North Carolina Newspapers

A F A MIL Y N E W S P IP E R KEUTRAL IN POL IT ICS . TERMS; EDITOR & PROPRIETOR TWO SOLLIES PER1MUI. - - TT r T ' TT T IT" f -4 RALEIGH, KOUTII CAROLINA, SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1854. YUL. in U. IV. WHOLE NO. 123. WILLIAM D. COOKE, SELECT POETRY. SONG OF LABOR; THE MINER. -' The eastern sky is blushing red, The distant hill-jtop glowing ; ; " The brook i murmuring in its bed, '- In idle frolics flowing : ' 'Tis lime the pick-axe and the:spade ' And iron Tom" were ringing; And with ourselves, the mountain's stream, A song of .labor singing, r The mountain air is col and fresh : Unclouded skief bend o'er us; ! Broad placers, rich in Hidden gold, -Lie temp'tingly jiefore us : L Tfien lightly ply the pick r.nd spade With sinews strong and lusty : j A golden " p;ll" i quk-kly niada, : Wherever claims are 44 dusty." i We ask no magic Midas' wand, : ; Nor w izard-rod divining ; The pick- ixe, spade, and brawny hand Are sorcerers in mining We to'l for hard and yellow gold; No bogus bank-no'es taking; I The tank, we trust, though growing old, Will better pay by "breaking." There is no manlier life than ours, A life amid the mountains, " j- Where from the hill-sides, rich in gold, Are w:lling sparkling fountains : - A mighty army of the hills, Like eome strong giant labors j To gather spoil by earnest toil, j s And not by robbing neighbors. ' ' V' When labor closes, with tlie day, : To simple fare returning, j We gather in a merry group , i . Around the eainp-lires burning; The mountain sod our couch at night, 1 - j. The stars shinej bright above us ; . We think of home, and fill asleep - ' : To dream of those who love us. From Godey's Lady's Book. MRS. MUDLAW'S jRECIPE FOR POTATO PUDDING: Oil, GOSSIP KROM OUR foWN. BY TOE -VCTIIOB OP TU1PBEDOTT PAPERS. J The following story is not now" published for the first time; but we republish it at the re quest -of mauy subscribers, who want, it in 'an endurable Torm, and because we (wish to pre serve a, story so characteristic of the peculiar talent of its amiable writer, whose." memoir we published in our numbers for July 'and August, 1853. Mr. John Darling, a worthy and intelligent mechanic, 'who has been, for two rears past, a resident of our town, was somewhat surprised and considerably gratified one day last fall, at receiving an invitation to dine with Colone Philpot, one of the aristocracy. Mr. Darling enjoys that respect; in pur com munity which mechanical ingenuity andintegri ty united are always sure to command every where. These qualities, and a more than ordi nary degree of information, acquired by the employment of jmieh of his leisure'timein read ing, have givenliim an almost unbounded, influ ence amongst his own class. , Though 'the iti vitatioTi to Colone! P.'s created some Surprise, in his mind, he felt more disposed to be pleased at the honor ihan to (question the motives, which prompted it; for his nature is wholly, free from suspicion and the! petty feeling of jealousy which those in iiis station sometimes indulge towards the " upper ten" jfeelings with which,, we an sorrv to sav, the "-bosom of his " i " better half was frequently agitate'd-i " We have been neighbors for some time, Mr. ;.Darling,v said Colonel Philpot ; " it is time we were bitter .acquainted, Yon must come and dine socially .with inc to-morrow. Mrs. Philpot and the cliildrjen are, out of town, and I am go ing to have a few tVivuds to enliven my soli- ttrde." ' . . v' '! ' So John Darling " saved his appetite," dress ed himself in his' be-t clothes, ami, at the ap pointed hour a 4mewh'at later. one than his customary tiio-i for dining repaired to Col. ' Philpot's. ,.:''"".' lie met there several , of his associates had a fine time and-a rjrarid dinner' t the utmost hilarity and good feeling prevai d ; and Mr. 1 DaWing entertained his wife with an account of it at every meaP for several weeks "Hester, said, he one . day," jas they were -seated at a corinsh dinner, ?'did vou ever taste a potato pudding f'r "Potato uuddingl No; I. never beard of such a thing.'" -" I ' : Well, 1 wish you could, for 'tis delictus! V .. I.... .m.a 4.un I ! . ' " I wond-r .what you didii t have at Colonel PhiipotV' said Mrs. Darling. " I declare, I'm tire 1 hearing about it." .. ' " Well, I'll tell vou one tiling we didn't have we didn't have codfish. But,, that' puddipg d wish you'd learn how to make it ; it was superb !" j , "T presume so ; and I guess, if I had half a dozen servants at niy h,eJs, and a thorough trained cook