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[Transcriber's Note: Bold text is surrounded by =equal signs= and italic
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[Illustration: Cover]




[Illustration: Dedication:

A book for all girls who love to help Mother.

                                Jane Eayre Fryer]

[Illustration: Mary Frances took the hint, and turned Toaster carefully
over.]


[Illustration: Title]


THE MARY FRANCES COOK BOOK

OR ADVENTURES AMONG THE KITCHEN PEOPLE

By JANE EAYRE FRYER

    Full page illustrations by
    MARGARET G. HAYS
    Other illustrations by
    JANE ALLEN BOYER




    Copyright, 1912, by
    JANE EAYRE FRYER

[Illustration]




DEAR GIRLS:

This book tells the story of Mary Frances, a little girl whose great
ambition was to help her mother. So anxious was she to do this that even
the humble Kitchen People became her teachers and instructors. They
talked to her, a thing never heard of before; helped her over the hard
places, and explained mysterious secrets she could never otherwise have
understood. They wove around a simple little book of recipes her mother
had made for her the spell of Fairyland; they led her through a series
of delightful adventures such as never happened to any girl before, in
which she lived for three whole happy weeks, and out of which she
emerged no longer a little girl, but a real little woman.

Some very wise people would call this a story book, some a manual
training book, and others a cookery book, but Mary Frances knows better;
she knows that it is a Book within a Book that introduced her to Aunty
Rolling Pin and a lot of other dear, dear friends, such as no little
girl ever had before, and whom she now wishes to introduce for the first
time to all other little girls. (I know that she gained their consent to
do this because she told me so.)

In the hope that Mary Frances' wish may be realized, this record of her
adventures is sent out to the girls of America with the best wishes of

                                                  THE AUTHOR.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]




[Illustration: CONTENTS]


    CHAPTER                                             PAGE
        I. THE KITCHEN PEOPLE                             11
       II. TOASTER MAN                                    14
      III. MARY FRANCES' MOTHER                           24
       IV. MARY FRANCES WARNS THE KITCHEN FOLKS           27
        V. AUNT MARIA                                     30
       VI. JACKET-BOILED POTATOES                         33
      VII. THE POT-AND-KETTLE FIGHT                       40
     VIII. THE POTATO LUNCH                               46
       IX. MARY FRANCES GETS BREAKFAST                    56
        X. THE BREAKFAST BURNS UP                         65
       XI. A JOKE ON AUNT MARIA                           70
      XII. THE TRAMP                                      75
     XIII. COMPANY TO LUNCH                               83
      XIV. A PATENT DISH-WASHING                          91
       XV. THIMBLE BISCUITS                               94
      XVI. THE DOLLS' KITCHEN PARTY                      104
     XVII. THE SICK NEIGHBOR                             110

[Illustration: COOK BOOK]

    XVIII. A MAN'S LUNCH                                 116
      XIX. POOR BLUE PITCHER                             127
       XX. MARY FRANCES GIVES A COOKING LESSON           131
      XXI. THE PICNIC                                    135
     XXII. THE CANDY PULL                                139
    XXIII. GETTING READY FOR A PARTY                     144
     XXIV. THE TEA PARTY                                 154
      XXV. MARY FRANCES GETS DINNER                      159
     XXVI. MOTHER'S SURPRISE. "GOOD-BYE, LITTLE MISS"    173

[Illustration]

[Illustration]




LIST OF RECIPES


                                PAGE
    1. PLAIN TOAST                15
    2. BUTTERED TOAST             19
    3. MILK TOAST                 20
    4. JACKET-BOILED POTATOES     35
    5. BAKED POTATOES             46
    6. BOILED POTATOES            47
    7. MASHED POTATOES            47
    8. POTATO SOUP                49
    9. BOILED EGGS                60
    10. HARD-BOILED EGGS          61
    11. COFFEE                    63
    12. TEA                       76
    13. OMELET                    77
    14. WHITE SAUCE               84
    15. BAKED APPLES              86
    16. THIMBLE BISCUITS          97
    17. BAKING POWDER BISCUITS    98
    18. COCOA                    102
    19. GINGERBREAD COOKIES      108
    20. SOFT CUSTARD             111

[Illustration]

[Illustration]


    21. STEAMED RICE             111
    22. BOILED RICE              112
    23. POACHED EGGS             114
    24. RICE PUDDING             117
    25. BOILED MUTTON            118
    26. SAUCE FOR BOILED MUTTON  119
    27. APPLE SNOW               127
    28. STUFFED EGGS             136
    29. PICKANINNY FUDGE         141
    30. WALNUT KISSES            142
    31. SPONGE CAKE              145
    32. DREAM CAKE               150
    33. QUEEN OF HEARTS TARTS    160
    34. PASTRY                   160
    35. SALAD DRESSING           166
    36. CREAMED NEW CABBAGE      167
    37. BREAD PUDDING            167
    38. BANANA BREAD PUDDING     168
    39. HARD SAUCE               168
    40. PAN-BROILED BEEFSTEAK    169

[Illustration]

[Illustration]




[Illustration: The Kitchen People]


    Tea Kettle
    Sauce Pan
    Boiler Pan
    Big Iron Pot
    Pie Plate & Tea Pot
    Coffee Pot
    Mantel Clock & Blue Pitcher
    Auntie Rolling Pin
    Toaster Man
    Baking Dish & Potato Masher
    Platter & Ladle
    Yellow Bowl & Measuring Cup
    Frying Pan
    Basket
    Perforated Skimmer & Can Opener
    Round & Square Cake Tins
    Iron Griddle & Little Pitcher
    Fork Knife & Spoon




CHAPTER I

THE KITCHEN PEOPLE


ALL the Kitchen People were terribly excited.

"I see my finish!" puffed Tea Kettle from his perch on the stove.

"That's slang!" snapped Sauce Pan, who sat near by.

"Slang or no slang," said Tea Kettle, "I'll melt if somebody doesn't
come fill me soon."

"Where's the cook? Where's the mistress?" asked Boiler Pan.

"Why, the cook's left--left this morning and the mistress's sick. What's
that I smell burning?"

"That's the potatoes in the oven," said Toaster.

"Oh, my lid!" cried Tea Kettle holding his nose. "Pour on water! Quick!"

"Whew!" exclaimed Coffee Pot.

"Whew!" cried Pie Plate.

"Whew!" clanged Big Iron Pot.

[Illustration: "Oh, my lid!"]

"Whew!" mimicked Sauce Pan. "Whew!--That won't help! If you say Whew!
to an oven door, will it open?--Somebody open the door!"

"Good idea, Saucy!" exclaimed Tea Kettle. "You might try it yourself!"

"Owoooh! O-w-o-o-o-h!" strained little Sauce Pan at the heavy door.
"O-w-o-o-o-h! I can't-t budge it! Cauch! Cawc! Ochee!" he coughed. "What
smoke! Somebody else come try!"

"Get out of the way, then," said Big Iron Pot, making heavily toward the
stove.

"Knew your arms were too short," laughed Tea Kettle, seeing Iron Pot
couldn't reach the knob.

"Well, they're as long as yours," said Iron Pot angrily.

"Kick it open!" sug-gest-ed Sauce Pan. "Everybody allowed one kick!"

"First go!" exclaimed Iron Pot.

Whack! came a muffled sound. Then, "Oh, my poor feet! Oh! Oh!"

"What's the matter?" asked Sauce Pan.

"Nothing," said Big Iron Pot, hopping around on one little leg, and
holding the other with his hands. "Only I wish you'd had 'First go!'"

[Illustration: "I wish you'd had 'First go!'"]

[Illustration]

"Well," declared Tea Kettle, "unless help comes soon, we may as well
give up all hope of rescue. This is dreadful!"

"Listen, then," ticked Mantel Clock, who didn't mind the smoke. "I know
a secret: the dear little girl----"

"Oh, yes, we know!" cried the Kitchen People.

"Well!" asked Mantel Clock, "what do you know?"

"The little girl--that there is a little girl----"

"Is that all you know?" demanded Mantel Clock. "Now, when people
interrupt----"

"Just dying to tell," said Sauce Pan in a loud whisper.

"Please, please, tell us the secret," begged the Kitchen People.

"Well," Mantel Clock ran on, "the dear little girl that lives in our
house is going to learn to cook. What d'you say if we all turn in and
help her?"

"Goody-goody!" Aunty Rolling Pin laughed so she nearly rolled off the
table.

Just then the kitchen door-knob turned, and every one of the Kitchen
People was as quiet as a

[Illustration]




CHAPTER II

TOASTER MAN


IN ran the dearest, sweetest little girl.

"Oh, you poor Tea Kettle!" she cried. "You'll boil to death!" and she
pulled it over to the cooler part of the stove.

Tea Kettle simmered his thanks.

"What can be burning?" she asked. "What can it be?" and she looked all
over the stove.

"I do believe it's something in the oven!"

As she pulled open the oven door, out rolled the burnt potatoes.

"Now," she said, "now, for the toast," and she caught up her mother's
apron from a hook, and tied it just under her arms, crossing the strings
in front.

The Kitchen People held their breath to see what would happen next.

Suddenly she clapped her hands.

"The very thing!" she cried, and ran out of the room. In a minute she
was back, with a little book in her hands.

[Illustration: In ran the dearest, sweetest little girl.]

[Illustration: Out rolled the burnt potatoes.]

"Mother was asleep," she whispered as though her mother was still in
danger of being wakened by any sound--"but I just tip-toed up to the
table, and got the book she's been making for my cooking lessons. This
must be it--it's Mother's writing:

    'The Mary Frances' First Cook Book.'

I believe--I just believe it tells about toast. Yes, here it is, right
on the first page:

      NO. 1.--PLAIN TOAST.

      1. Cut stale bread into slices, about ½ inch thick.

      2. Remove crusts.

      3. Put into wire toaster.

      4. Hold over a fire, moving to and fro until a golden
      brown color.

      5. Turn, and brown the other side.

"Let's see if there is any stale bread. I should think so! a whole loaf!
Now, I'll cut two slices, and since I want it to be very nice, I'll cut
off the crusts. I guess that will be enough; oh, how I wish somebody was
here to help me."

"There _is_ somebody--_I'll_ help!"

[Illustration: With a little book in her hands]

[Illustration: "There _is_ somebody--_I'll_ help!"]

Mary Frances looked round in amazement. Seeing no one, "Why,--where?
Why,--who are _you_?" she asked.

"I'm Tea Kettle, Miss," said Tea Kettle, lifting his lid very politely.
"I'm gladly at your service, if you please."

"And I!" It was Sauce Pan.

"And I!" cried Boiler Pan.

Mary Frances could scarcely believe her ears.

"My," she said, "can you all talk? and will you help me? Isn't that
grand!--But how you did s'prise me! Won't we have a lovely time!"

"Look at the fire! Look at the fire!"

"What a tiny voice!" thought the little girl,--but she quickly took the
lids off the stove. Some very bright coals stared up at her.

"The fire is fine," she said aloud, and she looked all about to find
where the voice came from, but she saw no one.

"Look down, please!" said the same tiny voice, this time very
distinctly.

There stood the funniest little wire man, no higher than the little
girl's elbow.

[Illustration: "And I!"]

[Illustration: "And I!"]

"You didn't see me," laughed the little man, "but I know how to make
toast."

"Of course!" said the little girl, "you're--why, you're the Toaster!"

"Yes, ma'am," said the little man, with a bow, "at your service, Miss
Mary Frances."

"Try me, and see what I can do," went on Toaster Man. "Just put a slice
of that bread into my head, and hold me over the fire."

Mary Frances leaned over and gravely put a slice of bread in Toaster. He
looked so funny standing there that she wanted to smile, but thought it
wouldn't be exactly polite to so helpful a friend. But when he said,
"Slide up my collar," in a thick, smothery sort of voice, she laughed
aloud before she could stop, but turned the sound into a cough so
quickly that Toaster Man looked up at her queerly only a moment; and she
pulled the ring up until it held the bread tightly in place.

"Now, lift me up over the fire!" he demanded.

Mary Frances hesitated--she couldn't tell where to take hold of him.

[Illustration: "You didn't see me"]

[Illustration: "Slide up my collar."]

"Never mind my legs," he said, as though he read her thoughts, "I'll
see to them," and he folded them up so close that when Mary Frances
lifted him up, she could find no sign of them.

"Oh, you'll be burnt!" she cried, as she held what Toaster Man had
called his head over the bright fire.

"Not I," he laughed, "not I. I like it. It's the toast that'll be burnt,
if I'm not turned over soon."

Mary Frances took the hint, and turned Toaster carefully over.

"Not too close to the coals at first, Little Miss," said the little
fellow. "Now,--closer! That's it!"

"How is it?" he asked, as Mary Frances took him from the fire.

"What a beautiful piece of toast!" she cried.

"Grand-if-i-cent!" exclaimed Toaster. "Now, you do the next piece
without my saying a word--but first spread that with butter, and put it
in the oven. Now, you read in your book, and see if that's not the way
to make Buttered Toast."

[Illustration: She opened her book.]

Mary Frances opened her book.

"Read it out!" said the little man.

"When I speak that way, Mother tells me to say 'Please,'" said she.

[Illustration: "Grandificent!" exclaimed Toaster.]

"Beg pardon," said the little man, "Please."

So Mary Frances read:

      NO. 2.--BUTTERED TOAST.

      1. Spread toasted bread evenly with butter.

      2. Pile one slice on top of the other, and cover with
      a bowl.

      3. Place in oven.

"That's it! that's what I told you," cried the little fellow. "I'm
always right about toast. Can you make the next slice without a word
more?"

"I think so," said Mary Frances; and she didn't utter a sound until she
had taken the second piece out of Toaster.

"What a beautiful piece of toast!" exclaimed Toaster. "It's better than
the first."

[Illustration: "What a beautiful piece of toast!"]

"Oh, I don't think----" Mary Frances started.

"I know!" snapped the little man. "Don't contradict me about toast! By
the way," he asked, "why don't you make it into Milk Toast for your
mother? it would be softer, and more palat--palat--"

"Pal-a-table," said Mary Frances.

[Illustration: Buttered toast.]

"Yes," said he, "you know a good deal for a little girl,"--and he began
to choke. Mary Frances patted him hard.

"A piece of toast?" she asked.

"No," he exclaimed in-dig-nant-ly, "a long word always makes me choke.
That's why I seldom use them. Now, please read about Milk Toast."

"If you know----" sug-gest-ed Mary Frances.

"Well, it's more like real grown-up people to have it out of a book,"
said the little man. "Go on!"

And Mary Frances read from her little Cook Book.

[Illustration: Cup of milk]

      NO. 3.--MILK TOAST.

    1 tablespoon butter
    1 tablespoon flour
    1 cup milk
    ¼ teaspoon salt
    3 slices toast

      1. Make ready the toast.

      2. Heat the milk until smoking hot.

      3. Melt the butter in a small saucepan.

      4. Throw the flour into the butter. Cook until it
      bubbles a little, stirring all the time. Take from the
      fire.

      5. Pour 1/3 the milk upon the butter and flour, a
      little at a time, stirring with the back of a spoon to
      press out the lumps.

      6. Place over fire, and gradually stir in the
      remaining milk.

[Illustration: Measuring Cup & Pitcher]

      7. Add the salt. Let boil a minute.

      8. Put slices of toast in a heated dish; pour the
      sauce over and serve hot.

      All measures are made level with the top of cup or
      spoon. To measure level spoonful:

      Fill spoon heaping full, and level it off with the
      back of a knife.

      For half spoonful, cut through lengthwise.

      For quarter spoonful, divide a half spoonful across.

      A saltspoon is 1/8 teaspoon.

"That's right!" said Toaster Man. "That's the way my grandmother made
it. If I were you, I'd make only half of that sauce for only two slices
of toast. You did so well with the Plain Toast; you go right ahead with
the Milk Toast, and see if you can make it all yourself, and if you need
any help, I'll be on the spot in a twinkle. Follow carefully what your
little Cook Book says. You know you must measure everything even with
the top of the spoon, or cup."

[Illustration: "Hurrah!"]

So Mary Frances did exactly what the recipe told her.

[Illustration: To look over the edge of the dish]

As she poured the last of the sauce over the toast, which she had put in
a pretty dish, the little man, who had been running here and there,
watching everything she did, shouted, "Hurrah!" At least, he tried to
shout, but his voice would scarcely reach to a grown-up person's ear.
"You are the best pupil I ever had!"

"Have you had many?" asked Mary Frances.

"You are the only one," said Toaster. "Why?"

"Nothing," said Mary Frances.

"I should think," said the little man, standing on his toes, to look
over the edge of the dish, "that that Milk Toast would taste awful
good!"

"Won't you try it?" asked Mary Frances. She was very much afraid he
would, but she wanted to show her gratitude for his kindness.

"Oh, no," sighed the little man, "I never eat."

"You never eat!" exclaimed Mary Frances.

"It may seem strange to you," said the little man, "but everything that
is put into my head falls out backwards, and I simply can't eat."

[Illustration: "Everything falls out backwards"]

"It must be dreadful!" said Mary Frances.

"It keeps me very thin," complained Toaster, "but if I'm not mistaken,
your mother will eat all that toast,--if she gets it while it's hot."

"Oh, I hope so," said Mary Frances; "and I thank you so very very much."

[Illustration: Followed by the admiring gaze of all.]

"Good-bye!" added the little girl, as she went out of the kitchen,
followed by the admiring gaze of all the Kitchen People.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: "I thank you so very, very much."]




CHAPTER III

MARY FRANCES' MOTHER


MARY FRANCES pushed open the door of her mother's room very softly.

[Illustration: "What has my little girl there?"]

"What has my little girl there?" asked her mother.

"Oh, are you awake, Mother? It's a s'prise for you," and she carried the
tray over to the bed.

Her mother carefully lifted the lid of the dish.

"Milk Toast! the only thing I could eat! why--who made it?"

"If it hadn't been for Toaster, it couldn't have been made," said Mary
Frances.

Her mother looked at the little girl in surprise.

"I mean," she added, "that Toaster really did it--he showed me how----"

[Illustration: "It's a s'prise for you."]

"Oh!" laughed her mother, as she lifted a slice of toast out on a
saucer. "Well, dear, anyway I want you to have some toast with
Mother"--and she handed the saucer to Mary Frances, who said she would
much rather watch her mother eat it than to have some herself; but,
after her first taste, she found how hungry she was.

"It's the best toast I ever ate," said her mother, "and Mary Frances,
dear, I feel much better already."

She would have said more had not Mary Frances' brother bounded up the
stairs two steps at a time with,----

"What do you think! I met Father downtown, and he says Aunt Maria's
coming over to keep house for us. In the daytime, she must be at home;
but she'll come over to get breakfast for us, and we'll go there for our
dinners--and Father says Mother is going to the seashore to have a
'perfect rest' until she's well. Anyhow, I'm glad we won't starve. I
wish Sis knew how to cook!" and he teasingly pulled one of Mary Frances'
curls.

"Hush, Brother!" said the mother, "you should have been here to see the
lovely Milk Toast Sister just brought me. It was the best I ever
ate--and she made it all herself."

"Almost!" said Mary Frances.

"Oh, yes," said her mother, "the dear little girlie wants Toaster to get
part of the praise."

[Illustration: "What do you think?"]

[Illustration: "I must warn the Kitchen People."]

