty could tol-
tolerate for a moment. At this period Of
crude competency went to spend few
weeks With my aunt 10 the country. She
lived 10 pleasant village, with everything
convenient and desirable about her, but
her greatest trouble was to get and keep
servants. They were not willing to 90 far
away from the city, so that sometimes she
was obliged to do her own work for weeks
and weeks. One day 1 knew that she
wanted to visit a ueighboring town, but
was deferred from going on account Of
having no girl.


II will wash the dishes, aunty," said,
" and sweep the rooms, so you need not
stay st home for that"


"But May, there is bread to be attended
to. Can you kueed it?"


"Well, I never did do it, but then of
course l can if try"


She smiled obviously, but finally con.
cluded to 20 and leave me in charge Of the
house. So, after her departure, 1 tied on
pretty pink apron, rolled up my sleeves,
and despatched the dishes in very quick
time. Then I heated the oven, and seiz.
ing the bread, prepared to make equally
quick work Of that. But what was the
matter with the stuff? I plunged my
hands with most commendable enthusiasm
right into the dough, and there they stuck.
Ipulled this way and that way, but neither
force nor gentle persuasion could induce
that dough to take unto itself the symmet.
rical form of loaves. A sad feeling of
depression came over me, a mortifying
consciousness that I had over.estimatcd
my own powers; but just at that moment
an angel Of mercy appeared in the person
Of our nearest neighbor.


30, Mrs. Burton" exclaimed, please
tell me what the matter is with this dough,
it sticks so -


"Why, my deur child" she exclaimed,
with an amused smile, "you should put
-four on your hands. Here, will do it
for you"


So I retired ignominiously from the field,
convinced that the paths Of the youthful
housekeeper are mysterious and thorny.
Before had scraped all the dough off my
hands the bread was ready to be baked.


Remember, my dear, and let it stand
awhile. Then it must bake about an
hour" and my kind friend left me.


/ followed the directions given me, and
when I thought it time for the bread to be
done took out one loaf, and held it up to
hear if it was still singing. But alas
held it little too close, and the hot edge
of the pau came in contact with my cheek,
leaving furious looking scar the whole
length Of my face. I wished that bread
at the bottom Of the frog pond-uot that
I minded the pain so much, it was the det-
riment to my beauty that pierced my heart
moro particularly, because my aunt was
expecting every day gentleman from
New York, whom had intended to slaugh.
ter at the very FIRST interview. and indeed
had been studiously perfectiug my arrange
ments thereto. But now, thus branded
like felon, what damage could do him
or any other man! It was too cruel. The
smarting began to be pretty severe, so !
ran to jar. aud seisiug huge lump Of
butter, besmeared my face with it. Then
remembering that -four was also recon-
mended, rubbed ON considerable sup
ply Of that; and last Of all I applied
molasses, convinced that one Of three REM
edies would prove cf6cacious. But as I
was replacing the jug I hit pan Of eggs
that was on the shelf, and down it came
the pan and four dozen eggs-crack,
smash, baug-four dozen eggs-yolks and
whites Unfortunately mingled, some
breaking on my chignon II wore one Of
them some on my shoulders, some on my
shoulders, some on the shelves, some on
the floor. Mercy goodness gracious |!
horrorg we're tho EXPLANATIONS, more
girlish than elegant that escaped my lips
as fclt the amber streams triokling down
my face. Turning pensively from the
scene Of disaster. I saw right before mo at
the open kitchen door the finest looking
xh>A k~A nvn~ h>hn1I