into the bargain, I could have tilings superb, too. But,, as long as I have everything to do myself, and very little to. do with, I don't see how I'm to get up things in style, I wonder you can expect me to." " I don't expect you to, Hester. Ton always do things td smf my tantpi But that pudding SELECTED STORY. was excellent ; and, being made of potatoes, I thought, of course, it must be economical, and '" " Economical ! .That's all you know about it. What guiops men are! I'll warrant: it had forty different things in it, and less potatoes than anything else. I'm no hand to fuss up. I like plain cookery, for my part." " So do I, as a general thing. But then, you know, it's well to have something a little better than ordinary once in a while." M Well, if you're not satisfied with my way of doing jthifigs, you must hire a cook, or go and board out." And Mrs.. Darling put on her injured look, and remained silent during the rest of the dinner. i Hut, after all, she was not an ill-natured wo man really; and, after her husband had gone to his shop, she began to feel a little pricked in her conscience for having b en so cross at dinner. She wished she bad not gone on at such a rate. But then, John bad bored her so about that dinner at Colonel Philpot's she was out of pa tience with it. Yet what right had she to be out of patience with John ? lie never was out of patience with her, and she could but acknow ledge that he often had reason to be so. . So she resolved to make it up as soon as possible. John," said she, as she handed him a cup of tea, " I've a great notion to try that potato pudding. I believe I could make one." : "No doubt of it, Hester," said her husband ; you can do almost nny thing you try to. " I suppose it takes butter, and sugar, and eggs and spices, and so forth ; but I wish 1 knew the proportions." " It's very easy to find out all about it by calling at Colonel Philpot's. He said his wife would be delighted to get acquainted with you." "So you're told me a dozen times; but I think that, if she wanted to .get acquainted with me, she might call upon me. She's lived here longer than I have, and it. isn't my place to cdl first; and I don't believe the colonel tells the truth when he says she., wants', to get ae-i quainted with me." Well, 1 always think people mean as (hey say, and I wish you would, too, Hester." " But it's very evident that she holds herself a great deal above me. She has no reason to certainly, for ht-r family wasn't half as respecta ble as mine. Mrs. David Potter knows all about them, root and branch, and she says that Mrs. Philpot's father kept a very low tavern in Norridge, and Mrs. Philpot herself tended the bar when she wa- a girl. But, somehow. Colo nel Philpot happened to fall in love with her, and he sent her away to school, and then mar ried her." ' 44 Well, that's nothing against her, is it?" ' " No, of course -it wouldn't be, if she didn't carry her head so high now. But its always the way with such persons they never know how to bear prosperity. There would't be any thing said about her origin, if she uidu't put on such airs ; but, as long as she feels so lifted up, folks will4alk, you know." "Perhaps you don't do her justice, Hester. You know nothing about her excepting what you've heard. At any rate, it could do no harm to call upon her." After repeated conversations and discussions of this sort, Mrs. Darikig concluded to pay Mrs. Philpot a visit. She could make the 'potato pudding an excuse, and be governed by Mrs. P.'s reception in regard to fa ther intercourse. Mrs. Philpot has been, for several years past, to use her own expression, " very unfortunate in her domestics." With the exception of her, cook up to the ... time of Mrs. Darling's call she had seltlom kept one above a month, and, sometimes not as long jis that. This frequent change of servants was not so much o1' ing to Or O any unkinduess on Mrs. Philpot's part, as to the facthaitMxs. Mudlaw, her cook,, could never agree with them, litis iuuctiouary had beeu, for several years, a fixture in Colonel P.'s estab lishment ; indeed, Mrs. P. declared she could not possibly get along without her. Mrs. Mud law was, in fact, a good cook, and so entirely re lieved that lady from all care in that depart ment that, rather than part with her, she was wiiling to submit to her petty tyranny1 in every thing. The cook actually "ruled the roast" at Colonel P.'s in more than one sense. And she did not often find the subalterns of the house hold as submissive to her wishes as Mrs. Pu;l pot herself