[Illustration]

"Ha, ha!" laughed Brother, and Mary Frances, somehow, couldn't explain
about the Kitchen Folks.

Instead, "When does Aunt Maria come?" she asked. "Does she come
to-night?"

"She's coming right over," answered her brother.

"Oh, oh!" thought Mary Frances, "I must warn the Kitchen People."

"Brother," she began, nervously, "you stay with Mother--I want to take
these things down."

But Brother was already sitting quietly near Mother, and Mary Frances
hurried softly downstairs.

"The poor dears! The poor dears!" she kept whispering all the way down.

[Illustration: "Milk Toast! the only think I could eat! why--who made
it?"]




CHAPTER IV

MARY FRANCES WARNS THE KITCHEN FOLKS


TO the kitchen door she ran, and was about to rush out, when she thought
she heard voices--thin, little voices they were--so she peeped out, for
the door was ajar,--and this is what she saw:

Toaster Man, all tired out, was leaning back in a chair, snoring softly;
but all the other Kitchen People were wide awake. It was Tea Kettle that
was speaking:

"So, he put the eight feathers in a pan, and cooked them----"

"Who did?" asked Sauce Pan.

"The Jack Rabbit--and then he ate their fringe all off, and gave the
bones to the cat. Then he bragged--he bragged that he'd eaten eight
whole chickens at once."

"Is that all?" asked Sauce Pan.

"Yes," said Tea Kettle.

"Humph!" said Sauce Pan. "Was that his recipe for Fried Chicken?"

[Illustration: Then he bragged]

[Illustration: Toaster Man all tired out.]

[Illustration: "A Little Cap and Apron!" cried Mary Frances.]

"My, I'd love to hear more about the Jack Rabbit," thought Mary
Frances, "but I must warn them about Aunt Maria"; and she hurried out
into the kitchen.

[Illustration]

"Listen!" she whispered, with upraised finger. "Listen!--Mother is going
away, and Aunt Maria's coming over to keep house. Don't ever say a
word--she'll never understand you, and she'll scrub and scour you till
you ache, poor things!--she'll do that anyway, but don't talk before
her. I hurried down to warn you--I was so afraid you might."

"Never fear," spoke up Tea Kettle; "we never, never talk before
'grown-ups'--we can't help them. I forgot to tell you--if you speak
about us to anyone, we can never, never speak again."

"Oh," said Mary Frances, "it's a secret! I'm so glad you told me--I came
so near telling Mother about Toaster Man--I might have, only----"

Then the door-bell rang.

[Illustration: "She'll scrub and scour you till you ache, poor
things!"]




CHAPTER V

AUNT MARIA


"FOR the land's sakes!" cried Aunt Maria. "For the land's sakes! Where
in the world has that child been? Look at those hands! Have you been
playing in the coal?"

"I put coal on the fire," said Mary Frances.

"I guess I'll take a look at that fire, myself," Aunt Maria continued,
as she started toward the kitchen.

Just then, she caught sight of the tray which Mary Frances had brought
downstairs.

"Milk Toast," she sniffed. "Who sent that in?"

"I--I made it," Mary Frances began.

There was one tiny piece left. Aunt Maria looked at it hard.

"It's wonderful," she said, "wonderful; who showed you how?"

"Who showed you how?" she demanded, as Mary Frances stood silent.

[Illustration: "Who showed you how?"]

"N-no-body,--at least, no real person. I read about how to make it in my
cook book."

[Illustration: "N-no-body."]

[Illustration]

"_Your_ cook book--you mean your _mother's_ cook book."

"No," said Mary Frances, "I mean my cook book Mother's been making for
me. I'll show it to you," and she ran to get it. "See!--in Mother's
writing--'Mary Frances' First Cook Book!'"

"Well," said Aunt Maria, "you may turn out of some account, after all.
It's about time to call for a ref-or-ma-tion."

"Yes, ma'am," said Mary Frances, not un-der-stand-ing the big word--"do
you want me to call for it now?"

"Don't be saucy!" snapped the old lady.

Then she set about washing the little girl's hands and face, rubbing so
hard that it made the tears come, finishing off with the towel until
Mary Frances felt her face shine.

"Wonder if she thinks I'm a stove," she thought. "Maybe she'll black me
some day by mistake! I don't believe she knows how old I am--she treats
me like a baby, for all the world sometimes, yet she thinks I ought to
know more. Queer!"

[Illustration: "Wonder if she thinks I'm a stove."]

While Aunt Maria was busy getting dinner, she ran up to her mother's
room.

"Mother," she asked, "Aunt Maria will be gone home most of the day time,
while you're away, won't she?"

"Yes, dear," said Mother; "you and Brother are to go to her house to
lunch."

"Mother, dear," begged Mary Frances, "can't I get lunch for Brother and
me? I was going to tell you I read--I found the recipe for the Milk
Toast in my little cook book you've been making for me. I came up and
found it while you were asleep--I just know I can get our lunches.
Please, Mother, can't I try?"

"Well, dear," said Mother, smiling, "I really believe you may. I've just
been thinking about the toast, and what a woman my dear little girl is."

Just then Aunt Maria called:

    "Dinner!"

[Illustration]

[Illustration: Washing the little girl's hands and face.]




CHAPTER VI

JACKET-BOILED POTATOES


"GOOD-BYE, Billy! Take good care of Sister. Good-bye, little
Housekeeper!" said Mother, leaning from the car window. The children
waved "good-bye," and watched the train until it was a speck in the
distance.

[Illustration: "Good-bye!"]

[Illustration: "Good-bye!" "Good-bye!"]

"I'm off to the mill-race, with the boys, Sister,--catch!" cried Billy,
tossing Mary Frances the key.

"All right," she called, "be sure to come home to lunch--twelve
o'clock."

Mary Frances suddenly felt very lonesome.

"But I'll go home to my Kitchen Folks--they'll be good company," she
thought.

When she let herself into the house, how big and empty it seemed! She
was almost afraid to go in, but she bravely locked the door behind her.

She thought she heard a noise. Surely the curtain moved! Her heart went
pit-a-pat! The curtain moved again. Out sprang Jubey, and scampered off
into the kitchen.

"Oh, you darling kitten!" she cried, running after her. "How you scared
me, Jubey!"

[Illustration: "How you scared me, Jubey!"]

Everything was as neat as a pin. All the Kitchen Folks were in their
places, prim, and quiet, and scared, just as Aunt Maria had left them,
but when they saw her they brightened up, and smiled a welcome.

"How do you do, Kitchen Folks?" she said.

"How do, little Miss?" merrily sang Tea Kettle.

"H-o-w d-o?" ticked Mantel Clock.

"What in the world shall I have for lunch?" mused the little girl. "That
boy will be as hungry as two bears,--and I don't know many things to
cook yet. Toast is all right for a sick person, but it isn't much for a
hungry boy,--and I ought to make something new. Let me see what my
little book says," and she fetched it out of its hiding place.

[Illustration: As hungry as two bears.]

"Oh, I know! I'll make everything! I do hope I get through the book
before Mother comes back! Let's see,--here's 'How to Cook Potatoes,' and
'Eggs'; here are 'Biscuits,' and even how to make 'Tarts' and
'Cakes,'--and Goody! Candy! Oh, how I'd love to make candy right away,
but Mother said I must make the things in the order they come in the
book. So to-day I make

      NO. 4.--JACKET-BOILED POTATOES.

      1. Scrub rather small potatoes well.

      2. Pare a ring around each the long way; drop into
      cold water.

      3. Drain; cover with boiling water; add 1 tablespoon
      salt.

      4. Let boil about 35 minutes, or until a fork will
      easily pierce the largest.

      5. Drain off all the water, and set pan at back of
      stove to dry off the potatoes.

      6. Serve in their jackets.

[Illustration: Jacket boiled potatoes]

"I wonder how many Billy will eat," she thought, as she brought the
basket. "I guess about--about--I don't know. He has an e-nor-mous
appetite. I guess I'll cook a hundred."

"He'll never eat a hundred!"

[Illustration: "He'll never eat a hundred."]

Mary Frances looked around. Boiler Pan was climbing down from the closet
shelf.

"Hello! How do you know?" asked Mary Frances. "You never saw him eat."

"Hear that! Hear that!" cried Boiler Pan. "As though I hadn't cooked
potatoes before you were born. Eat a hundred? Why, I can't hold a
hundred--so there!"

"Ho, ho!" said Mary Frances, "that must be so. How many can you hold?"

"Oh, about thirty, I guess," swelling with pride.

"Well," said Mary Frances, "you've no notion how many that boy can eat,
and there isn't much else for lunch. I guess I'll cook about
twelve,"--and counting them out, she began to wash them.

"Be sure to get all the sand out of their eyes," laughed Boiler Pan.
"But first, will you help me jump up on the stove, and fill me?--then I
can boil while you're 'ringing' the potatoes."

This done, he was very quiet, while she finished the potatoes.

Just then the clock struck eleven.

[Illustration: The clock struck eleven.]

"Why, I must hurry," exclaimed Mary Frances.

"I'm ready," bubbled Boiler Pan.

"Oh, yes, I'm coming," and she dropped the potatoes in one by one.

"Now, put on my hat," said Boiler Pan, and Mary Frances put on the lid.

"Are they all right?" asked the little girl.

[Illustration: Swelling with pride.]

"All right!" he answered in a muffled voice.

Mary Frances then went in the dining-room, and busied herself about
setting the table.

Soon, she heard a "rumpus" in the kitchen. She ran out. Bubbles were
sputtering over the sides of Boiler Pan, and the lid was dancing a jig.

"What shall I do? What shall I do?" cried Mary Frances, jumping up and
down.

"This hat's crazy! Take it off, quick!" Boiler Pan besought her.

Without thinking, she seized the lid with her fingers, but dropped it
with a cry of pain.

"I'm scalded, I'm scalded," she sobbed. "What will I do for it?" and she
ran for some cold water.

"Don't do that, child," said Aunty Rolling Pin. "Butter it and then
powder it with baking soda the way your mother does."

[Illustration: "Don't do that child."]

"I'm so sorry," said Boiler Pan, "but I really couldn't get my old hat
off. I should have told you to take a holder."

[Illustration: "This hat's crazy!"]

"Never mind, it's better now. Those potatoes must be done. Yes," as she
tried them with a fork, "even the biggest is done in the middle. I'm so
glad, for I expect that boy any minute."

"So'm I," said Boiler Pan, "for I feel the effect of this
stren-u-os-i-ty."

Mary Frances pretended not to notice this speech, but carefully drained
the water from the potatoes, and shook Boiler Pan over the fire to dry
them off.

"I--I--learned--that--that--wor--word--after
year--years--of--stud--study," he said between the shakes, "and
you--nev--never--notic--noticed----"

But Billy was knocking.

So Mary Frances, hastily putting Boiler Pan on the back of the stove,
ran to let him in.

"Hello, Sister! Here we are! Lunch ready?"

[Illustration: "Hello, Sister."]

"Yes, all ready. I'll put it on. You sit in Father's place, and we'll
play we're grown up."

"Scrumptious!" exclaimed Billy, as Mary Frances set the smoking dish of
potatoes on the table.

"What an excellent cook you must have, Madam," he said, after his first
taste. "Such good potatoes!"

"I have ten," said Mary Frances.

[Illustration: "Let's give it to Jubey."]

"Ten! You are fortunate, indeed, Madam," said Billy, for all the world
as though he were a grown-up young gentleman. "How quiet they keep."

[Illustration]

"Yes," laughed Mary Frances, "but they're 'most always busy," and she
held up her ten pink little fingers.

[Illustration: "I have ten," said Mary Frances.]

"Oh, Billy," she added earnestly, "I'm so glad you like them--the
potatoes, I mean. There is only one left--won't you have that?"

"Oh, let's give that to Jubey--Jubey might be hurt if you didn't let her
try them. I would,--if I were Jubey."




CHAPTER VII

THE POT-AND-KETTLE FIGHT


"GOOD morning, Kitchen People," said Mary Frances, after breakfast next
day, "this is a very important morning with me."

The Kitchen People looked pleased and important, too.

[Illustration: Looked pleased and important.]

"You see, it's this way," she continued as she took her little book and
sat in the rocking chair. "I am very anxious to get through every recipe
in my cook book before Mother comes home, so I guess we'll just finish
all the potato recipes to-day,--and give Billy a Potato Lunch! Won't
that be fine?"

The Kitchen People all smiled in approval.

She went to the window.

"O--h, Billy! Billy!" she called; "you're invited to a Potato Lunch in
our dining-room at twelve o'clock."

[Illustration: "O--h, Billy!"]

"All right, I'll be on time," answered Billy from the garden.

"Let's see," said Mary Frances to herself, "four more recipes--about
two potatoes each. Four times two,--eight."

She washed the potatoes carefully, and had no sooner set about paring
them, than the kitchen door opened, and in walked Aunt Maria.

"What in the world is that child doing? Paring potatoes? Did I
ever!--Such thin, close parings, too! How well she does it!--But you
must drop them into cold water as soon as they are pared, child. I wish
I could stay and show you how to cook, but duty calls me--I must be
going!"

[Illustration: "Drop them into cold water."]

Mary Frances stepped to the door with her.

"When I was your age, child, I could cook 'most everything and piece
patch-work for quilts,"--and she kept Mary Frances on the porch ten
minutes, telling her that little girls weren't brought up any more to be
useful the way they were when she was a little girl.

       *       *       *       *       *

"Oh, my lid!" sang Tea Kettle, as Mary Frances stepped back into the
kitchen. "Oh, my aunt!--has the old lady went?"

"Gone!" said Big Iron Pot from the back of the stove.

[Illustration: "Oh, my aunt!"]

"Who dares correct me?" simmered Tea Kettle.

"I dare," sputtered Iron Pot. "I dare,--and I dare tell you other
things, too!"

[Illustration: "Who dares correct me?" "I dare!"]

"You do, do you?" bubbled Tea Kettle. "You do! Well, what do you dare
tell me?"

"I dare tell you, Mister," said Iron Pot, "that you've got a dirty
face--yes, a black face."

Tea Kettle, it was plain to be seen, was boiling mad. Steam blew out of
his nose in every direction.

Now, everybody who knows anything about a tea kettle can imagine how
very angry Tea Kettle was.

As soon as he could get his breath, he blew steam all over Iron Pot.

"My face is black, is it? Well, yours is black,--and it will soon be
black and blue!"

"You swallow them words!" and Iron Pot raised his queer little fists.

"Sput!" mocked Tea Kettle, getting ready to spout again. "Take that!"

Wang! came down the little fist,--but not on the lid of Tea Kettle. Oh,
no; for just as that was going to happen, Mary Frances lifted him high
in the air.

"Let go of me! Let me at Iron Pot!" He was at white heat.

"Be quiet!" said Mary Frances, shaking him quite hard. "What's all this
about?"

"Iron Pot commenced it!" sullenly simmered Tea Kettle. "Iron Pot called
me names!"

"Why," said Mary Frances, "this is disgraceful! Now, you sit there!" She
put Tea Kettle on the front of the stove.

"And you, there!" She pulled Big Iron Pot as far back as she could.

"Now, behave yourselves!"

Then she sat down to rest.

"What makes them quarrel so, I wonder," Mary Frances said half to
herself. "All the Kitchen People seem so kind and helpful."

"Why, don't you know, child?" asked Aunty Rolling Pin. "I thought
everybody knew that story."

[Illustration: "Don't you know, child?" "Let me at him!"]

A story! Mary Frances was always ready to listen to a story.

"Won't you tell me, please?"

Aunty Rolling Pin cleared her voice, and rolled back an inch or two to
a more comfortable place on the table.

"You see, it's this way, child," she began.

"In the days of your great-grandmother there were no stoves, only open
fireplaces were used for cooking,--and kettles were just as black then
as that old black Pot there.

[Illustration: In the days of your great grandmother]

"So, when the Pot called the Kettle black, the Kettle said:

"'Black yourself!' and no harm was done.

"But when your mother got that fine new cook stove, she bought that
bright, shiny Kettle, too.

"But that silly old Pot doesn't know that the new Kettle is bright and
shiny, so it keeps on calling names. That Pot doesn't know it's fooling
itself,--for all it sees is its own homely old black self in the shiny
Kettle making faces.

"And that's what comes of calling names, child," chuckled Aunty Rolling
Pin, as she ended her story.

Then Mr. Tea Kettle puffed steam importantly, and clapped his little
lid.

Nothing more was said in the kitchen for several seconds.

[Illustration: Kettles were just as black.]

"Thank you!" at length said Mary Frances gratefully to Aunty Rolling
Pin.

Then she added, very firmly and gently to Iron Pot and Tea Kettle:

"I want you to promise me never to call names again, either one of you,
for it makes me feel so sad.

"Do you promise?" she asked.

"I promise," brightly answered Tea Kettle.

"I pro-promise," solemnly declared Big Iron Pot.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: "Why," said Mary Frances, "this is disgraceful!"]




CHAPTER VIII

A POTATO LUNCH


"I'M so relieved," said Mary Frances with a sigh.

"Now, I can hurry along the Potato Lunch."

"Yes," chimed in Mantel Clock, "it's quarter past eleven. You have only
three-quarters of an hour."

[Illustration: "Yes," chimed in Mantel Clock]

"That's so!" said Mary Frances. "The next recipe is:

      NO. 5.--BAKED POTATOES.

      1. Choose potatoes of the same size--rather large.

      2. Scrub well, and wipe.

      3. Bake in a hot oven from 30 to 45 minutes, or until
      soft when pressed between thumb and fingers.

      4. Roll each between the fingers: this makes them
      mealy.

      5. Serve on a napkin.

"Why, I won't need to pare those! I'll put two of these I've washed in
the oven. The oven's grand and hot!

"Let me see,--will all the others need paring?

[Illustration: "I won't need to pare those."]

"Yes," she laughed, "I didn't notice the heading of the chapter
before----

"'Potatoes Without Jackets,'"

      NO. 6.--BOILED POTATOES.

      1. Wash potatoes.

      2. Pare, throwing into cold water.

      3. Drain; cover with boiling water, allowing 1
      tablespoon salt to every twelve potatoes.

      4. Let boil ½ hour, or until the largest is soft
      when pierced with a fork.

      5. Drain off all the water.

      6. Shake over fire, or place on back of stove to dry
      off the potatoes.

      NO. 7.--MASHED POTATOES.

      1. Boil potatoes. Drain; dry off.

      2. Mash in pan in which they were cooked.

      3. For every cupful, add

    1 dash pepper,
    1 saltspoon salt,
    ½ tablespoon butter (scant).

      4. For every cupful, heat 2 tablespoons milk.

      5. Throw the heated milk on potatoes.

      6. Beat with a wire fork until creamy.

      7. Pile lightly on a hot dish. Serve uncovered.

[Illustration: Potatoes without jackets]

[Illustration: Measuring Spoons]

[Illustration: Billy's Potato Luncheon.]

      NOTE.--Remember that all measurements are level or
      even with the top. To divide a spoonful, cut it
      through the middle lengthwise, for a half; and across
      that, for one-quarter of a spoonful.

      NO. 8.--POTATO SOUP.

