Trials and Confessions of a Housekeeper | Page 6

As I looked in, the sound of my feet on the floor caused

her to start. She was standing near a window, and at my appearance she
hurriedly concealed something under her apron.
"Kitty," said I, "we are to have company to dine with us to-day. Mr.
Smith will send home a turkey, which you must dress and cook in the
best manner. I will be down during the morning to make some lemon
puddings. Be sure to have a good fire in the range, and see that all the
drafts are clear."
Kitty promised that every thing should be right, and I went up stairs. In
due time the marketing came home. About eleven o'clock I repaired to
the kitchen, and, much to my surprise, found all in disorder.
"What in the world have you been doing all the morning?" said I,
feeling a little fretted.
Kitty excused herself good naturedly, and commenced bustling about to
put things to rights, while I got flour and other articles necessary for my
purpose, and went to work at my lemon puddings, which were, in due
time, ready for the oven. Giving all necessary directions as to their
baking, and charging Kitty to be sure to have every thing on the table
precisely at our usual hour for dining, I went up into the nursery to look
after the children, and to see about other matters requiring my attention.
Time passed on until, to my surprise, I heard the clock strike one. I had
yet to dress for dinner.
"I wonder how Kitty is coming on?" said I to myself. "I hope she will
not let the puddings get all dried up."
But, I felt too much in a hurry to go down and satisfy myself as to the
state of affairs in the kitchen; and took it for granted that all was right.
A little while afterwards, I perceived an odor as of something burning.
"What is that?" came instinctively from my lips. "If Kitty has let the
puddings burn!"

Quick as thought I turned from my room, and went gliding down stairs.
As I neared the kitchen, the smell of burned flour, or pastry, grew
stronger. All was silent below; and I approached in silence. On entering
Kitty's domain, I perceived that lady seated in front of the range, with a
brown covered pamphlet novel held close to her face, in the pages of
which she was completely lost. I never saw any one more entirely
absorbed in a book. No sign of dinner was any where to be seen. Upon
the range was a kettle of water boiling over into the fire, and from one
of the ovens poured forth a dark smoke, that told too plainly the ruin of
my lemon puddings. And, to cap all, the turkey, yet guiltless of fire or
dripping pan, was upon the floor, in possession of a strange cat, which
had come in through the open window. Bending over the still entranced
cook, I read the title of her book. It was "THE WANDERING JEW."
"Kitty!" I don't much wonder, now, at the start she gave, for I presume
there was not the zephyr's softness in my voice.
"Oh, ma'am!" She caught her breath as her eyes rested upon the cat and
the turkey. "Indeed, ma'am!" And then she made a spring towards puss,
who, nimbly eluding her, passed out by the way through which she had
come in.
By this time I had jerked open the oven door, when there came rushing
out a cloud of smoke, which instantly filled the room. My puddings
were burned to a crisp!
As for the turkey, the cat had eaten off one side of the breast, and it was
no longer fit for the table.
"Well! this is fine work!" said I, in an angry, yet despairing voice.
"Fine work, upon my word!"
"Oh, ma'am!" Kitty interrupted me by saying, "I'll run right off and buy
another turkey, and have it cooked in time. Indeed I will, ma'am! And
I'll pay for it. It's all my fault! oh dear! dear me! Now don't be angry,
Mrs. Smith! I'll have dinner all ready in time, and no one will be any
the wiser for this."

"In time!" and I raised my finger towards the kitchen clock, the hands
of which marked the period of half past one. Two o'clock was our
regular dinner hour.
"Mercy!" ejaculated the frightened cook, as she sank back upon a chair;
"I thought it was only a little past eleven. I am sure it was only eleven
when I sat down just to read a page or two while the puddings were in
the oven!"
The truth was, the "Wandering Jew," in the most exciting portion of
which she happened to be, proved