was. She contrived to quarrel them away in a short time, for sne h id only to say to P., " Well, either Bridget .or I must quit, so you may take your choice ;" and the offend ing servanl-maid was dismissed forthwith, there being uo appeal from Mrs. Mudlaw's decision. A scene of this kind had just occurred when Mrs. Darlinjr made her visit, and a 1 new raw Iiish girl had that morning been installed in place of the one discharged. The duty of this j girl was to answer the door-bell, and help Mrs. Mudlaw. In fact, the hardest and most.disa- .... n,j: - t..j. ' k.i : W nell flirs. uariiug rang, iir. L niipot was in the kitchen giving instructions to Peggy, or rather acquiescing in those which Mrs. Mudlaw. was laying down. " There goes the bell," said that important personage, and Mrs. Philpot hastened to an up per window to see who it was. Having satisfied herself, she came back and told Peggy togo and admit the lady. I . "Why don't you start, you ?" said Mrs.Mud law. ' u Well. "wbat'H I do now ?" said Peggy, whirl ing round in that bewildered way peculiar to Irish girls. " " Do!" roared Mudlaw " Don't you know Dothin! Hain't we jest been tellin' je 'twas youi duty to tend to the door-bell ? Run to the front door and let 'era in, and show 'em into the drawin'-room. You know where that is, don't you?" ' " Faith, I know that" answered Peggy, and away she ran, thanking her stars that there was at feast one thing that she knew. r " It's no one that I know, I'm: sure," said Mrs. Philpot, after Peggy bad gone; " at least, the bonnet and shawl are not familiar to me. I presume it is somebody I don't care" about seeing." " I shouldu't wonder," said Mudlaw. " But I s'pose yon couldn't do otherways, as the cur- nel has given orders that no body ain't to be re fused till after 'lection." With much confusion and toe-stubbing, the unfortunate Peggy ushered MVs. Darling into the nursery, which was also Mrs Phi I pot's ordi nary sitting-room. It was directly over the kitchen, and heated from the cooking-stove by means of a drum, or dummy, as Mrs. Mudlaw called it. Every word that was said in the kitchen could easily be heard in the nursery quite a convenience to Mudlaw, as it enabled her often to communicate with Mrs. Philpot without the troubl of going up stairs. Many an inter esting account of what she did when Mr. Mud law was living, and how they managed at Gen eral K.'s when she .was staying there, has gone up thai stove-pipe. The nursery was in a state of the greatest dis order, as was usually the case, thongh the chil dren were all out just thejJ. Sukey, the nurse girl, had taken the baby out to ride, and Philip Augustus had gone with them ; and Zoe Matilda was at school. Playthings of every description, carts, horses, -dolls, as well 'as children's books and clothes, were scattered, about the room in what Mrs. Darling called " awful confusion." But she had not time for inward comments up on this state of things, before her attention was called to (he conversation below. . "It's Mrs Darling as wishes to see ye, mum," said Peggy. ' 41 That Mrs. Darling! Did you ever!" ex claimed Mrs. Philpot. . !' ' She ain't nobody, is she said Mrs. Mud law. - ' " Nobody at all. Her husband is a cabinet maker ; but the colonel has charged it upon me to be polite to her just now. He wished me to call upon her ; but I wouldn't condescend to stoop so low as that, though he made me prom ise to treat her with attention if she called." 44 Well, I wouldn't do it, if I was you," said the cook. 44 I'd be mistress in my own house, anyhow." " But, you know, it's for his interest now. He says that Darling has a great deal of influ ence among mechaTiies can command a good many votes." "Oh, I remenibor now ! he's one of them codgers that dined here while you was away, that the curnel was jaughin' about af erwards, and tellin' you how awkward they handled the silver forks." 