      Place on the table:

    3 freshly boiled potatoes
    1 onion
    butter
    parsley
    flour dredger
    pepper
    salt
    1 pint milk (2 cups)

      1. Put the milk in the upper part of a double boiler,
      half filling the under part with boiling water.

      2. Throw in 2 slices of onion, and put double boiler
      on the stove for 10 minutes.

      3. Mash potatoes and add to the hot milk.

      4. Add 1 teaspoon salt and a dash of pepper.

      5. Put through a wire strainer, rubbing the potatoes
      through with a spoon.

      6. Put into double boiler and place on stove.

      7. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a little pan.

      8. Throw into it ½ tablespoon flour. Stir well.

      9. Dip a little of the hot milk on this, stirring
      well, then pour into the soup.

      10. Let boil 10 minutes.

      11. Add 1 tablespoon chopped parsley. If too thick,
      add hot water or milk.

      12. Serve very hot.

[Illustration: Two cups of milk]

[Illustration: To divide a spoonful]

"Oh, I know how to cook boiled potatoes! They're just like
jacket-boiled, only they have their jackets off," she cried.

"Why, certainly," exclaimed Boiler Pan, which she had put on the stove
half full of water, "I know my part--I just hurry them right along in a
jiffy."

[Illustration: "I just hurry them along"]

He looked so interested that Mary Frances laughed as she dropped the
potatoes in.

"Are they all to be boi--boiled?" stuttered the bubbling Boiler Pan.

"Yes," said Mary Frances, "all except those I put in the oven. Listen!
I'll tell you the menu for Billy's Potato Lunch. We'll begin, of course,
with soup--Potato Soup."

"'Purée' is the word for thick soups," suggested Boiler Pan. "It seems
more stylish, don't you think?"

"Yes, indeed!" said Mary Frances. "I do believe I'll write a card for
each of us to have at our places at the table!" and she quickly brought
her school pad from her desk.

[Illustration: She brought her school pad.]

Then she wrote:

    MENU

    Billy's Potato Lunch

    Purée of Potato
    Potatoes-in-the-Shell
    Cold Meat      Mashed Potatoes
    Sliced Bananas with Cream
    Milk

"That 'Potato-in-the-Shell' sounds 'swell,'" said Coffee Pot, "but it
seems to me you ought to have something to drink, like coffee, or
something of that kind."

"Oh, that's true," Mary Frances replied, "but I don't know how to make
coffee, and Mother said I must make everything in the order it came in
my book----"

"Won't you look to see if my turn doesn't come soon?" interrupted Coffee
Pot.

[Illustration: "See if my turn doesn't come soon?"]

"Not to-day," Mary Frances shook her head. "To-day we have milk.

[Illustration: "To-day we have milk."]

"Why, to-morrow!" as she looked in her book. "Isn't that fine!
But--those potatoes must be done. I should think so! A minute more, and
they'd have been burned!" she said as she drained off the water.

"Now, ready for the masher!"

"Quite ready," said a little voice, and Mary Frances was not surprised
to see Potato Masher tumble over the edge of Boiler Pan as she put him
on the table.

[Illustration: "Quite ready."]

"Push my head down hard!" said he in a thick, mushy voice, and Mary
Frances did as he directed.

Suddenly Potato Masher stopped work.

"How will you know how much potato to put into the soup?" he asked.

"Why," said Mary Frances, "there were only six boiled ones altogether,
so the three for the soup will be just half."

"Pretty good, pretty good for a little girl just learning to cook,"
Potato Masher said, and ducked his head into the potatoes again.

When they were finished Mary Frances said:

[Illustration: "Push my head down hard"]

"You know so much about potatoes, perhaps you can sit right up on that
box," pointing to the sugar box, "and tell me when I make a mistake. I'm
going to do 'xactly as my book says--you cry out, 'Stop!' when I do
anything the wrong way."

"It--will--be--the--day--of--my--life--ever--to--be--remembered--"

Potato Masher ran his words together clumsily--"But I should be very
much obliged to you if you would first wash my face."

[Illustration: "First wash my face."]

"Why, certainly," said Mary Frances. "I didn't like to suggest it."

"Thank you kindly, Miss. 'Tis a pleasure to serve you," said the little
fellow, as he perched himself on the sugar box, when Mary Frances
brought him back to the table.

"All ready?" asked the little girl.

"Class proceed!" said Potato Masher, with a school teacher air.

Only twice did he interrupt her as she followed every direction given in
the recipes: once, to remind her of the potatoes in the oven; and again,
to tell her to pour the soup very slowly, lest she burn herself.

[Illustration: "Class proceed"]

"It's mag-nif-i-cent!--this Potato Lunch," said he, as Mary Frances
carried the last smoking dish to the dining table. "'Tis a proud day
for the 'Assistant Chef'--meaning myself."

He made a pompous little bow toward the Kitchen Folks.

"I little thought she'd be on time. I was afraid I'd have to strike
before she was ready," declared Mantel Clock, beginning to strike twelve
just as Billy came in.

"Menus!" exclaimed the boy.

[Illustration: "Menus!" exclaimed the boy.]

"Jimminy! 'Billy's Potato Lunch,'" he read. "Oh, I say--if I'd known I'd
have dressed for the occasion!"

"Don't make fun, Billy," begged Mary Frances.

"'Make fun,'" cried Billy. "Just taste that soup--and see if anyone
could make fun. It's fit for the President."

"Oh--Billy!" Mary Frances laughed.

"Maybe you think I don't mean it," said Billy, helping himself to mashed
potatoes. "Why didn't you invite some company?"

"I didn't know that Potato Masher--I mean, I didn't know it would turn
out so well," blushed Mary Frances.

[Illustration: "I little thought she'd be on time."]

[Illustration]

"Invite somebody--can't I bring Bob and Eleanor over some day soon to
lunch?"

"Yes,'" said Mary Frances, "if Aunt Maria----"

"Oh, by the way," said Billy "I 'most forgot! Aunt Maria had word her
brother is sick at Upland, and she went to see him this morning, and
can't possibly be back in time for breakfast. I guessed we'd make out O.
K. I told her--I was thinking of our lunches, you know."

"Billy--really?" asked Mary Frances, "but I'm sorry for Aunt Maria's
brother."

[Illustration: "Thank you kindly, Miss."]




CHAPTER IX

MARY FRANCES GETS BREAKFAST


MARY FRANCES was a long time getting to sleep that night for thinking
about breakfast.

She had her little cook book, and Mother's last letter under her pillow.

"Billy writes your lunches are 'scrumptious,'" ran her mother's letter.
"I cannot tell how much comfort my little girl is to me."

[Illustration: Mother's last letter.]

"I've 'most a mind to tell Mother about the cook book," thought Mary
Frances, "but won't she open her eyes when I tell her I've made
everything--if I can keep the secret! I do hope I wake up in time.
Father said he'd call me to breakfast, when he said "Good-night," but I
want to slip down, and have everything ready when he comes."

So she fell asleep, and dreamed she made an Angel Cake as big as a
mountain, and that Jubey stole it, and fed all the hungry cats in the
World.

[Illustration: Jubey fed all the hungry cats in the world.]

She had fixed the curtain so that the first sunlight would fall on her
face, and it seemed only a breath of time until she felt it call her.

How sleepy she was!

"I'll get down before the Kitchen Folks are awake," she whispered.

She carried her little shoes in her hand and stole softly downstairs,
stopping in the dining-room to put them on.

"Nonsense, you!" she recognized the voice of Tea Kettle.

"Just wait till I read it out of my little book," mimicked a new voice.

"For shame, you saucy Pan!" exclaimed Big Iron Pot.

"Just wait until I read it!"

Mary Frances peeped into the kitchen. In the middle of the floor stood
little Sauce Pan, pretending to read out of a book:

"'How to Make Potato Pie Out of Sauer-kraut.'"

"Silly!" exclaimed Potato Masher.

Sauce Pan repeated:

"To Make Potato Pie Out of Sauer-kraut:

"1. Fill eight potatoes with Sauer-kraut, and peel them.

[Illustration: To Make Potato Pie Out of Sauer-kraut.]

[Illustration: "For shame, you saucy Pan!"]

"2. Make a crust of the left-overs.

"3. Bake the parings well, and serve very hot on ice."

Just then Mary Frances sneezed.

How Sauce Pan ran, and jumped up to his place on the rack!

He looked so shamefaced when Mary Frances went in, that she hadn't the
heart to scold him.

Instead, "Boiled Eggs," she called.

He pretended to be asleep. Then she took him by the arm and shook him.

"Boiled Eggs!" she shouted. "Doesn't that mean you?"

"Yes, ma'am," he said meekly; "I'm such a 'sleepy-head!' Do you know,"
con-fi-den-ti-al-ly, "I often talk in my sleep." At this the Kitchen
People grinned.

[Illustration: He pretended to be asleep.]

"Ahem!" said Mary Frances, "It's a dangerous habit. Sometimes people
tell stories when they're awake, too," she added as she stepped out to
get the milk.

"Is 'Old Puff-away' ready?" asked Sauce Pan of Coffee Pot.

[Illustration: "I can scarcely wait till I'm needed"]

"If you mean Tea Kettle, Saucy," answered Coffee Pot excitedly, "I hope
so, for I can scarcely wait till I'm needed."

Tea Kettle gave two extra puffs of steam, but otherwise took no notice.

"How do you know you'll be used?" Sauce Pan asked of Coffee Pot, nudging
Pie Plate who was near him.

"I come next in the book--and, besides, I'm always used for breakfast."
Coffee Pot was beginning to get angry.

"Bet we have eggs,--eggs, and toast, and--_tea_! Yes, I bet it's _tea_
for B. this morning."

Sauce Pan kept on saying, "Tea for B." so long that Coffee Pot began to
cry:

    "Eggs and toast and tea,
     That doesn't mean me.
     Coffee is better--
     Though not wetter--
     For breakfast
     Than tea, tea, tea."

[Illustration: Coffee Pot began to cry]

"Tee-hee--Tee-hee--Tee-hee!" giggled Sauce Pan, pointing to Coffee Pot
tan-ta-liz-ing-ly, who began to cry in earnest.

[Illustration: "Tee-hee--Tee-hee!" giggled Sauce Pan.]

"Why, what's the matter with Coffee Pot?" Mary Frances asked when she
came in. "Is it possible Aunt Maria forgot to dry you last night?"

Nobody said anything--and Sauce Pan hastily ran toward the stove.

"Wait," called Mary Frances, "wait a minute until I can look in my
book----"

"Oh, I can say it without any book--we all know our own tricks," boasted
Sauce Pan.

"All right," said Mary Frances, "say it--that will save time."

So he began.

"B'iled eggs--excuse me!--boiled eggs," he corrected, seeing Mary
Frances' stern face.

      NO. 9.--BOILED EGGS.

      1. Put eggs in sauce pan.

      2. Cover with boiling Water.

      3. Place where the water will keep hot 6 to 10
      minutes. A quicker method is to boil eggs very gently
      3 or 4 minutes.

[Illustration: Boiled eggs.]

[Illustration: "That's what Nora said"]

"Why!" exclaimed Mary Frances, "I thought you dropped the eggs into
boiling water for three minutes or more, 'accordin'--that's what Nora
said. I asked her what 'accordin' meant, and she said 'accordin' to the
tastes of them that eats them--soft or hard."

"I was speaking of the best way," declared Sauce Pan glancing loftily at
Mary Frances. "There is no end of ways to do it, but this is the
scientific way to cook eggs so that they will be soft, but cooked all
the way through and easily digested--not liquid inside a hard, white
coat. In other Words--Ahem! the al-bu-men (white of egg) cooks much
better at a lower than a higher temperature."

[Illustration: Glancing loftily at Mary Frances]

"Whew!" whistled Coffee Pot.

"I wonder how it is in my book." Mary Frances turned to the page.
"Exactly as you said!" she exclaimed.

"Of course!" declared Sauce Pan.

"Bet he peeped into the book," whispered Coffee Pot to Toaster.

[Illustration: "Bet he peeped into the book."]

Sauce Pan continued: It is somewhat the same way with

      NO. 10.--HARD-BOILED EGGS.

      1. Put eggs in sauce pan.

      2. Cover them with boiling water.

      3. Place on fire where the water will boil but _very_
      gently 20 minutes.

"Thinks he knows it all," grumbled Coffee Pot; "he'll be like the frog;
he'll burst with pride if he keeps this up."

"Well, well, well!" said Mary Frances, "I certainly am surprised at what
you know."

    "A Sauce Pan is a funny thing,
       Needed by every lassie,--
     Although it may be full of sauce
       It may not yet be sassy,"

sang the little fellow, dancing on the stove.

[Illustration: "A Sauce Pan is a funny thing."]

"Old Puff-away," he began.

"That will do!" said Mary Frances, and proceeded to pour out the hot
water. "Tea Kettle is my right-hand man. Don't you dare say another word
until I speak to you"--as she put in the eggs, and drew him to the back
of the stove.

"And now, I'll make the coffee."

At her side stood Coffee Pot.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"Quite ready," she said.

"Is it really my turn?" he asked again.

"Yes," smiled Mary Frances, "it is!"

[Illustration: "He'll be like the frog."]

Then he began to recite ex-cit-ed-ly:

      NO. 11.--COFFEE.

      1. Put into coffee pot 1 rounded tablespoon ground
      coffee for each cup needed.

      2. Pour on boiling water, allowing 1 cup to every
      tablespoon coffee used.

      3. Let come to a boil three times, stirring down each
      time.

      4. Draw off the fire. Pour in 1 tablespoon cold water
      for each cup.

      5. Let stand in a warm place 3 minutes to settle
      grounds. Serve.

      If not used immediately, strain into another warmed
      pot.

"You might pour out the first cupful to clear the nose--I mean,
spout--then pour it back again."

He stopped for breath.

"Thank you, Coffee Pot," smiled Mary Frances, in praise, "how interested
and wide awake you are!"

"I never sleep much," confided Coffee Pot. "I believe it's the
coffee--just 'cat naps,' you know. I sometimes think my heart is
affected--I'm so easily stirred up,--although I always feel well."

[Illustration: "I think my heart is affected"]

"If you always feel well," laughed Mary Frances, "I guess your heart is
all right."

"Oh, yes," giggled Sauce Pan, "he's awfully good-hearted."

[Illustration: "Oh, yes," giggled Sauce Pan.]

"Didn't I tell you,--'not another word' until I spoke to you?" said Mary
Frances to Sauce Pan, as she lifted Coffee Pot to the table, and
measured out the coffee and water.

After she had followed his directions entirely, she made the toast.

Toaster Man was so sleepy, he didn't say a word except, "You'll do it
right, I know," and fell asleep again.

Just then, Mary Frances heard her father call.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: "Sauce Pan, pretending to read out of a book."]




CHAPTER X

THE BREAKFAST BURNS UP


"MARY FRANCES, dear, you can get up now," her father was saying.

"Why, where is my little girl?"

She knew he was looking in her bedroom.

"All right, Father," she called; "I'm up and dressed--and
downstairs--and, Father, wait a minute; breakfast is almost ready. I'll
call you in a minute."

She ran to put some oranges on the table.

[Illustration: She ran to put some oranges on the table]

"You can come now, you and Brother," she then called. "You sit right
down and eat your oranges, as I bring in the other things."

"All right, dear," said her father; "but first I want my good-morning
kiss."

"A kiss and a bear hug," laughed Mary Frances, throwing her arms around
him as he lifted her up.

"You stole a march on your old father this morning, all right," laughed
her father. "Breakfast, indeed! Why, I never was so surprised in my
life."

[Illustration: "Why I never was so surprised in my life"]

"Oh, Brother," said Mary Frances, kissing Billy; "you and Father sit
down, and I'll bring in the coffee."

She flew into the kitchen.

Such a place! So thick with smoke and steam that all the Kitchen People
were coughing.

"Oh, dear! dear!" cried Mary Frances, the tears coming fast.
"Everything's burnt up! Why, didn't you call me, Sillies? To sit here
and let the toast burn up!"

[Illustration: "Why didn't you call me, Sillies?"]

"I--I _did_ call you," cried Coffee Pot, sputtering more coffee over on
the stove, "but I couldn't make you hear."

[Illustration: "I--I _did_ call you."]

"Why didn't you call?" asked Mary Frances of Sauce Pan with a sob.

"You told me not to speak until you spoke to me----"

"I was asleep," interrupted Toaster.

"Who are you talking to, Mary Frances?" asked her father. "Aren't you
nearly ready?"

"Sh--sh!" Warned Mary Frances, with uplifted finger--then aloud:

"Oh, Father, I'm so disappointed! I had everything ready so nice and
hot, and now everything's burnt up! Oh, de--ar, oh, oh, oh, de--ar!"

"Never mind, Honey," said her father, kissing away her tears. "Never
mind! There's no hurry this morning, I'll fix the fire and you do it all
over again."

"But I've wasted all the eggs--they're as hard as bricks--they cooked
twenty minutes. I forgot them."

"They'll be fine in our salad to-night," said Brother; "I love
hard-boiled eggs that way."

[Illustration: "They'll be fine in our salad."]

"Brother, you run out in the garden," said her father, "Sister is going
to have our breakfast ready in a very few minutes."

"I'll do that," cried Billy, "and I'll have a fine appetite."

When they went into the kitchen Mary Frances saw Sauce Pan whisper
something to Coffee Pot, but her father didn't notice. He quickly fixed
the fire.

"Now, Father," begged Mary Frances, "please let me do it and I'll have
everything on the table in no time."

"Ho-ho! little Miss Housekeeper doesn't need any help. Very well!"

[Illustration: Sauce Pan whispered something to Coffee Pot.]

[Illustration: "It keeps me so sad."]

"I did need help with the fire, Father," said Mary Frances; "it was a
great help, but----"

"All right, Girlie," said Father, "I'll read my paper; you call us when
you're ready."

In a very few minutes she did call them, and a fine breakfast it was,
too; for Mary Frances knew _how_ so well that not a minute was wasted.

"Ain't she the loveliest cook," whispered Coffee Pot to Sauce Pan, as
Mary Frances disappeared through the dining room door with the eggs.

"Loveliest ever!" said Sauce Pan. "I really was afraid to call her for
fear her father would hear. I'm so sorry----"

"Yes," nodded Toaster Man, "I can't seem to get it off my mind. It keeps
me so sad--won't you tell us a story?"

"I can't get it off my mind, either," said Sauce Pan, with a sob, "but
I'll do my best. Here goes:

    "Our little Miss sat down and cried,
       And called her Sauce Pan to her,
     'I feel so berry bad inside,
       I wish you'd (h)eat some sugar.'"

[Illustration: "I can't get it off my mind, either."]

[Illustration]

"Oh, silly!" interrupted Toaster Man, "don't make fun,--besides, you
know that's not true."

"Well," replied Sauce Pan, "I thought you wanted a story!"

"Pooh!" puffed Tea Kettle, "What a poor pun! I should think you'd all be
tired out. Let's take a nap."

"I just want to say I love our little Miss just the same," said Sauce
Pan.

"And I!"

"And I!" cried all the Kitchen People.

[Illustration: "A kiss and a bear hug," laughed Mary Frances.]




CHAPTER XI

A JOKE ON AUNT MARIA


"OH, hum-m-m! O, yah, yah, yah," yawned Tea Kettle next morning,
stretching his funny little arms. "Oh, I say," he shouted, "Wake up!
We've overslept. Wake up, everybody! Where's our little mistress, I
wonder?"

"Nice memory,--yours!" drawled Sauce Pan. "Don't you remember they all
went over to Aunt Maria Hush's for dinner Saturday night, and for
Sunday?"

