The Mary Frances cook book

by Jane Eayre Fryer

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."

"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!"

Mary Frances stepped to the door with her.