44 Yes; isn't it prouoking to have to be polite to. such peopld ? Well, I shall be glad when 'lection's over, for the coldnel says I may cut them all then, and I think it won't be long be fore they sink back to their own level.' And Mrs. Philpot arose with a sigh, and ascended to the draw ing-room, arranging her features into a eracious and patronizing expression "as she went. ' Mrs. Darling's feelings during this conversa tion "can be better imagined than described," as the novels would say. Her first impulse was to leave the- house without waiting for Mrs. Philpot's appearance, and she rose and made a few steps with that iutention ; but, on second thoughts, she resolved to remain, and let her know that she only came on an errand, and re sumed her seat. When Mrs. Philpot found no one in the draw ing-room sb returned to the kitchen, supposing that her visitor had gone " She's gone," said she, " w'thout waiting for me. She doesn't know enough about good so ciety to understand that a lady doesn't make ber appearance the moment she's called for 1 shouldn't wonder il'she was in the nursery all the time," said Mudlaw; 44 for I heard a stepping up there a while ago, and the children hain't got home yet. Where did you take her ty, you ?" " " Why, I tuck her in the dhrawin'-room, sure, as you tou Id me, right overbid," said Peggy, in some alarm. " You biunderin' Irish gumphead ! Don't f fio rli si wintr'-room from tip. imrserv J" 1 uu ivuw" - - j j - " - - - j - 41 Oclf! but. I thought it was the dhrawin' room ; for didn't I see the young masther a dhrawin' his cart, and wasn't Shukey a dhrawin the baby about the floore by its feet, when I went up to take wather this mornin' V There, I told you she was a born fool !' said Mudlaw, in a rage. 44 She'll never know nothing she'll never learn nothing you may as well send her off first as last." 44 Hush ! don't speak so loud?' said Mrs Philpot, in a whisper. 44 She can hear all your 8ay she has heard enough already Dear me. whatsM I do? The colouel will' be so pro voked! Hoyv could you be so dumb, Peggy Run right up and take her into -the drawing room. 'Stop ! you needn't ; you will make "Some other mistake.. I'll go myself." - In a state of mind not to be en-fied, Mrs. Phil pot hastened to .the nursery. But, as she enter tained a faint hope that the conversation below bad not penetrated through Mrs."DarliDg's bon net., she endeavored to hide her embarrassment under an affable smile, extended her hand grace fully, and drawled out a genteel welcome to her visitor. " Delighted to see you, Mrs. Darling ; but very sorry you should have been brought into the nursery " no wonder she's sorry, thought Mrs. Darling " th se raw Irish girls are so Stupid ! Walk into the partor, if yeu -please." " No, I thank you, Mrs. Philpot, I'd as soon sit here," returned Mrs. Darling. " I can only fitay a moment. I called to ask for a receipt for potato pudding. Mr. Darling tasted one when he dined with Col. Philpot, and liked it so much that hd wished me to get directions for making it." 44 Potato pudding ? Ah, yes, I recollect. Mudlaw, my cook, does make a very good plain thing that she calls a potato pudding ; but I know nothing about her manner of preparing it. I will calNier, however, and she shall tell you herself." Thereupon she pulled the bell, and Peggy shortly appeared, looking more fright ened and bewildered than ever. "Send Mudlaw here," said Mrs. Philpot. She would not have dared to address her "chief cook and bottle-washer" without the re spectful title of Mrs. ; but it was rather more grand to omit it, and she always did so when not in her hearing. "The missus said I was to send you there," said Peggy. " You send me" exclaimed the indignant cook' 44 I guess I go for your sending, it '11 be after this." Mrs. Philpot, although conversing in a con descending manner with Mrs. Durling, caught something of the cook's reply to her summons, and asked to be excused for a moment, saying that Peggy was so stupid, she feared that Mud law might not understand her, and she would go herself and send her. So she hastened down to the kitchen, where she found the head func tionary standing on her dignity. " Pretty well," said she, " if I am to be or dered round bv an Irish scullion I" 44 Mrs. Mudlaw, step here a moment, if you dease," said Mrs.; Philpot, meekly, opening the door of an adjoining room. . The offended lady vouchsafed to comply with the request, and with a stern aspect, entered the room with Mrs. Philpot. The latter closed the door for fear of being heard overhead, and began ' " What do you think, Mrs. Mudlaw ? That Mrs. Darling has come to leant how to make a potato pudding, and you'll have to go up and tell her." 44 1 sha'nt do it. I make it a point never to give my receipts to nobody." 44 1 know it ; and, I'm sure, I don't blame you. But, in this case just now I really dfcm't see how we can refuse." Well, I sha'nt do it, and that's the hull on't." Oh, do, Mrs". Mudlaw, just this once. " The Col. is so anxious to secure Darling, and he will be so angry if we offend them in any way." " But he needn't know it, need he ?" 