[Illustration: "I'd like to know why not"]

"Aunt Maria Hush!" roared Tea Kettle. "That's not her name!"

"I'd like to know why not," said Sauce Pan. "Every time I go to say
anything when she's here, somebody says, 'Keep still--that's Aunt
Maria,--Hush!"

"Ho, ho, ho, hee-hee-hee!" laughed all the Kitchen People.

"That meant, 'Be still,' Goosie," Tea Kettle explained.

[Illustration: "Oh, hum-m-m! O, yah, yah, yah."]

[Illustration]

When Aunt Maria and Mary Frances came into the kitchen later, the old
lady was talking.

"Very creditable, child," she said, looking at the shelves, all in
order, "very creditable indeed. I can't understand it--with no one to
show you how to----"

"I have my little book," said Mary Frances.

"_Book!_" sniffed Aunt Maria, putting the breakfast cereal on to cook.
"_Book!_ A _book_ can't tell you exactly when a piece of toast is brown
enough, or a potato just done enough to be mealy, nor how to keep a pan
from burning. Book! It's talent! That's what it is! Blood will tell. You
inherited it from me. I never burnt pans--never in my life--there's no
excuse for it."

"Yes, ma'am," said Mary Frances, thinking of the ruined breakfast.

"Go up, and open the beds to air," commanded Aunt Maria.

When Mary Frances got back, she could scarcely see across the kitchen
for smoke.

"Fire!" screamed Aunt Maria, making for Boiler Pan on the stove.

[Illustration: "Fire!" screamed Aunt Maria.]

[Illustration: "BOOK!" SNIFFED AUNT MARIA, "BOOK!--IT'S TALENT!"]

"I thought the house was on fire," she panted, snatching it up.
"Oh,--oh, I wish I had my smelling salts! The porridge is all burnt up!
What a disgrace!"

Mary Frances felt very sorry for her, but when she saw Sauce Pan and
Coffee Pot holding their queer little fists over their mouths to keep
from laughing out, and when she remembered how funny the old lady looked
making across the kitchen in two steps, she ran back into the dining
room to laugh.

[Illustration: She ran into the dining room to laugh]

"I must stop," she'd say to herself--and the more she'd say it, the more
she'd laugh. "This is dreadful, Mary Frances," she'd scold herself;
"but, oh, my, wasn't it funny!"--and away she'd go again.

At length she Went back upstairs until Aunt Maria called,

    "Breakfast!"

Even at the table she couldn't look at Aunt Maria without laughing.

"What's the matter?" asked Brother.

"Oh, don't ask me!" Mary Frances begged, hiding her face.

She didn't dare go into the kitchen until after her aunt had gone, for
fear of disgracing herself laughing.

[Illustration: To keep from laughing out.]

[Illustration]

When she did go out to look up her next lesson in her little book,
Boiler Pan walked dolefully up to her, holding out a piece of
sand-paper.

He looked so funny with a big black spot on one eye!

Bowing, he began to recite:

    "Of course, you never burn your pans,
       Of course, no more do I;
     But, should such sad things happen,
       A piece of this just try."

"I will!" exclaimed Mary Frances; and in less than a twinkle had rubbed
all the burnt spots off.

"My,--that's better; thank you," brightly beamed Boiler Pan.

Mary Frances sat down on the rocking chair, and opened her book.

"Tea! Omelet!" she exclaimed. "Isn't that nice!"

Just then came a knock at the kitchen door.

[Illustration: "I thought the house was on fire!" she panted.]




CHAPTER XII

THE TRAMP


MARY FRANCES peeped out of the open window. A tramp!

"Oh, dear,--shall I open the door?" thought the frightened little girl.

"Please, Miss,"--the oldest, hungriest-looking tramp she ever saw looked
down at her, taking off his worn out cap. "Please, Miss--a cup o'
tea--anything? I am that tired and faint."

He caught hold the railing.

"Tea!--my next lesson!" thought Mary Frances.

"That's easy and quick! and Tea Kettle is just beginning to boil. How
awfully cold and hungry the poor man looks!"

[Illustration: Mary Frances peeped out of the window]

"Wait a minute," she called.

"I almost know how to make tea,--but I'd better look at the recipe.
Where'd I put my book? Oh, here it is,--open to the place," she spoke
softly.

[Illustration: "Please, Miss--a cup o' tea--anything?"]

Then she read the directions for making

      NO. 12.--TEA.

      1. Half fill the teapot with boiling water. Let stand
      until thoroughly hot. Pour out.

      2. Put into it 1 teaspoon tea for each cup needed.

      3. Pour in freshly boiling water, allowing 1 cup to
      every teaspoon tea.

      4. Let stand for 5 minutes in a very warm place, but
      do not let it boil. Stir, and serve.

      If not used immediately, strain into another heated
      pot.

Very soon she had filled the largest cup she could find in the closet,
and handed it to the tramp.

"That's the bonniest cup o' tea I've drank for mony a year, Miss," said
he. "It tastes like the auld country, shure."

[Illustration: Half fill the teapot with boiling water.]

"Like the old country!" thought Mary Frances. "That's the funniest way
for anything to taste I ever heard of. Maybe he's so hungry he's a
little bit out of his head. Oh, I know what I'll do! I'll make an omelet
for him! I don't believe he's eaten omelet since--maybe, since he was as
little as I am--maybe a hundred years. He looks a hundred years old, I'm
sure. I hope I have eggs to make one--oh, yes, I know there are enough.
Where's the recipe? Oh, here it is!"

[Illustration: The largest cup she could find.]

      NO. 13.--OMELET.

      Two eggs to each person.

      1. Separate yolks and whites, putting them into
      different bowls.

      2. Add dash of salt to whites, and dash of salt and
      white pepper to yolks.

      3. Add cold water to whites, allowing 1 teaspoon to
      each.

      4. Add cold water to yolks, allowing 1 tablespoon to
      each.

      5. Beat both very light.

      6. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a smooth frying pan.

      7. Pour in yolks. Let cook a moment.

      8. Spread whites over yolks, making a little hole in
      the center for steam to escape.

      9. Cook slowly for 5 minutes, or until the puffed up
      whites look dry.

      10. Fold one half over the other.

      11. Turn out on a warm platter.

      12. Trim with parsley and serve at once.

[Illustration: Separate yolks and whites.]

"That's not so easy," thought the little girl, "but I guess I can manage
it--he'll not be very par-tic-u-lar."

But she had very little trouble; for she read what her mother had
written; and followed each direction exactly, all the way through the
recipe.

[Illustration: The omelet.]

[Illustration: "Blessin's on ye, Little Miss," said the tramp.]

"Blessin's on ye, Miss," said the tramp, as Mary Frances carried the
smoking dish out on the porch to him with a slice of bread and butter.
"You've got a kind heart, you 'ave, to be shure. Ain't that--whatever it
is--a beauty!"

"It is real pretty," said Mary Frances, feeling quite proud. "I just
made it for you. I'm learning to cook. My mother's away--and I'm here
all alone just now except for Jubey and the Kitchen F---- (she caught
herself just in time). Jubey is the kitten, you know. My lessons just
came to Omelet, and--why, what's the matter with it?" she cried,
dismayed. "It's all fallen flat! I wonder if I got it done. It gets
flatter and flatter."

The tears sprang to her eyes. "I'm so sorry," she said.

[Illustration: "Why, what's the matter with it?"]

"Oh, never mind, Miss," said the tramp; "I ain't been chooser for mony a
day--and this 'ere homelet, or whatever it is, will be all right, all
right,"--and he hungrily began to eat.

"It seems to be made out o' nothin'--and yet it is powerful good," said
he between bites, as it fast disappeared, much to Mary Frances' delight.

[Illustration: "Oh, never mind, Miss."]

"It's made out of beaten eggs," said she. "First, you take the eggs and
break the shells, and put the yolks in one bowl and the----"

"Why, Miss, I know what made it flounder."

"Flounder? Flounder? 'Flat as a flounder,'" thought Mary Frances--"he
means flatten."

"What?" she asked eagerly.

"Why, the breeze! The cool air plays the----"

    "Mary Frances!"
                "Mary Frances!"
                            "Mary Frances!"

[Illustration: "Be gone!"]

Her father came into the kitchen.

"Who's there? Why, my dear little girl, what are you doing?"

"I'm--I've got company," Mary Frances stammered, not liking to say
tramp. "That is--I--oh, Father, this gentleman was so hungry--and I----"

"Go into the house--and I shall see you."

"Be gone!" thundered her father to the tramp, pointing to the gate.

"Begging pardon, sir," said the tramp, touching his cap, "but may I say
one word?"

"Make it short."

[Illustration: "May I say one word?"]

"I'd do anything for the young lady--not let a 'air o' 'er 'ead be 'urt.
Please don't be too 'ard on 'er."

"You may go," said Mary Frances' father. "Are you hungry yet?"

"Oh, no, sir,--thank you, sir," said the tramp. "Thanks to 'er."

"Bless 'er little 'eart," her father heard him murmuring, as he went out
the gate.

"Bless her dear, loving little heart!" echoed her father.

"The poor dear 'lamb' should not have been left alone! I thought Billy
was here. But she must have her lesson!"

Going into the kitchen, he took Mary Frances on his knee.

"Dear," he began gravely, "suppose the old tramp had not had kind
thoughts. Suppose, when my little girl opened the door, he had hurt her,
and had taken mother's nice things, or had stolen our dear little
daughter----"

[Illustration: "Are you hungry yet?"]

[Illustration: "Dear," he began gravely.]

"But, Father," said Mary Frances, "he was a lovely gentleman! I feel
quite sure he was going to tell me a beautiful story about when he was
little--maybe a hundred years ago----"

[Illustration]

"Mary Frances, listen, child! Never, when you are alone, unlock the door
to any man or woman you do not know. Understand?"

"Yes, Father," said Mary Frances; "I didn't mean to be bad."

"No, dear; but it would be very naughty indeed for you to do so again.
Do you promise?"

"Yes, Father, said Mary Frances, hiding her face" on his shoulder. "I'll
never, never do it again, dear Father."

       *       *       *       *       *

"Humph!" grumbled Aunty Rolling Pin, after they had gone into the
library, "I'd have warned her--only I was afraid the tramp gentleman
might hear!"

"So would we all of us," cried the rest of the Kitchen People.

[Illustration: "It tastes like the auld country, shure."]




CHAPTER XIII

COMPANY TO LUNCH


MARY FRANCES listened at the kitchen door before going in next morning.
She wanted to find out what the Kitchen People might be doing.

"It isn't exactly eavesdropping," she thought, "although it seems
awfully near to it."

"Can't you find it?" somebody was asking.

"Seems to be having trouble," said Tea Pot. "Of course, he can't very
well find out--being so short and fat, and having no nose to speak of."

"Well, Nosey," answered Coffee Pot, "suppose you try--your nose is long
enough to poke into anything!"

"So much the better for me this time, Pug Nose."

"Oh, say, stop calling names, and find out--if you can," cried Big Iron
Pot.

"I'll bet it's my turn again!" interrupted Sauce Pan. "Now, see if I'm
not right."

"He's peeped already," declared Coffee Pot.

"'Deed, I haven't," very earnestly.

[Illustration: "Pug Nose." "Well, Nosey."]

[Illustration: "Oh, say, stop calling names."]

[Illustration: "Oh, yes, here it is."]

"Oh, say, Tea Pot, if you're any good, get to work! See if he's right.
Can you do it?"

"Yes," replied Tea Pot rather breathlessly. (It seemed to Mary Frances
as if he were lifting a heavy weight.) "Yes, here is the place. Somebody
else read; I'm too tired."

"I'll read," said Sauce Pan. "What was the last? Oh, yes, here it is,
just as I said!"

"Oh, go 'way! Don't let him read," said Coffee Pot; "he'll make it up."

"Read yourself, then, Pug Nose!"

Then Coffee Pot's voice:

"I declare! He's right! It is his turn again. Listen!

      NO. 14.--WHITE SAUCE.

    2 tablespoons butter
    2 tablespoons flour
    1 cup hot milk
    ¼ teaspoon salt
    dash of pepper

      1. Melt butter in a sauce pan.

      2. Mix pepper and salt with flour.

      3. Throw into the butter, stirring thoroughly. Cook
      until it bubbles a little.

      4. Pour 1/3 of the milk very slowly on this, stirring
      and beating well.

      5. Place over fire and stir in the rest of the milk a
      little at a time.

      6. Let boil a minute.

[Illustration: "I declare! He's right!"]

"Pug Nose----"

"Stop calling names," said Iron Pot.

("Good!" thought Mary Frances.)

"Honorable Mr. Coffee Pot, Esquire," said Sauce Pan, mockingly. (Mary
Frances could easily imagine him bowing.) "Allow me to call your
attention to the un-im-peach-able ver-ac-i-ty of myself."

"Crazier and crazier!" commented Coffee Pot, sadly. "Did you say
anything?"

"Sir," said Sauce Pan, "to put it into kindergarten words, I remarked,
Sauce Pan, meaning myself, has rightly been likened to George
Washington----"

[Illustration: "Likened to George Washington"]

"Aw--!" puffed Tea Kettle, "what I'm more interested in is the book.
What do they use White Sauce for?"

"There's a foot-note," Tea Pot ventured.

"Read it!" commanded Tea Kettle.

"'White Sauce is very good to pour over cooked vegetables, like----'"

"Wait a minute," interrupted Tea Kettle, "perhaps Sauce Pan can tell
us."

[Illustration: "Honorable Mr. Coffee Pot, Esquire"]

"New boiled potatoes, green cabbage, etc; also nice to use for warming
over cooked meats, like cold chicken and canned salmon. Both make a
nice luncheon dish."

("Fine!" thought Mary Frances. "There's a can of salmon in the pantry.")

"Is that right?" asked Tea Kettle.

"Right," said Tea Pot. "Next is

      NO. 15.--BAKED APPLES.

      1. Wipe large apples.

      2. Take out cores with apple corer or sharp knife.

      3. Place in earthen or enamel dish.

      4. Fill center of each apple with sugar.

      5. Pour water into dish, allowing 2 tablespoons to
      each apple.

      6. Bake in a hot oven one half hour, or until soft.

[Illustration: Take out cores.]

"A joyful surprise!" a deep voice seemed to come from the closet.

"Who's that?" asked Tea Kettle. "Oh, it's Baking Dish!--you startled
me!"

"Although I'm not paid proper respect for my years----" went on the deep
voice.

"How old are you, now, anyway?" asked Tea Kettle.

[Illustration: "A joyful surprise!"]

    "I've been told I'm very old--
       My grandsire was a Tory--
     Often bought and often sold,
       But that's another story."

"What an honor!" snickered Sauce Pan.

"How rude!" said Coffee Pot.

"No, child," came the deep voice of Baking Dish, "only modern--without
reverence for the old and----"

"One--two--three--four--five--six--seven--eight--nine--ten--eleven!"
struck in Mantel Clock, very loudly.

"Oh, my goodness!" exclaimed Mary Frances to herself, "it's time to
commence lunch. I do thank Mantel Clock for reminding me.

[Illustration: Struck in Mantel Clock very Loudly.]

"Let me see," said she, going into the kitchen as if she had just come
downstairs, although she felt very guilty. "I must find to-day's
lesson."

She read quietly for some time, pretending not to notice that she found
the book open with the spout of Tea Pot lying against one of the pages.

[Illustration: Lying against one of the pages.]

"I can make White Sauce in a jiffy, and I'll heat some canned salmon in
it," she exclaimed, picking up Sauce Pan quite carelessly. "He needs a
lesson, and I don't need his help," she thought. "I'll treat him quite
in-dif-fer-ent-ly."

"The salmon ought to have been opened an hour or two ago," said a sharp
little voice.

Mary Frances looked around to see who her new helper could be, but could
discover no one.

"How do you know?" she asked, more to find out who was speaking than to
gain information.

"Who'd know better?" came the little voice, so sharp it was little more
than a squeak. "I'm Can Opener!"

[Illustration: "Who'd know better?"]

"Oh, so you are!" cried Mary Frances, spying him. "I'm glad to see you.
Now, why open the salmon an hour ago?"

"All canned goods ought to be opened an hour or two before needed, and
turned out," explained Can Opener, "to get well aired."

"Thank you," said Mary Frances, "I'll open the salmon right away--then
see to the apples--then the White Sauce."

[Illustration: The apples]

She had only just finished the White Sauce, when the door-bell rang. She
stopped to take the Baked Apples out of the oven, before answering. It
was Billy with Robert and Eleanor who lived down the street.

"Hello, Sister," said Billy, "I told you I'd bring company home to lunch
some day. Anything ready?"

"By good luck, Billy, yes," said Mary Frances, kissing Eleanor, and
taking her coat and hat, while Billy did the same for Robert.

"I know now why Mother likes Father to telephone when he's bringing home
company to dinner," laughed Mary Frances.

"Oh, don't you worry, folks," said Billy, "everything'll be all right."

"That's the highest compliment a boy can pay, Mary Frances, you know,"
said Eleanor.

       *       *       *       *       *

"I wish I could cook," she sighed, when Mary Frances dished the dessert
of Baked Apples, and the three praised everything on the table.

"I wish you could, Sis," exclaimed Robert.

"Maybe some day I'll teach you some of the things I can make," said Mary
Frances.

"Oh, Mary Frances, will you?" cried Eleanor.

"If your mother says so," nodded Mary Frances.

[Illustration: It was Billy with Robert]

[Illustration: and Eleanor.]

[Illustration]

"I know she will," declared Eleanor. "She hates to cook, but she'll let
me learn. She never goes into the kitchen if she can help it. And no
wonder. Our kitchen is an awful place to go into, Maggie is so cross.
She wouldn't let me try."

"Pity the poor Kitchen People," thought Mary Frances.

"Oh, we'll have fun!" she said aloud.

"When will you want me to come?" Eleanor asked.

"Some time, when I get near the end of my book, I'll let you know."

"Won't that be lovely! I'll bring my own bowl and spoon."

[Illustration: "I'll read," said Sauce Pan. "What was the last?"]




CHAPTER XIV

A PATENT DISH-WASHING


"OH, my!" sighed Mary Frances, gazing at the great pile of dirty dishes
on the kitchen table, where she had carried them after the company had
gone. "Oh, my, cooking is fun--but washing dishes is another thing. I'm
'most tired enough to drop,--and there must be a hundred dishes to do!
I'm glad Tea Kettle is full of hot water."

"Bubble! Bubble! Piff! Piff!" puffed Tea Kettle, mys-ter-i-ous-ly
smiling as though he knew something was about to happen.

Mary Frances couldn't see anything very pleasing with so much of a task
before her.

She put the large dish pan on the table and poured in the water,
whirling the soap around in it several times to make it a little sudsy.

Then she sat down to rest.

"Really, I didn't know I was so tired," she thought; "maybe my age is
telling on me the way Aunt Maria says!"

[Illustration: "Bubble! Bubble! Piff! Piff!"]

Her weary little head began to nod, and she was soon fast asleep. She
hadn't been asleep long before she was aroused by a great racket.

"Click, clack! Click-ety-clack! Splash!"

"Come," she said to herself, rather sharply, "I do believe you've been
asleep, Mary Frances! You'd better get to work, child."

"Click! Clack!"

Again came the sound.

With her sleepy lids half open she glanced toward the table, and such a
sight she never saw! She sat up with mouth and eyes wide open, but
nobody paid any attention to her.

