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Show f Making i ' Cookies By CLARA DEL AFIELD (, 1824, Weitern Ncwapaper Union.) "Ct000 afternoon Urs- Johnson. I Just dropped in to say how d'ye do, us being next-door' neighbors so to speak, rue living over the way, "and . you being a newcomer to our town. And what might you be doing? Making Mak-ing cookies? Uni-um. They smell good. No thank you. Mrs. Johnson, I never eat between meals. "Benutlful children those are of yours. Two boys and a girl? Oh, three boys and two girls. It's nice when the family Is split up so even ns that, Isn't It, though I must say five children Is rather a lot In these day a. I never had any. My grandmother she was a Miss Tlbbets of Boston ' she bad twelve. Yes, families were larger then. - "Do you know, my dear, I've called In to give you a bit of advice. I've noticed how you slave for those two boys and girls of yours Oh, yes, tliree boys and two girls. It's so hard to remember details like that, Isn't It, though you being the mother, of course you wouldn't have any trouble. I remember when . my Cousin LI 11a had twins. Nobody could tell 'em apart, and I suld, 'For goodness' sake, Lllla, what are you going to do when they get mixed up?' Their names were Jean and Joan, Queer names to give twins, don't you think, Mrs. Johnson? My husband said It was like a team of horses. He Is so furiny sometimes, when he isn't In a bad humor. Well what was I saying? Yes I said, 'Why don't you decide which Is which and tie a red thread on one's arm and a green one on the other?' But Lllla knew them quite well, without the slightest" trouble. "Well, I was saying? Oh, yes, I've noticed how you make a slave of yourself for those children. How? Well, take your making cookies, for example. A fine warm autumn day like this, when you should be out en-Joying en-Joying yourself, and here you are at home, making cookies for your children. chil-dren. "Home from school hungry? Of course they'll come home hungry. But If I had my way I'd give them a nice piece of bread and Jam, or maybe sirup. Children like that Just as well, and they don't grow up with any pampered pam-pered notions. "And how long do you say that great pile of cookies will last them? Depends upon how hungry they are? Funny, now, I didn't look on It In that way. I should say, though, that they'll be mighty hungry children If they can get through" that lot In a wek. Yes, I can see they do look light, but still, cookies are cookies, and little stomachs stom-achs won't stretch forever. "Well, that sounds like your children chil-dren on the porch, Mrs. Johnson, and so I shall have to go. Yes, I am very fond of children, only my head's not very strong, and they're apt to be upsetting. up-setting. I'm sure I hope they'll like your cookies. "But I do want to Impress on you before I go, Mrs. Johnson, that It doesn't pay to make yourself a slave to your children. Let them grow up with Independent Ideas, not learn always to turn to and rely npon their mother. The idea of your sitting here on a fine summer's day like this making cookies. And I suppose next week It will be the same story over again. "I do hope you won't mind my being frank about It how de do, my dear I Just home from school? my being frank, but quite a number of the neighbors have noticed the way you work from morning till night and pitied you for It, and so I thought I'd tnke It upon myself to speuk to you. Oh, Mrs. Johnson, I wonder If you have such a thing as a hammer In the house that you could lend me? Yes, my Uncle Hob Is coming to put up some pictures for me, and I'll bring It right back as soon as he's finished with It. In the larder? Oh, thank you. Yea, I'll be back wlfiiln an hour or so." "Here's your hammer, Mrs. Johnson, and I am so much obliged to you for the loan of it. I've been wondering whether you thought I took too much liberty this afternoon in mentioning no? Why, thnt's very nice of you. You seem quite a busy woman still, though. Why oh, I suppose you've hidden them away somewhere? Why, those cookies I What, you mean to tell me that they've eaten them all? All of them? That whole pile? Inside of nn hour and a half? Wliat'i that? It won't spoil their dinner? And what' are you doing there? Did I henr you aright, Mrs. Johnson? Did you Bay that you were making cookies?" |