44 He certainljT will find it out bv some means. I know it is real vexatious to you, and I would not ask it if election was over ; but now 'tis very important it may save us all trouble. The Col. is so decided, you knowl" These last words of Mrs. Philpot had an ef fect upon Mudlaw, which no wish or entreaty of that lady would have ever produced, for they suggested to her selfish mind the possibility of a dismissal from her snug birth at Col. P.'s, where she carried it with a high hand ; so she gave in. 44 Well, jest to please you and the curnel, I'll do it ;. but I wish 'lection was over." Mrs. Philpot returned to the nursery, and Mrs. Mudlaw took off her apron, changed her cap for one trimmed with pink ribbons and blue roses, gave, numerous orders to Peggy, and fol lowed. She was a short, fat woman,' with a broad, red face such a person as a stranger would call the very personification of good na ture ; though I have never found fat people to be any more amiable than lean onas. Certain ly, Mrs! Mudlaw was not a very sweet-tempered woman. On this occasion, she felt rather more cross than usual, forced, as she was, to give one of her receipts to a nobody. She, however, knew the necessity of assuming a pleasant de meanor at that time, and accordingly entered the nursery with an encouraging grin on her blazing countenance. . Mrs. Philpot, fearing lest her cook's familiarity might belittle her mistress in the eyes of Mrs. Darling, and again asking to belexcused for a. short time, went into the library, a nondescript apartment, dignified by that name, which communicated with the nursery-, The moment she left her seat, a large rocking-chair, Mudlawdumped herself down in it, exclaiming 44 Miss Philpot says you want to get my recerpt for potater. puddin' ?" 44 Yes," replied Mrs. Darling. 44 1 would be obliged to you for the directions." And she took out of her pocket a pencil and paper to write it down. 44 Well, 'tis an excellent puddin'," said Mud law, complacently ; 44 for my part, I like it about as well as any puddin' I make, and that's sayjn' a good deal, I can tell you, for I understand ma- kin' a great variety. Taint so awful rich as some, to be sure. Now, there's the Cardinelle puddin', and the Washington puddin', and the Lay Fayette puddin', and the " i. i , 44 Yes. Mr. Darling liked it very much tow do you make it l" u i ,M WaL, I peel my potatert nd bile "ea, iiL&3f water. I always let the water bile before I put 'em in. Some folks let their potaters lie and sog in the water ever so long, before it biles, but I think it spiles 'em. I always make it a pint to have the water bile " 44 now many potatoes ?" Wal, I always take about as many potaters as I think I shall want. .I'm generally governed by the size of the puddin' I want to make. If it's a large puddin', why I take quite a number, but if it's a small one, why, then I don't take as many. As quick as they're done, I take 'em up-and mash 'em as fine as I can get em. Fm always very particular about that some folks ain't; they'll let their potaters be full o' lumps. I never do ; if there's anything I hate, its lumps in potaters. I won't have 'em. Whether I'm mashin' potaters for puddin's or for vegetable use, I mash it til! there ain't the size of a lump in it. If I can't git it fine without sifting, why, I sift it. Once in a while, when I'm otherways engaged, I sat the gerl to mashin' on't. Wal, she'll give it three or four jams, and come along. 4 Miss Mudlaw, is the potater fine enough ?' Jubiter Rammin ! that's the time I come as near gettin' mad as I ever allow my self to come, for I make it a pint never to have lumps." " Yes, I know it is very important. What next?" "Wal, then I put in my butter; in winter time I melt it a little, not enough to make it ily, but jest so's to soften it." 44 How much butter does it require ?" 44 Wal, I always take butter accordin' to the size of the puddin' ; a large puddin' needs a good sized lump o' butter, but not too much. And I'm always partie'lar to have my butter fresh and sweet. Some folks think it's no mat ter what sort o' butter they use for cookin', but I don't. Of all things,. I do despise strong, frothy, rancid butter. For pity's sake, have your butter fresh." " How much butter did you sav ?" " Wal, that depends, as I said before, on what sized puddin' you want to make. And another thing that regulates the quantity of butter I use is the 'mount o' cream I 'take. I alwavs put in more or less cream ; when I have abundance o' cream, I put in considerable, and when it's scarce, why, I use more butter than I otherways should. But you must be partie'lar notto get in too much