There were the dishes jumping higgledy-piggledy, pell-mell into the dish
pan.

First a cup, followed by a saucer, then a spoon, followed by a fork.

"Make room for me," cried Platter, diving in head first.

"Look out, or you'll chip me," cried Tea Cup, tumbling out on the other
side of the pan.

"I'm next!" a big dinner plate splashed in "kerplunk."

[Illustration: "Click, clack! Click-ety-clack! Splash!"]

Mary Frances couldn't say a word--she was so afraid they might break
their heads.

"Ouw! this is hot!" screamed Little Pitcher.

All the other Kitchen People were looking on and laughing. Aunty Rolling
Pin was rocking to and fro, laughing so hard the tears were rolling down
her cheeks.

When Yellow Bowl bounced into the water, "Chase yourself!" cried Soup
Ladle, making hard after.

In less time than it takes to tell, the dishes were all clean, and had
piled themselves up neatly on the table.

Then Mary Frances realized what had happened.

"That was a patent dish-washing," she said. "I don't want you to do that
often. I was afraid my mother's china would be broken all to pieces! But
I am very much obliged, this time, I'm sure."

[Illustration]

[Illustration: There were the dishes jumping higgledy-piggledy,
pell-mell into the dish pan.]




CHAPTER XV

THIMBLE BISCUITS


MARY FRANCES carried all her dolls to the window seat in her room, and
placed them in a row. Then she held up an envelope.

"Misses Angelina, Marie, Cosette, Lady Gay, Peg, Master Alfonso, why,
listen! Here's a letter come for you. What can it be? Pay very strict
'tention while I read it. If you'd gone to school every day I've been so
busy, perhaps you could read it yourselves; but, of course, when my
hands are so full, I can't possibly get you off, and you are so
helpless. Aren't you 'shamed? I think--yes, I think you all look ashamed
except Peg. If you don't look ashamed in one minute, Peg,--just one
minute I'll give you,--you sha'n't hear this! There, that will do! You
needn't cry, dear child! Now, I'll read."

Mary Frances cut open the envelope.

Every doll looked deeply interested except poor Peg who had fallen on
her side. "Why, it's an invitation to a Dolls' Party! Listen!"

[Illustration: "It's an invitation to a Dolls' Party."]

[Illustration: Poor Peg, who had fallen on her side.]

[Illustration:

    My dear Dollies:

             May I have the pleasure
    of your company at a
          Doll's Kitchen Party
    this afternoon at three o'clock?

                    Your loving
                (Mistress) Mary Frances.

    P.S. Anyone coming late will be fined
    a pink riblon. In case she has'nt
    a pink riblon her hair will be
    pulled.

                      M. F.]

[Illustration: "Of course you'll wear your dress suit."]

"Now, dears," Mary Frances smiled upon them, "no wonder you look
surprised; for that's a grand invitation, all written out on real paper.
I had an awful time getting it to sound right. I'm not sure that it is
just exactly correct yet. So we'll get dressed right away. Now don't all
ask at once what you'll wear. Yes, Fonsey, of course you'll wear your
dress suit. What of it if it isn't proper to wear it until after six
o'clock? You have only your work clothes and that suit and you'll have
to wear your best."

Everybody was quiet and good as gold while Mary Frances finished
dressing them.

"There," she said to herself, "the last sash is tied. Goodness, I'm
tired--tired-er than if I'd been cooking the whole morning! Aren't dolls
stupid compared with Kitchen Folks? I do wonder what the Kitchen Folks
will do. Will they talk before them?"

[Illustration: Looking very anxious and excited.]

"Now, you dolls, be good, and take a nap," she warned, "so that you
won't be sleepy at the party. I must go and get ready."

       *       *       *       *       *

As she tied on her apron in the kitchen, she noticed Aunty Rolling Pin
looked very anxious and excited. She couldn't seem to keep still, but
kept rolling to and fro, watching Mary Frances' every motion.

"Well, Aunty Rolling Pin?" said Mary Frances.

"Did you, or did you not, please," asked Aunty Rolling Pin, "mention
'Biscuits' this morning?"

"I guess I did," replied Mary Frances, "when I glanced at my book. Here,
I'll read it out:

[Illustration: ½ cup milk]

      NO. 16.--THIMBLE BISCUITS.

      (Nice for Dolls' Tea Party.)

    1 cup flour
    2 teaspoons baking powder
    1 tablespoon butter
    ½ cup milk (scant)
    ¼ teaspoon salt

      1. A hot oven and a greased pan.

      2. Sift flour, baking powder and salt three times.

      3. Rub butter lightly into the flour.

      4. Pour the milk on gradually, mixing all the while
      with a knife, until a soft dough is formed.

      (Perhaps not all the milk will be needed.)

      5. Turn the dough on a well-floured board.

      6. Pat it with the rolling pin until ¼ inch thick.

      7. Use a large thimble as a cutter, and cut biscuits
      as close to each other as possible.

      8. Place in pan a little distance apart.

      9. Bake about 5 minutes.

[Illustration: "Did you mention 'Biscuits' this morning?"]

      NO. 17.--BAKING POWDER BISCUITS.

      1. Make exactly the same as Thimble Biscuits (No. 16),
      only pat the dough out about three-quarters of an inch
      thick. Prick with a fork.

      2. Cut with a biscuit cutter, and place in pan, a
      little distance apart.

      3. Bake in a quick oven from 12 to 14 minutes.

"Ever make any biscuits, child?"

"No, Aunty Rolling Pin, but I believe I can with your help, if you'll be
so kind."

"'Deed I will, child." Aunty Rolling Pin gave a delighted chuckle. "I've
been waiting patiently for the chance."

[Illustration: "'Deed I will, child."]

"I'm going to give a Dolls' Kitchen Party, Aunty."

"Ah, I'm glad you told me, child; that makes everything more important
than ever. So, as you gather together the things you'll need, you can
listen--ahem!--to Aunty Rolling Pin's Wisdom."

"You know about 'most everything!" said Mary Frances. "I'd be much
obliged to you for any other hints during the rest of my lessons."

"I'll be glad to help, child," said Aunty.

[Illustration: Baking Powder Biscuits.]

"Mother expected to explain everything to me, you see----"

"Yes, yes, child," smiled Aunty Rolling Pin, seeing Mary Frances looked
sad; "but I see you have sifted the flour and baking powder and salt
into a bowl and poured it back. Instead of using a bowl, it's a good
idea to use a piece of heavy paper. When this is folded funnel-like, the
flour can readily be poured into the sifter again and again."

"That certainly is easier," said Mary Frances, putting the hint to
practice.

[Illustration: "Poured into the sifter again and again"]

"In order to get the baking powder into every bit of the flour, they
should be sifted together three times. Now, I see you are working the
butter into the flour. Rub lightly with your finger tips. That's
it--pour the milk gradually, mix well--the dough should be almost
sticky, but not too soft to handle. Now it's my turn," she chuckled, as
Mary Frances turned the dough on a well-floured board. "But if you are
going to make Thimble Biscuits, one half of the dough is enough to pat
out for them----"

"And I can make the rest into real biscuits! What a splendid idea!" said
Mary Frances.

[Illustration: Turned the dough on a well-floured board.]

"Wonder if the handles are her ears," she thought, softly patting the
dough with Aunty Rolling Pin.

As she bent over, she caught the sound of singing, and this is the song
Aunty Rolling Pin sang:

    "Roly-poly, roly-poly,
       To and fro,
     Roly-poly, roly poly,
       O'er the dough.
     Round as an apple,
       Straight as a rule;
     Guess who I am
       Or I'll send you to ----

[Illustration: As she bent over she caught the sound of singing.]

"Where?" she asked suddenly stopping.

Mary Frances jumped. She had been rolling Aunty Rolling Pin to and fro,
unconsciously keeping time with her song.

"Where?" she again demanded, her mouth full of flour.

"Dear me," answered Mary Frances, "I don't know."

"School, of course," laughed Aunty Rolling Pin; "I thought you'd surely
know."

[Illustration: "Roly-poly, roly-poly, to and fro."]

"Oh, yes, of course," laughed Mary Frances; "Cooking School."

"Certainly, child," laughed Aunty Rolling Pin. "To what other school
could you go to learn about me?"

"That's beautiful poetry," said Mary Frances.

"I think so," smiled Aunty Rolling Pin; "I made it up myself. It's so
_floury_, you know," blowing the white dust in the air.

[Illustration: "Tee-hee," giggled Mary Frances.]

"Tee-hee," giggled Mary Frances.

Aunty Rolling Pin looked offended.

"Excuse me," said Mary Frances, "you mean 'flowery.'"

"I mean what I say," said Aunty Rolling Pin; "isn't that what I said?"

As it certainly was what she said, and Mary Frances didn't like to
explain, she hastily turned to her work.

It didn't take long to cut the biscuits, as she had often helped her
mother in baking. She knew how to dip the cutter each time into flour,
that the dough might not stick. She used the large thimble she had
brought down from the sewing room in the same way as she had used the
biscuit cutter.

[Illustration: "It didn't take long to cut the biscuits."]

"Aren't they too sweet!" she cried delightedly, as she laid the tiny
biscuits side by side, but not touching, in the little baking pan. With
the rest of the dough, she had made three larger ones. "One for each of
the family," she said, slipping them with the Thimble Biscuits into the
oven.

"Let me see what's next. Oh, yes, the cocoa. I do declare, it's little
Sauce Pan's turn again. No wonder he's puffed up," she thought.
"Strange, he hasn't said a word. I'm 'most sure I have to use Sauce Pan.
Perhaps he doesn't understand. I'll read aloud:

      NO. 18.--COCOA.

      For each cup:

    1 tablespoon cocoa
    1 tablespoon sugar
    ½ cup boiling water
    ½ cup milk

      1. Heat milk.

      2. Mix cocoa and sugar.

      3. Pour boiling water on them gradually, making a
      smooth paste.

      4. Add the milk, and cook a half minute.

      5. Beat with an egg beater.

[Illustration: "Oh, yes, the cocoa."]

       *       *       *       *       *

Silence.

[Illustration: "Don't bother me."]

"Sauce Pan!" one of the Kitchen People near him whispered loudly,
"Sauce Pan! Why don't you speak?"

[Illustration]

"Don't bother me. I'm asleep," muttered Sauce Pan drowsily, "sound
asleep!"

Mary Frances gasped.

"What 'n awful story!" exclaimed the one who had first spoken.

"You're not very polite to question my word to my very face," Sauce Pan
retorted angrily. "Now, if someone else had told you, that would have
been different; then you'd had some excuse."

"Come," thought Mary Frances, "that's too silly! I'll put an end to
this. I don't need any help with this simple recipe."

Seizing Sauce Pan quite carelessly, she quickly made the cocoa.

[Illustration: Mary Frances carried all her dolls to the window seat in
her room.]




CHAPTER XVI

THE DOLLS' KITCHEN PARTY


"NOW, everything is ready," she said, glancing carefully at the table
she had set with her little dishes; "I'll go up and bring the dolls.
Wait a minute, Mary Frances," she added after a moment's pause. "Let's
see if everything is ready. There's

    Thimble Biscuits
    Jam           Cocoa

"Better look in the oven!"

[Illustration: "Better look in the oven!"]

"Oh, my, I'm glad you 'thought me,' Aunty Rolling Pin," cried Mary
Frances, opening the oven door.

"Oh, dear me! Most of the Thimble Biscuits are burnt up and the big ones
are just done, I guess!"

"The thicker things are, the 'slower' the oven, child. The thinner, the
hotter the oven----"

[Illustration: "Oh, dear me!"]

"Aunty Rolling Pin," cried Mary Frances, not realizing she had
interrupted, "there are enough Thimble Biscuits not burnt to go 'round.
Isn't that good? And the dolls can't make themselves sick with them."

"It's not much of a waste," smiled Aunty Rolling Pin, "and (seeming to
be seriously thinking) the dolls can't make themselves sick on
them--eating too many, I suppose."

[Illustration: "You see it's like this"]

"Well," said Mary Frances, "you see, it's like this:

    "When I my dolls invite to tea,
     It is a pretty sight to see
     The things one seldom gets to eat
     All on the table spread, so sweet;
     But to my dollies I explain,
     Don't eat too much--you'll have a pain.

    "Then, just to save them such a trial,
     I let them sit and look a while
     At cakes, and tarts, and candies, too.
     Then eat them up myself--wouldn't you?
     For thus they're saved from being ill,
     And I, likewise, a doctor's bill.
     But--just between you, dear, and me--
     They couldn't eat at all, you see."

[Illustration: "Dolls can't make themselves sick."]

[Illustration: THE DOLL'S KITCHEN PARTY]

And away ran Mary Frances to bring the dolls.

       *       *       *       *       *

"It was a lovely Tea Party, wasn't it, Angie?" sighed Mary Frances,
putting her family to bed after it was all over.

[Illustration: After it was all over.]

"And you did 'behave a credit' to your mother. I feel sure now you will
remember all I've taught you. Not one of you would eat soup from the
point of a spoon, nor spread a whole slice of bread at once, nor leave
your spoon in your cup, which is a great comfort to a mother. Only Peg,
you poor child, you should not have spilled that cocoa down your best
dress. But 'Children will be children,' I 'spose--and you're very dear
children."

("I wouldn't have them, for the world, jealous of the Kitchen
People--and I've neglected them shamefully of late.")

       *       *       *       *       *

"I'm not much taken with those things called 'dolls,' Aunty Rolling
Pin," said Sauce Pan, seating himself on the edge of the top
closet-shelf, and crossing one leg over his knee. "They're not much
use."

[Illustration: "They're not much use."]

"Ah," sighed Aunty Rolling Pin, looking wise, "a doll's a doll, for all
that."

[Illustration: "A doll's no good boiled!"]

"Of course," said Sauce Pan, "but a doll's no good boiled!"

"Well, no," admitted Aunty Rolling Pin, "the best, of course, are
_baked_ of

      NO. 19.--GINGERBREAD COOKIES.

    ½ cup molasses
    2 tablespoons butter
    2 tablespoons lard flour
    ½ tablespoon ginger
    ½ teaspoon salt
    ½ teaspoon baking soda
    1 tablespoon warm water

      1. Warm the molasses.

      2. Put the butter and lard in a bowl. Pour over them
      the molasses.

      3. Dissolve soda in the warm water. Add to the
      molasses.

      4. Sift ginger, salt and ½ cup flour together.

      5. Sift into the molasses, beating well. If necessary,
      add more flour to make a soft dough.

      6. Grease a shallow pan.

      7. Roll the dough out 1/3 inch thick.

      8. Cut out with a little round cutter, dipping it into
      flour each time.

      Place cookies some distance apart on the pan. Bake
      about 10 minutes.

      NOTE.--Instead of rolling out, little spoonfuls may be
      dropped far apart on the pan and flattened with the
      bottom of a round tin cup.

[Illustration: "The best, of course, are _baked_."]

"Then you----

[Illustration]

"Oh, Aunty Rolling Pin, nobody's doing a lesson. Besides, after it's
baked it's done!" cried Sauce Pan impatiently.

"So'm I!" smiled Aunty Rolling Pin.

[Illustration: "It was a lovely Tea Party, wasn't it Angie?"]




CHAPTER XVII

THE SICK NEIGHBOR


"MARY ANN HOOPER is very ailing," said Aunt Maria at the lunch table.
She had invited the children over to lunch that day. "She needs
nourishment more than anything else, I should say. That cook she has
can't make a decent thing. No wonder she's weak!"

[Illustration: "Mary Ann Hooper is very ailing."]

"If only," thought Mary Frances, "if only I could cook something for
her! Wait until I look in my book. I wonder if she could eat to-day's
lesson."

She laughed aloud--that seemed so funny.

"Well," snapped Aunt Maria, "of all things; to laugh at a poor sick
neighbor in such a pre-dic-a-ment."

Mary Frances blushed, but she didn't say anything.

After lunch, she started home as soon as possible.

Once in the house, she ran to the kitchen for her book.

"Of all things! As Aunt Maria would say," she cried, "it comes next!"

[Illustration: "Of all things!"]

      NO. 20.--SOFT CUSTARD.

    1 cup milk
    1 egg
    2 tablespoons sugar
    dash of salt
    nutmeg

      1. Heat the milk smoking hot.

      2. Beat egg. Add sugar and salt.

      3. Pour the hot milk on, beating well.

      4. Pour into upper part of double boiler, or set pan
      in boiling water.

      5. Cook until it thickens, or until a coating will be
      formed on a clean spoon when dipped into the custard.

      6. Sprinkle with a few gratings of nutmeg.

      7. Serve cold.

[Illustration: Soft Custard]

"How perfectly lovely!" exclaimed Mary Frances; "I'll make soft custard
for Mary Ann Hooper. But that isn't very much. Oh, isn't this too good?
I can serve it on the next recipe. It's

      NO. 21.--STEAMED RICE.

    ½ cup rice
    2 cups boiling water
    ½ teaspoon salt

      1. Wash rice. This may be easily done by putting in a
      strainer and shaking in a pan of cold water.

      2. Put with the salt and boiling water, into the upper
      part of a double boiler.

      3. Pour boiling water into lower part, and cook 1
      hour.

[Illustration: Steamed rice]

      4. To test whether it is done, press several grains
      between the fingers. If not perfectly soft, cook
      longer.

      5. If it becomes hard and dry, add a little boiling
      water from time to time.

      6. A few raisins are sometimes cooked with the rice.
      Add these during the last fifteen minutes of cooking
      to prevent discoloring.

      7. Serve with soft custard or cream and sugar. Plain
      cooked rice may be served as a vegetable.

[Illustration: Drain through a colander.]

      NO. 22.--BOILED RICE.

      Use a plain boiler and a large quantity of salted
      boiling water.

    ½ cup rice
    5 cups boiling water
    ½ teaspoon salt

      1. Wash rice by putting it in a strainer and shaking
      in a pan of water.

      2. Drop a few grains at a time into boiling water,
      stirring well to prevent sticking.

      3. Boil rapidly 25 minutes, or until soft when pressed
      between the fingers.

      4. Drain through a colander. Pour over it 2 cups
      boiling water.

      5. Set in a warm place to dry off, until ready to
      serve.

"Yes," said Mary Frances, putting the rice on to boil, "I'll make both.
Oh, won't Mary Ann Hooper be pleased!"

[Illustration: Use a plain boiler.]

"Who's that?" asked Aunty Rolling Pin. "A new kind of cooking pan?"

"No, no, Aunty Rolling Pin," laughed Mary Frances; "she's an old lady
who is sick. Aunt Maria told me about her at lunch. She's such a funny
old lady."

"It isn't funny to be ill," said Aunty Rolling Pin.

"No," answered Mary Frances, seriously, "but I meant she does such funny
things: Last summer, she told Elvin Phelps if he didn't keep his bees
from stealing honey out of her flowers, she'd shoot them--she (oh,
dear!)--wanted--him--to tie each one--by his hind leg--to
keep--them--home--oh, dear," laughed Mary Frances.

"What did he do?" asked Aunty Rolling Pin, anxiously.

"He told her (excuse my laughing--but it's so funny!) he would
rather--put a 'No Trespassing' sign up in her garden for them to read!
Ho-ho! Tee-hee." Mary Frances shook with laughter.

Silence in the kitchen until Mary Frances felt a tug at her tug at her
dress.

