ONE THING AT A TIME
Genial Master (under the painful necessity of discharging his coachman). "I'm afraid, Simmons, we must part. The fact is, I couldn't help noticing that several times during the last month you have been—sober; and I don't believe a man can attend properly to the drink if he has driving to do!"
Order is a great essential to a cook, who should keep everything in its place, taking care to keep herself as snugly in her place as possible. Never connive at dishonesty in others, but keep yourself to yourself; for, if you rob your mistress, the least return you can make is not to sanction others in doing so.
Never go into any place where a cat is not kept. This useful domestic animal is the true servants' friend, accounting for the disappearance of tit-bits, lumps of butter, and other odd matters, as well as being the author of all mysterious breakages. What the safety-valve is to the steam-engine, the cat is to the kitchen, preventing all explosions or blowings up that might otherwise occur in the best regulated families.
Having laid down some general principles for the guidance of cooks, we give a few maxims that cannot be too strictly attended to.
1. Keep yourself clean and tidy if you can. If your fingers are greasy wipe them on your hair, which thus acquires a polish.
2. When a joint comes down from dinner, cut off what you intend for your supper. If cut while the joint is warm, it does not show that it has been cut. Relieve it also from all superfluous fat, which will of course go into your grease-pot.
A Warm Welcome.—Distracted Hostess (to Uncle George, who has arrived unexpectedly). "Oh, I'm so glad you have come! The conjuror I had engaged hasn't turned up. So you'll do some tricks to amuse the children, won't you?"