cream. There's a great deal in havin' jest the right quantity ; and so 'tis with all the ingrejiences. There ain't a better pud din', when it's made right, but tain't everybody that makes 'em right. I remember when I lived in Tuckertown, I was a visitin' to Squire Hum preys's one time I went in the first company in Tuckertown dear me ! this is a changeable world. Wal, they had what they called a po tater puddin' for dinner. Good land ! Of all the puddin's! I've often occurred to that pud din' since, and wondered what the Squire's wife was a thinkin' of when she made it. I wa'nt obleeged to do no such things in them days, and didn't know how to do anything as well as I do now. Necessitv s the mother of inven tion. Experience is the best teacher after all-" 44 Do you sweeten it ?" " Oh, yes, to be sure it needs sugar, the best o' sugar, too ; not this wet, soggy, brown sugar. Some folks never think o' usin' good sugaro cook with, but for my part I won't have no other." " How much sugar do you take ?" "'Wal, that depends altogether on whether you calculate to have sass for it some like sass, you know, and then some agin don't. So, when I calculate for sass, I don't take so much sugar ; and when I don't calculate for sass, I make it sweet enough to eat without sass. Poor Mr. Mudlaw was a great hand for puddin' sass. I always made it for him good, rich sass, too. I could afford to have things rich before he was uufortinate in bisness," (Mudlaw went to State's prison for horse-stealing.) 44 1 like sass myself, too : and the curnel and the children are all great sass hands, and so I generally calculate for sass, though Miss Philpot prefers the puddin' without sass, and perhaps you'd prefer it with out. If so, you must put in sugar accordingly. I always make it a pint to have 'em sweet when they're to be eat without sass." " And don't you use eggs ?" 44 Certainly, eggs is one o' the principal ingre jiences." . "How many does it require ?" 44 Wal, when eggs is plenty, I always use plenty ; and when they're scarce, why I can do with less, tho' I'd ruther have enough : and be sure to beat 'em well. It does distress me, the way some folks beat-eggs. T always want to have 'em thoroughly beat for everything I use 'em in. It tries my patience most awfully to have anybody round me that won't beat eggs enough. A spell ago we had a darkey to help in the kitchen. One day I was a makin' sponge cake, and havin' occasion to go up stairs after something, I sot her to beatin' the eggs. Wal, what do you think the critter done ? Why she whisked 'em round a few times, and turned 'em right onto the other ingrejiences that I'd got weighed out. When I come back and saw what she'd done, my gracious, I came as nigh to losin' my temper as I ever allow myself to come Twas awful provokin". I Always want the kitchen help to do things as I want to have 'em done. 1 But I never saw a darkey ; yet that ever done anything right. They're a lazy, slaughterin' set. To think o' her spihV that cake so, when Td told her over and over agin that I -always made it a pint to have my eggs 44 Yes, it was too bad. Do vou use fruit in the pudding?" " Wal, that's just as you please. You'd bet ter be governed by your own judgment as to that. Some like currants and some raisins, and then agin some don't like nary one. If you use raisins, for pity's sake pick out the stuns. It's awful to have a body's teeth come grindin' onto a raisin stun. I'd rather have my cars boxt any time." " How many raisins must I take ?" 44 Wal, not too many it's apt to make the puddin' heavy, you know ; and when it's hea vy, it ain't so good and light. I am a great hand" " Y"es. What do you use for flavoring ?" "There agin you'll have to exercise your own judgment. Some likes one thing, and some an other, you know. If you go the hull figger on temperance, why some other kind 'o flavorin' 'II do jist as well as wine or brandy, I s'pose. But whatever you make up your mind to Use, be partie'lar to git in a sufficiency, or else your puddin' '11 be flat. I always make it a pint " " How long must it bake!" "There's the great thing after all. The ba kin' 's the main pint. A potater puddin', of all puddin's, has got to be baked jest right. For if it bakes a leetle too much, it's apt to dry it up ; and then agin if it don't bake quite 'nough its sure to taste potatery and that spiles it, you know." " How long should you think " Wal, that depends a good deal on the heat o your oven, it yon have a very hot oven, it won't do to leave it too long ; aud if your oven ain't so