Looking down, she spied Toaster Man.

[Illustration: "A sign for them to read"]

[Illustration: She spied Toaster Man.]

"Yes, you may speak," she smiled.

"Thank you,--I don't like to suggest, but a Dropped Egg on Toast
would----"

"Be grand!" finished Mary Frances. "I'm sure I saw that recipe; yes,
this is it!"

      NO. 23.--POACHED EGGS.

      1. Put a pint (2 cups) boiling water into a shallow
      pan. Add ½ teaspoon salt.

      2. Break egg in a saucer.

      3. Whirl the water 'round and 'round with a spoon, and
      draw pan back on stove where it will simmer, but not
      boil hard.

      4. Slip the egg into the whirling water.

      5. Cook until the white is coated over the top.

      6. Serve on toast.

      NOTE.--It is best to cook only one egg at a time.

[Illustration: "Ready!"]

"Ready!" hummed Tea Kettle.

"Ready!" exclaimed Sauce Pan, and Mary Frances poured the hot water.

"Ready!" cried Toaster Man, and Mary Frances made the toast.

"Oh!" cried the little girl suddenly, her fingers crushing through the
eggshell, "what a shame!"

[Illustration: "Ready!" "Ready!"]

"A sharp rap with a knife and a quick pull with the thumbs," somebody
said.

"Thank you," smiled Mary Frances, too busy to discover who was her
helper.

Very soon she had lifted the poached egg with Per-for-at-ed Skimmer on
the piece of toast.

When she had arranged the tray, she brought it out for the Kitchen
People to see.

She had used her mother's daintiest china plates, and had scattered
violets here and there over the cloth.

"Beau-ti-ful!" they exclaimed in one voice, as though that was all that
could be said; but this is what Mary Frances heard as she closed the
door:

"Wish I could eat," sighed Toaster Man.

"I know Jube'll want some of that," he added after a moment. "That cat
can eat any time of day! I envy her appetite."

"Humph!" exclaimed Sauce Pan, "Jube won't get any of that. This time
Jube'll get

[Illustration]

[Illustration: A GREAT BIG ROUND PIECE O' NOTHING!]




CHAPTER XVIII

A MAN'S LUNCH


"MOTHER writes that she is so glad you are giving Billy such good
lunches," said Father, looking up from his letter. "I've been waiting a
long time for an invitation to lunch, little daughter. Do you know, I'll
be quite jealous of Billy if my turn doesn't come soon!"

"Oh, Father," Mary Frances begged, "won't you come to-morrow? I didn't
think you could get away from the store,--and I don't know so very much
to cook."

"Thank you, Miss Mary Frances, I'll be most happy to lunch with you
to-morrow," said Father, in a real so-ci-e-ty tone.

[Illustration: "Thank you, Miss Mary Frances."]

When Mary Frances went into the kitchen next morning, she said:

"I guess I'll make the dessert first; rice pudding is good cold."

[Illustration: "It is ex-cel-lent cold."]

"It is ex-cel-lent cold," spoke the deep voice of Baking Dish,
"es-pec-i-ally if made by

      NO. 24.--RICE PUDDING.

    3 tablespoons rice
    ¼ cup sugar
    1/8 teaspoon salt
    sprinkling nutmeg
    4 cups milk, or 3 cups milk and 1 cup water

      1. Pick over the rice, and wash by putting in a
      strainer and shaking in a pan of water.

      2. Butter the baking dish.

      3. Stir rice, sugar and salt into the milk.

      4. Pour into the baking dish.

      5. Sprinkle with nutmeg.

      6. Cover with a lid, and bake slowly 2 hours.

      7. Uncover and brown ½ hour.

      NOTE.--Seeded raisins may be added before browning. If
      desired, a thin narrow shaving of the outside rind of
      a lemon may be used as flavoring. Put this in the milk
      with the rice.

"Why, thank you, Baking Dish," exclaimed Mary Frances. "Will you kindly
say it over slowly? I'll do it then, keeping time with your directions."

This he did, and as Mary Frances slipped him into the oven, "I'm sure
this will be good," he said; "I can always tell."

[Illustration: "I'm sure this will be good"]

"I'm very glad," said Mary Frances, gratefully.

"Now for the Boiled Mutton," she said. "I guess, Iron Pot, you can tell
me about that."

[Illustration: Slipped him into the oven.]

"Yes, ma'am," said Iron Pot, importantly climbing from the shelf, and
eying critically the piece of meat Mary Frances had placed on the table.

"That's a pretty nice cut of meat--pretty nice. It will be all right to
cook it as I will tell you. But, really, mutton is less greasy if it is
boiled long enough before needed to let the gravy cool. Take off the
cake of fat which will form on the top when cold. Of course, take the
meat out as soon as it is tender, and after 'skimming' the gravy, put it
in again to re-heat."

"I haven't time!" said Mary Frances, anxiously.

"You can put yours in a bowl, and stand the bowl in ice water to cool
the liquor quickly, and do the same thing that way, now----"

"You give the recipe?" asked Mary Frances.

Iron Pot looked pleased, and began:

      NO. 25.--BOILED MUTTON.

      About 3 pounds rack of mutton or "yearling."

      1. Wipe with a damp cloth.

      2. Pour 3 cups boiling water into a large pot.

      3. Throw in 2 peeled onions.

      4. Put in the meat. Cover.

      5. Boil 10 minutes.

[Illustration: Stand the bowl in ice water.]

[Illustration: Iron Pot looked pleased.]


      6. Draw pot to back of stove where it will simmer, or
      just bubble, until meat is tender when tried with a
      fork, which will be in about 1½ hours.

      7. Take out the meat.

      8. Skim off the fat from the surface of the liquor; or
      if there is time, cool, and remove the hardened fat.

"Correct!" exclaimed Sauce Pan, bending over Mary Frances' book. "And
the gravy is made----"

"Saucy!" began Iron Pot, in a boiling rage; but he suddenly stopped, as
Mary Frances shook her finger at him.

[Illustration: "Saucy!"]

"It's all right this time," she said.

"It is your place, Sauce Pan----"

"It is my place," said Sauce Pan, trying not to let Iron Pot see how
pleased he was to tell about

      NO. 26.--SAUCE OR GRAVY FOR BOILED MUTTON.

      1. After cooling and skimming off the fat, measure the
      water in which the meat was boiled.

      2. To each cupful, allow

      1 tablespoon flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon
      vinegar.

      3. Moisten these with a little cold water.

      4. Stir them into the boiling gravy.

      5. Add 1 tablespoon finely minced parsley.

[Illustration: "Correct!" exclaimed Sauce Pan.]

"Thank you both, my friends," said Mary Frances, lifting Iron Pot.

"My, but you're heavy!"

"'Tis true," said Iron Pot, sadly, "all my old-fashioned friends, like
Iron Tea Kettle--glancing toward the new Tea Kettle--and Caldron, are
gone. But," he added, brightening up, "it has been proved that for
boiling meats, no modern 'light-weights' could 'do them up so brown!'"

"We'll prove it again," laughed Mary Frances. "I do believe I'll have a
splendid lunch for Father--a regular big man's lunch. Listen!

    Boiled Mutton    Parsley Sauce
          Boiled Potatoes
    Rice Pudding    Coffee

[Illustration: "A splendid lunch for Father."]

"And now I'll set the table! I think I'll use the very best silver, and
the prettiest dishes--it will please father, I know."

This is the way Mary Frances set the table for her father and Billy's
lunch. Mary Frances sat in her mother's place.

[Illustration: "My, but you're heavy!"]

[Illustration:

1. Fork

2. Knife

3. Spoon

4. Tumbler

5. Butter "pattie"

6. Napkin

7. Platter for boiled Mutton

8. Vegetable Dish for Potatoes

9. Holder for Rice Pudding Dish

10. Tray for Coffee Pot, and cups, Saucers, sugar bowl and cream pitcher

11. Flowers

12. Salt and pepper shakers

A. Father's Place

B. Billy's Place

C. Mary Frances' Place]

Just as Mary Frances was finishing getting the lunch, the 'phone bell
rang and Billy answered.

This is what Mary Frances heard:

"Hello!"

--------

"Yes!"

--------

"Too bad, Father, can't you?"

--------

"Well, I'll tell her, but I hate to, awfully. She's been hard at work
all the morning."

--------

"I?--Oh, I attended to the fire for her, then went upstairs to make
those drawings."

--------

"Oh, yes; I'll look after her, all right."

--------

"Yes, she is--a regular 'brick!'"

--------

"All right. Good-bye!"

--------

"Sis!"

[Illustration: "Hello!"]

"I know, Billy," Mary Frances sobbed. "I know!--Father can't come, and
everything is ready. Oh, dear! Oh, oh,--de--ar!"

"Oh, I say, Sister," said Billy; "I'll pretend I'm Father--won't that
do? And--oh, yes! I'll show you how to fold a napkin into 'Cinderella's
slipper!'"

"Where did you learn how?" Mary Frances began to dry her tears.

    "Not on land, and not on sea
    Did this knowledge come to me.
    When I learned, I had on my hat--
    Where was I? Now, riddle me that?

       *       *       *       *       *

    No, lady fair, not up in the air--
    On a boat in the river."

[Illustration: "Oh, dear! Oh, oh,--de--ar!"]

"Silly Billy!" exclaimed Mary Frances. "Please show me the trick now,
will you?"

"Yes," said Billy, "and then I'll eat Father's share, as well as mine,
of a very 'grand' lunch--if my nose isn't deceiving me."

"Well," said Mary Frances, "that will help some; but please fold the
napkin."

And Billy showed her this:

[Illustration: "I'll show you how to fold a napkin."]

[Illustration:

1. Fold napkin twice, making it fourfold. Make crease through the
center, as shown in =Figure I=

2. Fold each end along _dotted_ line in =Figure I= over to center
crease. Then the napkin will be in the form of =Figure II=

3. Fold napkin again along _dotted_ line in =Figure II= over to center.
Then it will look like =Figure III=

4. Fold the napkin together along center crease, bring one side exactly
over the other. Then the napkin will look like =Figure IV=

5. Fold one side along _dotted_ line in =Figure IV=, turning end
_under_, and bringing it up as shown in =Figure V=

6. Fold along _dotted_ line in =Figure V=, bringing point "a" _over_ to
meet letter "b". Then the napkin will look like =Figure VI=

7. Tuck the end =A= into opening A-B, folding along dotted line in
=Figure VI=, and stand slipper as in =Figure VII=. Fold back and spread
open the top, into which slip candy or flowers]

Mary Frances was so pleased with the Cinderella's slipper that she
folded all the napkins on the lunch table.

"Looks like a hotel table," said Billy.

"Well, Billy," said Mary Frances, "I know fancy folded napkins aren't so
nice for home--but you don't mind."

"Indeed, no," said Billy; "I feel proud."

       *       *       *       *       *

While they were at lunch there came a knock and a boy from the store
handed in a box of candy and a little note addressed to

      _Miss Mary Frances._

[Illustration: A box of candy and a little note]

"Ahem," said Billy, as Mary Frances opened the box, and offered him some
candy "since Father couldn't come, he sent a sweet guest in his place."

"It isn't very nice to eat up your guest," laughed Mary Frances.

"Mary Frances," asked Billy, "what's better than a cream chocolate?"

"Two cream chocolates, I guess," said Mary Frances, passing the
box--"but, Billy, listen:

[Illustration: "What's better than a cream chocolate?"]

"Dear Miss Mary Frances:

"My little girls disappointment in not having her father to lunch today
can scarcely equal his.

"A very wicked man came on business from a long distance and prevented
me from being.

                                              "Hungrily yours,
                                                            "Father

"P.S.--Please accept candy with my love.

    "The third of September."

[Illustration]

[Illustration]




CHAPTER XIX

POOR BLUE PITCHER


"WHY," said Mary Frances, looking over her book next morning at the
breakfast table, "to-day's lesson is so easy I think it would be just
the time to invite Eleanor over for her cooking lesson.

[Illustration: Pare and slice]

"I do wonder whether the Kitchen People will talk and help us--or
whether they can help but one person. It would be pretty hard without
their help; but let me read the recipe again:

      NO. 27.--APPLE SNOW.

      1. Pare and slice apples, dropping into cold water.

      2. Cook slowly until soft.

      3. Mash well and measure.

      4. To every cupful, allow

    ¼ cup powdered sugar,
    white of 1 egg, well beaten.

      5. Add a spoonful of each to apples until used,
      stirring in lightly each time.

      6. Add 1 drop vanilla for each cup of apples.

      7. Serve with cream.

[Illustration: Apple Snow]

"I guess I'll go ask the Kitchen People about it right away!"

But some one was talking.

"Wonder what little Mistress will cook to-day."

"I'll see if they know," said Mary Frances to herself.

"It's hard to remember so far ahead," complained Coffee Pot. "I wish it
was my turn all the time."

"Oh, you have more chance than most of us, except Tea Kettle," exclaimed
Sauce Pan. "I expect, though, most of us will be used a lot
now,"--airily.

"Why?"

"Oh, I read a poem about it, which proves----"

"Say it!" interrupted several Kitchen People. ("What fun!" thought Mary
Frances. "I'll try to remember it.")

[Illustration: Complained Coffee Pot.]

[Illustration: Beginning to recite.]

"All right!" said Sauce Pan, proudly, beginning to recite:

    "'The good old times are back, they say;
     Now, people eat six times a day.
     Nothing they eat is quite so good
     As victuals, eatables and food.
     They'll eat 'em cooked, they'll eat 'em raw,
     While they have teeth with which to chaw.'"

"Beautiful!" exclaimed the Kitchen People.

"If that isn't too silly for anything in the world!"

It was a new voice. Mary Frances peeped out. Big Blue Pitcher was near
the edge of the shelf.

"It's perfectly true, though," re-tort-ed Sauce Pan, angrily.

"There! There!" said Aunty Rolling Pin, soothingly; "don't get so
excited! Of course it's true."

"You bet it's true and I can prove----"

"Oh, my ear!" cried Blue Pitcher, toppling dangerously near the edge of
the shelf. "Prove it! Prove it! You can't!--you conceited id-i-o-ti-cal
old Sauce Pan! I dare you!"

[Illustration: Big Blue Pitcher was near the edge]

Over he went--Crash!!!--broken into pieces.

"He's dead," exclaimed the excited Kitchen People, and began to wring
their funny little hands, and to cry

    "Oh, why did-de-die?
    "Oh, why did-de-die?
    "Oh, why did-de-die? did-de-die-die-die?"

[Illustration: Over he went--Crash!!!]

They kept up this chant until Mary Frances stepped out into the kitchen.

"Why _did_-de-die?" demanded Mary Frances, but not a word was answered.

"What will Mother say?" she said, sweeping up the broken pieces of poor
Blue Pitcher. "Won't she be sorry!"

"Yes, she will!" said Sauce Pan; "but it was his own fault! I think
Jubey'll be sorrier! She thought Blue Pitcher one of her best friends.
They were very con-fi-dent-ial. Only yesterday I heard her telling him
that always after eating a hearty meal for which she had no appetite,
she felt hungry."

"What did Blue Pitcher say?" asked Aunty Rolling Pin.

"Never paid any 'tention--just said: 'Humph, Jubey, I know where a lot
of cat-tails grow!'

"'You do, do you?' said Jubey. 'I'd like to know.'

"'On little kittens!' said Blue Pitcher."

The Kitchen People laughed.

"Bet Sauce Pan made that all up," whispered Coffee Pot.

"No," said Sauce Pan, overhearing, "I--I don't tell _tails_!"

[Illustration]




CHAPTER XX

MARY FRANCES GIVES A COOKING LESSON


"COME!" said Mary Frances. "This is enough nonsense for one day.

"Now, Kitchen People, I promised to give a friend of mine a cooking
lesson. If I bring her now, can you help us,--as you generally do me?"

"No, child," said Aunty Rolling Pin, smiling; "but perhaps you have
learned by this time pretty nearly well enough to do an easy lesson
without our help. We can't talk before other people, you know. Perhaps
the little girl's own Kitchen People will help her some time."

[Illustration: "You can get along nicely"]

"Well, it's a very easy lesson, I think.--'Apple Snow,' she added. And
'a promise 's a promise!'"

"Yes," interrupted Sauce Pan, "you can get along nicely with that
recipe."

[Illustration: The little girls had a lovely time.]

"Perhaps I can," said Mary Frances, happily. "I'll go over for Eleanor
now."

       *       *       *       *       *

The little girls had a lovely time doing just as Mary Frances' mother
had written in the recipe. The Kitchen People watched out of the corners
of their eyes, but never said a word.

"Oh, isn't this good," sighed Eleanor, eating the light, delicious
dessert. Then, "Mary Frances, I know; I'm going to ask my mother for a
cook book! I wonder if you'll let me borrow yours some time to show
her."

"Of course!" laughed Mary Frances.

Just then there was a ring at the door-bell.

In came Aunt Maria with a mysterious looking bundle.

"Why, my dear, you have company, I see," said the old lady with a smile.

"Yes, ma'am," said Eleanor, "Mary Frances has been giving me a cooking
lesson."

Mary Frances shook her head and put her finger to her mouth, but Eleanor
didn't understand.

[Illustration: "Oh, isn't this good."]

"A cooking lesson!" exclaimed Aunt Maria. "A cooking lesson! Mary
Frances! A cooking lesson!"

Then she began to laugh.

[Illustration: Then she began to laugh.]

"Oh, my dear!" she said. "I'm so happy I'm crying. Silly old me!" and
she wiped the tears from her spectacles.

"Mary Frances, dear," she said, at length, "I heard about the lovely
things you made Mary Ann Hooper; and I found out, too, by wheedlin' it
out of her, about the cooking lessons--and here's a surprise for you,"
and she handed the bundle to the little girl.

"Oh, Aunt Maria!" cried Mary Frances unwrapping it. "Look, Eleanor!--a
little cap and apron!"

"To wear at your cooking lessons," fluttered Aunt Maria.

"How dear and lovely!" (Trying them on.) "Look, Eleanor, they just fit!"

"You're the happiest girl in the world!" sighed Eleanor.

[Illustration: A little cap]

"I should be, if Mother were really well," said Mary Frances; "but she's
much better, and is coming home soon. Aunt Maria," she added,--"oh, I
want you to share the secret! I'm doing all the lessons she had written
out for me in my cook book--to surprise her when she comes home!"

"Good!" said Aunt Maria. "I'll tell you!--you can get dinner ready the
day she comes!"

[Illustration: and apron.]

"Wouldn't that be perfectly lovely!" said Mary Frances.

Then, suddenly thinking,--

"Oh, Aunt Maria, excuse me, please! Won't you have some of our
lesson?--Some of the Apple Snow we made for our lesson, I mean?"

"I'd ap-pre-ci-ate the kindness," said the old lady a little stiffly, as
though a bit ashamed of her softness a moment ago. But after tasting the
treat, she said:

"It's the most beautiful snow I ever saw, little girls,--even more
beautiful than that on which I, so many years ago, used to pull a sled."

[Illustration]

[Illustration: "Look, Eleanor, they just fit!"]




CHAPTER XXI

THE PICNIC


"CAN'T guess where I'm going to-day," laughed Mary Frances, coming into
the kitchen next morning.

"To the circus?" guessed Sauce Pan.

Mary Frances shook her head.

"Not to-day."

"To the fair?" guessed Coffee Pot.