very hot, why, you'll be necessiated to leave it in longer." " Weil, ho w can I tell anything about it ?" " Why, I always let 'em bake till I think they're done that's the safest way. I make it a pint to have 'em baked exactly right. It's very important in all kinds o' bakin' cake, pies, bread, puddin's, and everything to have em baked precisely long enough, and jest right. Some folks' don't stem to have no system at all about their bakin'. One time they'll burn their bread to a crisp, and then agin it'll be so slack tain't fit to eat. Nothing hurt's "my feelin's so much as to see things overdone or slack-baked. H- re only t'other day, Lorry-, the girl that Miss Philpot dismissed yesterday, come within an ace o' letting my bread burn up. My back was turned a minnit, and what should she do but go to stuffin' wood into the stove at the awfullest rate? If I hadn't a found it out jest when I did, my bread would a ben spilt as sure as I'm a live woman. Jubiter Rammin, I was about as much decomposed as I ever allow myself to git. I told Miss Philpot I wouldn't stan, it no longer one of us must quit either Lorry or me must walk." 44 So you've no rule, about baking this pud ding ?" " No rule," aaid Mudlaw, with a look of in tense surprise, 44 Yes," said Mrs. Darling, "you seem to have no rule for anything about it." " No rule"' screamed the indignant cook, start ing up, while her red face grew ten times redder, " and her little black"" eyes snapped with rage. "No rules !" and she planted herseJf in front of Mrs. Darling, erecting her fleshy figure to its full height ot majestic dumpiness, and extending the forefinger of right hand till it reached an alarming propinquity to that lady's nose. " No rules, do you tell me I've no rules. Me, that's cooked in the first families for 15 years, and al ways giv satisfaction, to be told by such as you' that I hain't no rules !', Thus far had Mudlaw proceeded, and I know not to what length she would have "allowed herself" to o, had not the sudden eu trance of Col. Philpot interrupted her. He be'n g a per son of whom she stood somewhat in awe, parti cularly 44 jast at this time," she broke off in the midst of her tirade, and casting a look of inef fable disgust at Mrs. Darling, retreated to her. own dominions to vent her fury upon poor Peg gy, who bad done everything wrong during her absence. While Col. Philpot was expressing his extreme satisfaction at seeing Mrs. Darling, Mrs. Philpot emerged from the library, where she had been shaking in . her shoes during the interview be tween that lady and Mudlaw. "Matilda, my dear," said the Col., "this is quite an unexpected pleasure, for really Mrs. Darling, we began to fear that you did not intend to cultivate us. ,-. r - " I did not come for that purpose," replied Mrs. Darling, who, now that 6he saw through Col. Philpot, despised bim thoroughly, and was not. afraid to let htm know it, notwithstanding he belonged to the aristocracy of our town,. 44 1 came on an errand, and your-cook has got very angry witb me for tome reason, I scarcely know what.'4 " Poor Mudlaw," said Mrs. Philpot, anxious to icreen her main .stay from the Colonel's dis pleasure, yet feeling the necessity of some apo logy to Mrs. Darling. "Poor Mudlaw, I don't think she intended to be rude.". ' M Wb at has tho cook been rude to Mrs. Darling !" exclaimed Col. P. . f -; Not rude, exactly, dear; but you know she is so Sensitive about everything connected with her department, and she fancied that Mrs. Darl ing called her skill in question, and became somewhat excited.'V ' " Quite excited,! should call it," said Mrs.D. ithasrnile;- " - ' ' ' An3 she has dared to treat MrsV Darling -with rudely !" said Col. P., apparently much agitated. 14 Shameful disgraceful the wretch " shall suf fer for it. To think that a lady like Mrs. Dart ing should be insulted by a cook, in my house, too." f ; . " " ' I " And just before election, too ; it is a pity !?! said Mrs. Darling quietly, as she rose, and wis! ing them good mousing, departed, leaving Co! Philpot lost in astonishment. Her last remar! rendered necessary some explanation from Mrs P. She was. compelled to repeat some part of the conversation that had taken place in the kitchen, which, though softened down as much as possible, was .sufficient to rouse the Col.'s in dignation to the highest pitch, for he saw at once that Darling was lost. He gave his silljy wife a bearty blowing up, but upon Mudlaw his wrath fell .heaviest. No entreaties of her mis tress could save her : she was commanded tjo quit