"No!"

"To the Zo-ol-og-ic-al Garden," guessed Sauce Pan, again, beginning to
recite:

    "'The Pan-Cans went to the Zoo,
      It long had been their wish
    To see the Baking Panimals
      With the wildly Chafing Dish.'"

[Illustration: "To the circus?"]

"Wrong!" laughed Mary Frances. "All wrong!--Perhaps this will help you
guess"--opening the cook book.

[Illustration: "Wrong! All wrong!"]

      NO. 28.--STUFFED EGGS.

      1. Hard-boil eggs.

      2. Drop into cold water. Remove shells.

      3. Cut each in half lengthwise.

      4. Turn out yolks into a bowl.

      5. Carefully place whites together in pairs.

      6. Mash yolks with back of a spoon.

      7. For every 6 yolks, put into the bowl

    1 tablespoon olive oil or melted butter
    ½ teaspoon mustard (the kind prepared for table)
    ½ teaspoon salt
    dash cayenne pepper

      8. Rub these together thoroughly with the yolks.

      9. Make little balls of this paste, the size of the
      yolks.

      10. Fit one ball into each pair whites.

      NOTE.--If used for table, serve with White Sauce
      poured around them. If used for picnic, wrap waxed
      paper around each until needed.

[Illustration: Stuffed Eggs.]

"It's a picnic! It's a picnic!" cried the Kitchen People.

"Yes!" explained Mary Frances, "that's it! Aunt Maria is giving me a
picnic to 'celebrate my ambition,' she says--whatever that means.
Anyhow, Father's coming. He's going to make up for the lunch he couldn't
come to. I'm so happy!"

[Illustration: "It's a picnic!"]

"So'm I! Goody! Goody! I'm all ready!"

Mary Frances turned.

"If it isn't Basket!" she cried. "I had no idea you----"

"That I wanted to go?" asked Basket proudly. "My family are the most
important 'picnickers' at any picnic! We always go!"

"Well, to be sure!" exclaimed Mary Frances. "Here, wait--these eggs will
be ready in a minute!"

"Tuck the napkin in carefully, please," said Basket. "I won't spill them
out. Anything else?"

"No," said Mary Frances. "Aunt Maria said I could bring just one
thing--and to surprise everybody; so I have not told anyone what I am
going to bring. I wonder if----"

[Illustration: "I--want--to--go!"]

But her thought was cut short by Coffee Pot's crying excitedly: "I want
to go! I want to go! I--want--to--go! go! go! go! I want to
go--go--go--go!--go--go!"

"Oh, you can't go!" said Sauce Pan. "Why--you!--you'd--you--you'd----"

[Illustration: "Goody! Goody! I'm all ready!"]

"That will do," said Mary Frances. "I'll take you, Coffee Pot. Maybe
Aunt Maria's little coffee pot won't be large enough for all of the
picnic. Eleanor and Bob are going with us!"

[Illustration]

Coffee Pot looked tri-umph-ant-ly at Sauce Pan, but seemed too happy to
say anything.

"Good-bye, Kitchen People," said Mary Frances, "I wish I could take you
all."

"Good-bye," cried the Kitchen People; "hope you'll have a lovely time!"

"I'd be scared," said Sauce Pan, glancing at Coffee Pot. "Who knows
what's in the woods?" And as Mary Frances closed the door, he was
singing:

    "'If polar bears were everywheres,
       And leopards came to tea,
     And fearful bats and gnawing gnats
       All came to eat with me,
       And giant snakes ate all the cakes,
     What a "picnic" that would be!'"

                 "Boo!!!"

[Illustration: "I'll take you, Coffee Pot."]




CHAPTER XXII

THE CANDY PULL


"GET scared at the 'Pic-wick,'--I mean 'Picnic,'--Coffey," teased Sauce
Pan next morning.

"Nope," said Coffee Pot, "the 'airing' did me good. I feel lots
clearer."

[Illustration: Teased Sauce Pan]

"Tell us about it?"

"Oh, I'm not good at story telling! The Aunt told about the funniest
recipe she knew,--called 'Merry Land Biscuits,' I think. Anyhow, she
said to 'beat 'em twenty minutes with an axe!'"

"That's a kitchen person I never heard of," said Tea Kettle.

"Did the Aunt like the little Miss' cooking?" asked Aunty Rolling Pin,
anxiously.

"Yes, and she talked about Mary Frances' de-vel-op-ment of
char-ac-ter--whatever that is. It seemed to have something to do with
cooking, for at the same time, she told about the things our little Miss
had made, and seemed so proud.

[Illustration: "Did the Aunt like the little Miss' cooking?"]

"'May I see your book, my dear?' she asked Mary Frances (for our little
mistress had the book tucked under her arm). 'How far are you?' And when
Mary Frances showed her:

"'Candy!' she exclaimed, 'Why, to-morrow, my dear (she never used to
call her my dear), you can have a Candy Pull--only,' she laughed, 'it
isn't the kind that is pulled.'

"'Oh, Aunt Maria,' said Mary Frances, 'that's the loveliest thought--the
Candy Pull, I mean.'"

"Humph," said Sauce Pan, "I don't think so! That means we can't help
her."

"Oh, no, it doesn't," said Aunty Rolling Pin. "We can help her a great
deal by just doing our part. Don't you see? She doesn't need us as she
used to."

[Illustration: "Candy!" she exclaimed]

"I 'spose we ought to be glad," said Sauce Pan.

       *       *       *       *       *

"Now, Eleanor," said Mary Frances that evening, "Father and the boys
aren't invited until after the candy is made."

"Where are they now--do you know?" asked Eleanor.

[Illustration: "We can help her a great deal"]

"Father and Aunt Maria are in the library, and the boys are up in
Billy's den! So we'll read the recipes over first thing, and get started
soon as possible."

"Do read them, Mary Frances," said Eleanor. "I'm so anxious--I'm just
'crazy' to learn how to make them."

"Well," said Mary Frances, "the first is 'Pickaninny Fudge!' Isn't that
just like Mother!--to call Chocolate Fudge that cute name!"

"Hurry, Mary Frances; do read it," cried Eleanor, delighted.

Mary Frances read:

      NO. 29.--PICKANINNY FUDGE.

    2 cups sugar
    1 cup milk
    2 tablespoons butter
    4 squares chocolate (4 ounces)
    5 drops vanilla

      1. Put sugar, milk, chocolate and butter together in a
      pan.

      2. Boil until a few drops harden when dropped into
      cold water.

      3. Butter a platter.

      4. Add Vanilla to candy and stir while it cools.

      5. Cut into squares with a buttered knife while still
      soft.

[Illustration: Mary Frances read]

"That just makes my 'mouth water,' Mary Frances," said Eleanor. "If the
next is as good as that----!"

"It is!" declared Mary Frances. "Listen!

[Illustration: "Hurry; do read it."]

      NO. 30.--WALNUT KISSES.

    1 cup brown sugar
    ½ cup granulated sugar
    ¼ cup cold water
    white 1 egg

      1. Boil sugars and water together until a few drops
      harden when dropped into cold water.

      2. Beat white of egg stiff.

      3. Pour the sugar syrup very slowly upon the white of
      egg, beating all the time.

      4. Butter a platter.

      5. Drop by tablespoonfuls on the platter.

      6. Put a half walnut on each little mound or "kiss."

[Illustration: Walnut Kisses.]

"These are 'grand,'" said Mary Frances. "Mother made some just before
she was ill."

"But have you the walnuts?" asked Eleanor, anxiously.

"Yes," explained Mary Frances. "Aunt Maria saw these recipes yesterday
at the picnic, and she brought over a lot of walnuts ready for us. If
she hadn't, I'd never have thought of them, I guess."

"Now--to work! You can make the Walnut Kisses--if you like."

"If you'll explain it all to me," said Eleanor.

[Illustration: "Now--to work!"]

"Of course I will," said Mary Frances; "but you see, Mother has written
out every single action just as you do it,--that makes it so easy. See
if you can do it alone--try."

"I'd love to," said Eleanor.

       *       *       *       *       *

The little girls worked pretty quietly until they were ready to pour out
the candy.

"How are you getting along, children?" inquired Aunt Maria at the door.

"Oh, Aunty, I'm so glad you came" said Mary Frances; "we were just a
little afraid--without help."

"Yes, I see," said Aunt Maria; "you might easily be burned. This is
perfect so far. Now----" and she showed the children how to pour out the
candy.

("Almost as well as the Kitchen People could," thought Mary Frances.)

       *       *       *       *       *

"Walnut Kisses," said her father, kissing Mary Frances good-night, "are
next best to real kisses, which, although they are made of nothing----"

"Oh, Fudge!" exclaimed Billy, and everybody laughed.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: They were ready to pour out the candy.]




CHAPTER XXIII

GETTING READY FOR A PARTY


"HOW time flies!"

Mary Frances tied on her new apron and put on her pretty little cap.

"Fly time is nearly gone," said Sauce Pan, "and--school time is almost
here," he added, seeing Mary Frances didn't seem to notice.

[Illustration: Put on her pretty little cap.]

"Yes," she said, "but before school time, there's a grand good
time--Mother comes home to-morrow!"

"Whew!" whistled Tea Kettle. "So soon?"

"Well," said Mary Frances, "it doesn't seem soon when I think of it
without my cooking lessons--but when I think I'm nearly through the
book----"

"What's to-day's lesson?" asked Aunty Rolling Pin. "I'm so anxious you
do get through!"

"Thank you, Aunty Rolling Pin, I must tell you. I'm going to give a Tea
Party!"

"A Tea Party!" exclaimed Tea Pot, clapping his lid up and down. "Oh,
lovely!"

[Illustration: "A Tea Party!"]

"Oh, this is a Tea Party without tea," said Mary Frances. "We're going
to have two kinds of cake,--and cocoa!"

Then, seeing how disappointed Tea Pot looked:

"Oh, I will have tea, too. Aunt Maria without tea! That will never do!"

"Now for the next recipe:

      NO. 31.--SPONGE CAKE.

    2 eggs
    1 cup sugar
    1/3 cup boiling water
    ½ teaspoon vanilla (or lemon extract)
    1 cup flour
    1½ teaspoon baking powder
    dash of salt

      1. Separate yolks of eggs and beat in a large bowl.

      2. Add gradually half the sugar, stirring well.

      3. Add the boiling water slowly.

      4. Add remaining sugar, and the flavoring.

      5. Sift together twice flour, baking powder and salt.

      6. Sift by small quantities into the mixture, beating
      well each time.

      7. Beat whites of eggs and fold them into the cake.

      8. Grease pan. Toss around in it ¼ cup flour. Throw
      out. This prevents sticking.

      9. Pour in the cake.

      10. Bake in a moderate oven about 35 minutes.

[Illustration: "Aunt Maria without tea!"]

[Illustration: "Humph!"]

"Humph!" said Aunty Rolling Pin, "that's all right, but it doesn't give
you much idea how the oven should be."

"No," explained Mary Frances, "I 'spose Mother intended to show me about
that."

"Of course, child," said Aunty Rolling Pin, "that was it. Now, I'll tell
you all about cake----"

[Illustration: "I'll tell you all about cake."]

"What's that!" a queer, muffled voice.

Mary Frances started in surprise.

A great com-mo-tion inside the pantry, and the sound of many little
voices! Then she made out the words:

"Get out of my way! Here, you, step aside!" (Then a little shriek or two
followed by the sound of falling tins.) "Oh, you knocked my nose. There!
that makes the fiftieth dent! No wonder I look old and worn out. Can't
you wait a minute?"

At length there came a pounding on the door, and a high little voice--or
was it two voices?

"Let me out! Oh, I say, please let us out!"

"Mercy!" thought Mary Frances, "I hope there isn't going to be any
trouble." And she cautiously opened the pantry door a little way. The
two Cake Tins pushed their way out.

[Illustration: The two Cake Tins.]

"Oh, thank you!" they said, breathlessly, in chorus (looking at each
other all the while as though they'd learned and rehearsed every word).
"I thought I'd never get out to help! I've listened through the door to
every lesson, just hoping my turn would come. There I was back of the
other pots and pans, and when I heard 'Cake' I just jumped!"

"As I had just started to say"--Aunty Rolling Pin began.

"What do you know about cakes!" cried the Cake Tins, angrily. "If
everybody'd just mind his own cooking--who ever rolls cakes?"

"Well, I know about cookies," said Aunty Rolling Pin; "and besides, I
know about most things,--I belonged to a real cooking teacher!"

[Illustration: "Prove it!"]

"Prove it!" cried the Cake Tins.

"I will," said Aunty Rolling Pin; "here's part of a lecture the teacher
used to give:

[Illustration: "What do you know about cakes?"]

"Now, ladies, you can see the ex-ceed-ing-ly good texture of this cake,
as I drop it from the spoon. The nu-tri-tive value of the ut-il-ized
com-po-si-tion is unequaled, except in rare cases of cul-in-ary
e-con-om-y. For instance, the proteids, the car-bon-a-ce-ous
contrib-u-tions plus the con-di-ments, afford an instance of
un-u-su-al strength-giving power. The in-ex-cus-a-ble prod-i-gal-i-ty of
the A-mer-i-can house-wife----'"

[Illustration: "I'll make the sponge cake first," said Mary Frances.]

"Whew!" whistled Tea Kettle, "for pity's sake, stop it!"

"Humph!" said Square Cake Tin, "I don't see that that proves you know
anything about cake. Now I'll explain:

"There are really only two kinds of cake in general:

"1. Cakes without butter, or some form of sponge cakes.

"2. Cakes with butter, or plain cakes.

"More important than the mixing of the cake is the baking.

"Have a rather low fire, which will grad-u-al-ly increase in heat
without adding more fuel.

[Illustration: "Now I'll explain."]

"Rules:

"Thin cakes require a hotter oven than larger ones.

"Molasses cakes will burn easily, so require a cooler oven than others.

"Sponge cakes require a 'slower' oven than butter cakes.

[Illustration: "Whew! for pity's sake, stop it!"]

"Cake is done when it shrinks from the sides of a pan, or when a straw
comes out dry. You know the way, don't you?"

"Yes," said Mary Frances. "My, what a lot you do know!"

"Now, read the next recipe, please. The butter kind," said Mary Frances;
whereat the Cake Tins looked pleased.

[Illustration: The Cake Tins looked pleased.]

      NO. 32.--DREAM CAKE.

    4 tablespoons butter
    1 cup sugar
    2 eggs
    ½ cup milk
    1¼ cups flour
    2 teaspoons baking powder
    1/8 teaspoon ground mace
    dash of salt
    1 teaspoon vanilla

      1. Put butter in a bowl; add sugar. "Cream" or rub
      thoroughly together.

      2. Beat yolks of eggs. Add to butter and sugar,
      stirring well.

      3. Mix and sift twice flour, baking powder, mace and
      salt.

      4. Add one-third of the milk to the yolks, butter and
      sugar.

      5. Sift in one-third of the flour. Do this until all
      the milk and flour are used, beating well each time.

      6. Add vanilla. Beat well.

      7. Beat white of eggs light. Fold them into the cake.

      8. Grease shallow pan as in No. 31. Pour in the cake.

      9. Bake in moderate oven about 35 minutes, or until it
      shrinks from the pan.

[Illustration: "Now, read the next recipe."]

"We'll both be used!" exclaimed the Cake Pans, joyously. "I told you so!
I told you!" they cried at each other as though having an argument.

"Come," said Mary Frances, "less talking. We must get to work."

"Look at the oven first," said the Cake Pans, as Mary Frances started to
break the eggs.

"Is it right?" asked the little girl, lifting them up to see.

"Yes," they said, "it will be just right when we are ready."

"All the ma-ter-i-als you'll need ready?" asked Round Cake Tin after a
minute.

"Yes," looking over the table, "I see--everything. Good!"

[Illustration: "We must get to work."]

"I brought the butter into the warm room an hour ago," said Mary
Frances, "so that it would be softened by the time I needed it. I'll
make the sponge cake first, as the oven will be cooler then."

[Illustration: "We'll both be used!"]

"Right!" cried the Cake Tins; "but when you open the oven door, be
careful to do so gently, as any jarring will break the 'gas bubbles'
very easily, doing much more harm toward making the cake heavy than the
air; in fact, if the door is opened carefully, and not too soon, it does
no harm."

       *       *       *       *       *

With the Cake Tins' help, a warm and tired, but very happy little girl
brought two golden brown fragrant cakes to the table one-half hour
before lunch time.

"Turn us on our sides," panted the Cake Tins, "to let us cool off
quickly and evenly. My, but it was warm in there!"

"How beautiful the cakes look!" said Mary Frances, doing as she was
told.

"Why not take a taste?" Square Cake Tin asked.

"Oh, it's just before lunch time," said Mary Frances, "and would spoil
my ap-pe-tite. Mother doesn't allow me----"

"Just one sweet mouthful?" tempted Cake Tin.

"It seems so good. I guess I will--just this once," and cutting a piece,
she ate it.

"Oh," she cried, "my beautiful cake! Look, it's sinking down in the
middle!" The tears came to her eyes.

[Illustration: "Oh, I'm so, so sorry"]

"Oh, I'm so, so sorry," said Cake Tin, "I was too excited and proud!"

[Illustration: One-half hour before lunch time.]

"Why didn't you tell me," Mary Frances asked, "that a fresh cake, if
cut, would 'fall?'"

[Illustration]

"Oh," said Cake Tin, "I meant to be so helpful. I'll try never to be too
proud again."

[Illustration: "Is it right?" asked the little girl, lifting them up to
see.]




CHAPTER XXIV

THE TEA PARTY


MARY FRANCES didn't eat much lunch.

"What's the matter, child?" asked Aunt Maria, anxiously. "'Homesick' for
Mother?--or was to-day's lesson too hard?"

Then Mary Frances told of cutting and eating the fresh cake. "And, Aunt
Maria," she said, the tears flowing down her cheeks, "it went down!

    down!
           down!

until I was afraid it would rise out of the bottom of the pan the other
way."

[Illustration: "What's the matter, child?"]

"Never mind, dear child," Aunt Maria comforted her. "I did the same
thing to my first cake. I remember it well!"

"You did, Aunt Maria?"

"Yes," said the old lady. "I'll tell you what we'll do! I'll bake a cake
in place of yours for to-night's party. Don't tell any one."

[Illustration: "It went down! down! down!"]

"Oh, thank you, Aunt Maria," cried Mary Frances; "that's so kind!"

"Not a word to any one!" cau-tion-ed Aunt Maria. "What else do you
have?"

"Cocoa," said Mary Frances; "I can make that."

"My," smiled Aunt Maria, "I'm so proud."

       *       *       *       *       *

After the games and riddles, Mary Frances excused herself from her
guests, and made the cocoa and the pot of tea for her aunt. Then Billy
carried in the tray, on which she had placed the cake, and the cups and
saucers, plates, napkins, and Chocolate Pot, and, oh, yes, Tea Pot, for
Aunt Maria; and she poured the cocoa like a real grown lady, while the
boys passed the plates and the cake, and served the guests to the cups
of cocoa.

"Did Mary Frances make this cake?" asked one of the guests. ("I'm
awfully glad she didn't ask about the other," thought the little girl.)

[Illustration: "Did Mary Frances make this cake?"]

"Yes," said Eleanor's brother Bob. "Yes; knowing the greatness of the
present oc-ca-sion, I have written a poem, en-ti-tled, 'Ode to the Cook'
(bowing to Mary Frances), which, with your kind indulgence, I will now
read:"

[Illustration: "Ode to the Cook"]

"Begin!" laughed Mary Frances.

Bob cleared his throat and began:

    "Mary Frances is a girl
       Who cooks for you and I;
     She can boil a fancy cake
       Or stew a cherry pie.

    "Once she made a pot of soup
       And served it for our dinner;
     We thought that we were like to die,
       It made us so much thinner."

"Time to weep?" asked Billy, pa-thet-i-cal-ly.

    "Now, this, our cook will save expense,
       For when she is your baker,
     You may save your doctor's bill--
       Just get an undertaker."

[Illustration: "Oh, Bob, I say--"]

"Now, Billy," cried Mary Frances, "what have you been telling?"

"Oh, Bob, I say--" said Billy.

[Illustration: "Begin!"]

"Mary Frances, don't mind Bob," interrupted Eleanor. "You see what I
have to stand all the time." And Mary Frances laughed heartily.

"Did you think I minded Bob?" she asked.

"Show you forgive me, Mary Frances," begged Bob, "by letting me have
another cup of cake, and another piece of cocoa."

"Not _another_," laughingly corrected Mary Frances. "To be polite, I
believe I must pretend I didn't notice you'd had any."

"You certainly are kind, Mary Frances," said Bob, "when I don't know how
many pieces----"

"I know," cried Eleanor,--"this makes the fifth!"

"Well, Nell," begged Bob, "don't tell Mother."

"You deserve it," said Eleanor.

[Illustration: "Don't tell Mother."]

"Come," said Billy, "all ready! another game! 'Blind feeds Blind!'" And
they blindfolded the boys' eyes, and sat them opposite each other, each
with a plate of little pieces of cake, and a spoon. They were to try to
feed each other. The one who dropped the least number of pieces, and
whose cake was first gone, won. It was very funny! Sometimes the spoon
was poked into the other boy's ear; sometimes it hit his nose.

[Illustration: "Blind feeds blind]

"Everything was grand, Mary Frances," said Eleanor, "and it was the
loveliest party!"

"I think so, too," smiled Aunt Maria.

"One last riddle," said Mary Frances' father, bidding the young people
good-night:

"'Why is Mary Frances the happiest girl in the world?'"

Then they all guessed----

"Because 'Mother' is coming home to-morrow!"

"Oh, Mary Frances," laughed Eleanor, "I've had more fun! Good-night,
dear." And "So have we all of us," and "Thank you," cried the others.

    "Good-night!"
                "Good-night!"
                           "Good-night!"

[Illustration]

[Illustration: "Never mind, dear child." Aunt Maria comforted her.]




CHAPTER XXV

MARY FRANCES GETS DINNER


"OH, my dear Kitchen People, I'm so happy, I don't know whether I'm
myself or not!"

"You are!" solemnly declared Sauce Pan,--"I mean you are our little
'Miss'--Miss Mary Frances."

"My, I feel so relieved!" said Mary Frances. "Since that is so, I'll
tell you why I'm so excited! Mother is coming home to-day--and--I'm
going to get dinner. Isn't it lovely?"

"Everybody," shouted Tea Kettle, "ready!"

With that, every utensil in the kitchen sprang to its queer little feet.

[Illustration: "You are!"]

"We're all quite ready, Mistress," said Tea Kettle, trying to make a
bow, but looking very clumsy and ri-dic-u-lous, trying at the same time
to keep water from spilling out of his nose.

"Thank you, everybody," said Mary Frances, very gravely, however. "I'll
not need anyone just now but Aunty Rolling Pin. Where is she?"

[Illustration: "Everybody, ready!"]

"She's out picking cherries to make a pumpkin pie," said Sauce Pan in a
loud whisper to Pie Plate.

"Here I am, child," Aunty Rolling Pin's voice answered. "I can't seem to
roll out. Get out of my way--you!"

With that, Knife, Fork and Spoon slid to the side of the table, and she
rolled to the edge.

"What is it, child?" she smiled.

"It's the grandest thing!" said Mary Frances.

[Illustration: Slid to the side of the table.]

      NO. 33.--QUEEN OF HEARTS TARTS.

      Spread cooked heart-shaped pastry shells with
      preserved cherries. See No. 34.

"Tarts!" chuckled Aunty Rolling Pin. "Oh, my handles! I'm so happy! Are
the cherries ready, child?" she asked, anxiously.

"Yes," said Mary Frances, "I am to use

[Illustration: "What is it child?"]

      NO. 34.--PASTRY.

    1 cup flour
    ¼ teaspoon salt
    1/3 cup lard
    1/3 cup cold water

      (Use as little water as possible.)

      1. Sift salt and flour into a bowl.

      2. Rub lard into flour with finger tips until like
      coarse powder.

      3. Add half the cold water, stirring with a knife to
      form a stiff ball. Keep this on one side of the bowl.

      4. Stir in more water until the remaining flour forms
      a ball. Press these balls together.

      5. Roll out. Fit to pie plate. Trim off overhanging
      edges.

      6. Bake in a hot oven.

"That's it!" exclaimed Aunty Rolling Pin, joyously. "I was afraid there
might not be 'shortening' or lard enough in the recipe. The whole art of
making good pastry is in having one-third as much lard as flour, and
using as little water as possible.

"I was afraid, too, that your mother would not put 'pastry' in the book,
for when flour or starch grains are coated in fat they are too dry to
'swell' well in cooking, and cannot burst open. They are not, I'm sorry
to say, a very di-ges-ti-ble food."

"I'm glad she did, though," said Mary Frances; "she will not often let
us eat 'pastry,' but I 'spect she im-ag-ined how pleased I'd be. I
wonder why pie tastes so good, if it isn't good for us? My, how much I
have to do! Now I'm ready!"

At these words, Middle-sized Bowl sprang upon the table.

[Illustration: "That's it!"]

[Illustration: Sprang upon the table.]

Measuring Cup dumped a cup of flour into it, and ran toward the lard
kettle, which was standing near.

"Is the salt in the flour?" asked Aunty Rolling Pin, crit-i-cal-ly.

"Yes, ma'am," said Tea Spoon, "I put it in."

"Who'll measure the lard?" asked Mary Frances.

"I will!" and Measuring Cup threw it into Bowl.

"Well," laughed Mary Frances, "and what do I do?"

"You'll do enough, child," said Aunty Rolling Pin, "before you get ready
a whole big dinner, even with our help."

"Well, really," said Mary Frances, "I 'spose I ought to explain: These
tarts are more 'specially for Billy than for dinner. I promised him----"

"Oh, that's all right," said Aunty Rolling Pin; "that only makes it
nicer than ever!"

[Illustration: Dumped a cup of flour into it.]

"Now," she went on, "rub the flour and lard together. Cover the lard
with the flour. Yes, that's it! Now, rub them together until it seems
like coarse powder. You could use a knife instead, chopping the lard all
through."

[Illustration: "You'll do enough, child."]

"That right?" asked Mary Frances, holding some down for Aunty Rolling
Pin to look at, since she couldn't see over the edge of Bowl.

"Yes, that is right," she answered. "Now, you may use a knife for
stirring and pour just a little water in--oh, mercy! child! (as Mary
Frances was about to throw in a quarter of a glass) not that way! Make a
little 'well' in the flour. Pour in about one tablespoon of water. Mix
well. Let that rest at one side and do the same thing in another place,
and then another, finally stirring all together into one big ball.

"That's just right!" as Mary Frances lifted up the paste.

"Now, sift a little flour on the board and--oh, how many tarts are you
going to make?"

"Six."

[Illustration: "All ready!"]

"All right. Cut the paste into five even pieces, and with _me_ (Mary
Frances laughed, Aunty Rolling Pin seemed so pleased) roll out each
piece about one-eighth of an inch thick. After cutting out, save all the
left-over trimmings to use for the last one. Plates ready?"

"All ready!" answered the little heart-shaped Tart Plates.

[Illustration: "That right?"]

"How do I make a pretty border?" asked Mary Frances, cutting the
trimmings from the edge of Tart Plate with a knife held upright along
the edge.

Fork came dancing from the edge of the table.

"Oh, I remember!" said Mary Frances, pressing the prongs into the outer
edge of the crust.

"They're grand!" chuckled Aunty Rolling Pin. "Can you bake them? You
need a very hot oven to bake them."

"But the cherries!" said Mary Frances, glad to think she had caught
Aunty Rolling Pin in an oversight.

"Not until the pastry's cooked, child," said Aunty Rolling Pin, with a
smile.

Mary Frances slipped the little plates into the oven, and made room on
the table to place the dinner as she prepared it.

In a short fifteen minutes the tarts were ready.

"Aren't they sweet!" the little girl exclaimed. "My! I wish they were
thought to be very good for children!"

[Illustration: "Aren't they sweet!"]

"What's for dinner?" asked Tea Kettle, anxiously.

[Illustration: Slipped them into the oven.]

"I'll tell you," said Mary Frances, "I've written out the

    MENU

    Potato Soup
    Pan-broiled Steak
    Creamed Cabbage      Mashed Potatoes
    Tomato and Lettuce Salad
    Banana Bread Pudding with Hard Sauce
    Coffee

[Illustration: "Very elegant!"]

"Very elegant!--but that's a lot to do, isn't it?" said Tea Kettle.
"Perhaps, if you read over all the new recipes, and we talk them over
when its each one's turn to commence, we can work better."

"Oh, thank you, Tea Kettle," said Mary Frances, "that is a very bright
idea." Tea Kettle glistened.

"I'll read them," continued Mary Frances, "as they come in the book."

[Illustration: "Lettuce washed, and tomatoes sliced."]

"I have the lettuce well washed, and the tomatoes sliced. All I have to
do is to dry the lettuce at dinner time, and soon I can make the

      NO. 35.--SALAD DRESSING.

    1 teaspoon salt
    ¾ teaspoon mustard
    1½ tablespoons sugar
    2 teaspoons flour
    ¾ cup sour cream (or milk)
    1 egg
    1 tablespoon vinegar
    1 teaspoon butter
    A few grains of red pepper.

      1. Beat egg.

      2. Mix mustard, sugar, flour, salt and pepper.

      3. Add egg slowly, beating well at the same time.

      4. Add milk. Beat.

      5. Cook in a sauce pan placed in boiling water.

      6. Stir until it thickens like cream. Remove from heat
      at once.

      7. Add vinegar very slowly, beating all the while.

      8. Stir in the butter.

      Serve cold on lettuce or sliced tomatoes.

"If this is cooked too long, it will 'curdle' or the be egg will become
hard and separate," said Sauce Pan; "but I'll be careful. Now I'm ready
for work."

[Illustration: "I'll be careful."]

Mary Frances laughed. "Thank you, Sauce Pan," she said, as he began to
move around, going hither and thither.

[Illustration: "Thank you, Sauce Pan."]

"The next recipes are

      NO. 36.--CREAMED NEW CABBAGE.

      1. Cut in half and wash well a young green cabbage.

      2. Cut out and throw away the hard stem part.

      3. Make ready a kettle of boiling water. Put in
      cabbage. Leave uncovered.

      4. When the water boils, throw in 1 teaspoon salt and
      ¼ teaspoon baking soda (or bicarbonate of soda).

      5. Boil gently about half hour, or until it begins to
      lose its bright green color. Lift out with skimmer.

      6. Pour over it White Sauce just before serving.

[Illustration: Young green cabbage.]

      NO. 37.--BREAD PUDDING.

      1. Cut slices of stale bread into squares of about one
      half inch.

      2. For 2 cups bread, allow

    1 pint milk (2 cups)
    2 tablespoons sugar
    2 eggs
    ¼ teaspoon vanilla

      3. Moisten bread with hot water.

      4. Butter pudding dish.

      5. Put into it the moistened bread.

      6. Beat yolks of eggs; add sugar; add milk.

      7. Pour this over the bread.

      8. Beat whites of eggs. Add 2 tablespoons powdered
      sugar. Beat well.

      9. Spread this over top of pudding.

      10. Bake in moderate oven one half hour.

      11. Serve with Hard Sauce or cream.

[Illustration: Cut slices of stale bread.]


      NO. 38.--BANANA BREAD PUDDING.

      Slice bananas over top of Bread Pudding before
      spreading on whites of eggs (No. 37).

      Serve with cream or Hard Sauce.

      NO. 39.--HARD SAUCE.

    4 tablespoons soft butter
    ¾ cup powdered sugar
    ½ teaspoon vanilla
    beaten white of 1 egg

      1. Make bowl and spoon hot with boiling water.

      2. "Cream" or rub butter and sugar together, adding
      sugar by spoonfuls.

      3. Add vanilla.

      4. Beat in the white of egg.

      5. Put in a cool place until needed.

[Illustration: To save a yolk.]

"Yes," said Baking Dish, "that is very nice; but if you use the yolk of
the egg in the pudding, it will save it, and make the pudding better."

"To save a yolk, all you have to do (it was little Egg Beater) is to
drop it into a cup and pour a little cold water over the top, to prevent
its drying. You can use it next day, if you keep it cool."

[Illustration: "Yes, that is very nice"]

"It is wonderful," said Mary Frances, "what you Kitchen People know. If
it weren't for your help, I'd be afraid to try to get this dinner. I'd
have to make only one thing a day, as Mother meant me to do."

All the Kitchen People smiled happily.

"Is that the last recipe?" asked Frying Pan.

"No," said Mary Frances. "Why, who are you?"

"I'm Frying Pan, of the great Pan family, if you please, Miss," answered
he.

"Well! Well! Good friend," smiled Mary Frances, looking at her book,
"your turn has come!"

[Illustration: Smiled happily]

      NO. 40.--PAN-BROILED BEEFSTEAK.

      1. Heat an empty frying pan to blue heat, or until it
      smokes. _No greasing is necessary._

      2. Put in the steak.

      3. Cook half minute.

      4. Turn on other side.

      5. Cook about 4 minutes.

      6. Turn, and cook about 5 minutes longer.

      7. Place on a hot platter, and spread with butter.

      8. Sprinkle with a little pepper and salt, and 1
      tablespoon finely chopped parsley.

      9. Squeeze over it a little lemon juice.

      10. Cover with another platter.

      11. Remove top platter just before serving.

      NOTE.--Mutton or Lamb Chops are pan-broiled in the
      same way.

[Illustration: "I'm Frying Pan."]

"That's it!" cried Frying Pan, delighted. "That's as good as broiling,
though it took people a long time to find it out."

"It is not!" cried Gridiron Broiler angrily clicking his wires. "It is
not, Spider!"

"For shame!" said Mary Frances. "Don't call names!"

"He isn't calling names," answered Frying Pan, "that's my other name,
Frying Pan Spider."

Then to Gridiron he added, "Come, don't let's quarrel, you'll admit
pan-broiling is very nearly as good for chops as broiling over the coals
in a broiler, and quite as good for steaks--nearly."

[Illustration: "That's it!"]

"I was just getting ready to say," said Gridiron, "you didn't mean
'quite.'"

"It's time to commence!" loudly struck in Mantel Clock.

And then Mary Frances looked on in amazement.

In walked Basket with the potatoes for the potato soup; up sprang Knife
ready to pare them; over ran Boiler Pan with some water.

"Why! Why!" exclaimed Mary Frances. "Why!"

[Illustration: "It is not!"]

"Yes!" said Tea Kettle, "we'll do everything in the recipes you've
already made. All you need to do is to make the new recipes--with our
help," which Mary Frances did.

Whenever she'd make a mistake, some one of the Kitchen People would
correct and help her.

At six o'clock all the dinner was ready to serve, and the table was set.

"Oh, thank you, dear Kitchen People," said the beaming little girl;
"this is the happiest time of my life."

[Illustration]

[Illustration: "They're grand!" chuckled Auntie Rolling Pin. "Can you
bake them?"]

[Illustration: "YOU DEAR LOVELY CHILD," CRIED MOTHER.]




CHAPTER XXVI

MOTHER'S SURPRISE


AFTER one last look, Mary Frances, hearing the sound of carriage wheels,
ran to answer the door before the bell rang; but Billy was there, too,
and they opened the door together.

"Oh, Mother!" cried Mary Frances; "you dear, darling Mother! What a
'cry-baby' I am!" (as the tears rolled down her cheeks, and Mother
kissed her and Billy and Father again and again) "What a 'cry-baby!'"

"Which she is not!" declared Billy. "Tell Mother,--Mary Frances, I can't
wait for you to tell your secret!"

"A secret?" smiled Mother. "A secret, Mary Frances?"

[Illustration: "A secret?"]

"Oh, how good something smells!" said Mother. "It makes me hungry."

"Come right out, then," said Mary Frances, bowing, "Dinner is Served."

[Illustration: "You dear, darling Mother!"]

"Here?" asked her mother. "I im-ag-ined we'd go over to Aunt Maria's."

"No, Mother, dear," laughed Mary Frances, happily; "it's the 'surprise'
for you." And they went into the dining-room.

"Wh--wh--why! how did this happen?" asked Mother. "Where did this feast
come from?"

Everybody laughed and talked at the same time.

"Mary Frances is guilty," laughed Billy; and Mary Frances "owned up."

"Mother," said she, bringing her worn and somewhat soiled little cook
book and putting it in her Mother's lap, "I've made everything! I've
gone 'all through' my book! I got dinner to-night!--that's your
surprise."

[Illustration: "How did this happen?"]

[Illustration: "I've made everything!"]

"My own dear, lovely child!" said Mother. "You dear, precious
baby-woman!" And taking Mary Frances in her lap, she hugged and kissed
her again and again.

       *       *       *       *       *

"I'm awfully sorry I couldn't exactly explain about you--you dear
Kitchen People," whispered Mary Frances, going out to bid them
good-night. "If it hadn't been for you, I never, never could have done
it,--my dear, dear, friends."

"You'll not need us soon again," said Tea Kettle, sadly. "We're
sorry--yet we're glad that your mother will take our place as teacher
now."

"Will you help me when I do need you?" asked Mary Frances.

"When you do," they promised, and she threw them a kiss.

"Good-night, little Miss," they cried; and when she turned round again,
they looked just like any or-din-ary kitchen utensils.

For a minute she felt very lonely; then, remembering, she said gladly,
"But they promised!"

[Illustration]

[Illustration: "Oh, Mother!" cried Mary Frances.]

       *       *       *       *       *

Transcriber's Notes:

Obvious punctuation errors repaired.

Page vii, "Buscuits" changed to "Biscuits" (Baking Powder Biscuits)

The following corrections are all made to illustration captions. As this
was only possible to make in the txt version, these corrections do not
appear in the HTML version.

Page 58, illustration, "scacely" changed to "scarcely" (I can scarcely)

Page 67, illustration, "whisper" changed to "whispered" (Sauce Pan
whispered)

Page 95, illustration, two instances of "riblon" were retained on the
assumption that it is an example of Mary Francis' spelling in her
handwritten invitation.

Page 98, illustration, "Biscuts" changed to "Biscuits" (Baking Powder
Biscuits)

Page 124, illustration, "creace" changed to "crease" (Make creace
through the)

Page 124, illustration, "loke" changed to "look" (Then it will look
like)

Page 139, illustration, "pan" changed to "Pan" (Teased Sauce Pan)





End of Project Gutenberg's The Mary Frances Cook Book, by Jane Earye Fryer