the premises, to troop forthwith " for being rude to visitors." But Mudlaw knew well enough the real reason of her dissmissal, and when she went forth in rage and sorrow, she found sonie consolation in spreading it far and wide, thereby making'Col. Philpot very ridiculous in the eyiU of the community. J ' 44 Well, I'm surprised, Hester," said Jouji Darling, after his wife had given him a circum stantial account of her visit. . "And I'm rlgit sorry, too, to have my good opinion of a man knocked in the head so, for I did think well pf Col. Philpot. I really believed we couldn't send -a better man to Congress. But it won't do. 1A man that can. stoop to such conduct isn't fit to go there. I can't vote for him, and my influ ence, what little I have, must go against him.--p If he gets there, it must bo without any help from John Darling." 'j Cot. Philpot did Tiot go to Congress, and what made his defeat the more aggravating was t o fad that his oppopent was elected by the suiill majority of three votes. Ai.d so Col. Philftot lost ,his election ; and Mrs. rbilpot lost Her cook ; and Mr. Darling lost his esteem forCiol. Philpot, and ail thiough the over-politeness(f the latter. Mrs.; Darling gained something. Not much formation in regard to the potato pudding, cer- j tainly ; but she gained some knowledge of me internal arrangements, of Mrs. Philpot's house- hold, wincn proved ot great service to her, lor she confesses to John that she was never so con tented with htr own home and her own hus band as she has been since she made that me morable call at Col. Philpot's. MISCELLANEOUS. THE PRAIEIE FIGHT? BY MBS. E. 1". SWIFT. It was that most delicious season of the year, the 4 Indian Summer,' when sealed by some travelling companions on the aeck of the steam er Otto, bound for the Upper Mississippi,- perceived three Indians in earnest parley with the captain of the boat. They; were fine specT- meus of exact symmetry. Their keen dark eyes glittered, with excitement, and, with their rifles in their bands, and each one foot advanced, tley appeared as if preparing to . spring overheard into the deep and turbid waters of the river. I With furious gestures they point to the prairie, that lay stretched out before the view until! it seemed to meet the glowing 6ky. Covered wi th rich grass and wild flowerslonely and wild it looked like a vast extent of silence and soli tude. But as we gazed through the skimmer-. ing mist that, like a trasparent veil over the fuce of beauty, enveloped its green luxuriance, we ob served for in the single file at a. rapid rate, j They were Sioux, whose tribe at that time were in deadly feud with the Chippeways. The Indians on board the Otto were chiefs of that . nation returning to their homes. As soonas the Chippeway s saw the Sioux, they knew fnom their m5de of travelling that they had beeni on a war expedition to some of their villages; hence their impassioned gestures . and pleadings to the captain to be set on shore. They said they wod take their scaips irom tueir xoes, ana re- j join the boat some distance ahead. . j ; After urging their request for sometime, the panrain nf the. Otto complied with it. and thev - - r , .. InnJal nnfl VII 1T1 flll'V Tilt it Cf til PIT enemies. At- the solicitation of many of the pas sengers, backed by the potent influence of snn dry odd dollars, which found their way into the rough hands of the captain, her consented to be boat's slackening her speed, that we might view the result. - . , .,; .... ,. ,? -'-y. The Chippeways crept stealthily but swiftly along the shore,' concealing tbemselves in jfjhe brushwood that lined the , banks of the "Tri until they came" near enough to the Sioux, jind then, with a spring like a panther's, aad a whoop that filled : the air 'with its murderous Vcho.h'n an instant each rifle brought down a W Three of the' Sioux fall dead upon the prairie. In jjfe turn' thr Sioux, though taken by surprise and thrown off their guard,' turned in puwuit of jthe Chippeways, who fled for, their fives, deUrmin' ed to avenge the death of their fallen coui panions 'y7.t., intCUSO OXCIIiCIUUJIi VU UUWU IUB DICBUUOI was bevond description. 1 Ladies were borne half fainting with terror to. the cabin ; mothers, were screaming ! for their children'; children crying and nurses scold;ng all dreading instant,mas- -r :' it. --."-';":' t-iV- tIj;!-.- sacre irom meir near proximity ia tiie jjiuims Men gathered in groups on the deck ; some bet tig high on the result of the fight; some blam- bg the captain 'tor permitting murder ;otiers