<h2>CHAPTER II</h2>
<div class='chaptertitle'>TOASTER MAN</div>
<div class='cap'>IN ran the dearest, sweetest little girl.</div>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i017a.jpg" width-obs="115" height-obs="679" alt="In ran the dearest, sweetest little girl." title="" /></div>
<p>"Oh, you poor Tea Kettle!" she cried. "You'll
boil to death!" and she pulled it over to the
cooler part of the stove.</p>
<p>Tea Kettle simmered his thanks.</p>
<p>"What can be burning?" she asked. "What can
it be?" and she looked all over the stove.</p>
<p>"I do believe it's something in the oven!"</p>
<p>As she pulled open the oven door, out rolled the
burnt potatoes.</p>
<p>"Now," she said, "now, for the toast," and she
caught up her mother's apron from a hook, and tied
it just under her arms, crossing the strings in front.</p>
<p>The Kitchen People held their breath to see what
would happen next.</p>
<p>Suddenly she clapped her hands.</p>
<p>"The very thing!" she cried, and ran out of the
room. In a minute she was back, with a little book in
her hands.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i017b.jpg" width-obs="337" height-obs="200" alt="Out rolled the burnt potatoes." title="" /></div>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>"Mother was asleep," she whispered as though her
mother was still in danger of being wakened by any
sound—"but I just tip-toed up to the table, and got
the book she's been making for my cooking lessons.
This must be it—it's Mother's writing:</p>
<div class="figright"> <ANTIMG src="images/i018a.jpg" width-obs="112" height-obs="257" alt="With a little book in her hands" title="" /></div>
<div class='center'>
'The Mary Frances' First Cook Book.'<br/></div>
<p>I believe—I just believe it tells about toast. Yes,
here it is, right on the first page:</p>
<div class='center'><span class="smcap">No. 1.—Plain Toast.</span></div>
<div class="blockquot">
<p>1. Cut stale bread into slices, about ½ inch thick.</p>
<p>2. Remove crusts.</p>
<p>3. Put into wire toaster.</p>
<p>4. Hold over a fire, moving to and fro until a golden brown color.</p>
<p>5. Turn, and brown the other side.</p>
</div>
<p>"Let's see if there is any stale bread. I should
think so! a whole loaf! Now, I'll cut two slices, and
since I want it to be very nice, I'll cut off the crusts.
I guess that will be enough; oh, how I wish somebody
was here to help me."</p>
<p>"There <i>is</i> somebody—<i>I'll</i> help!"</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i018b.jpg" width-obs="403" height-obs="228" alt=""There is somebody—I'll help!"" title="" /></div>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>Mary Frances looked round in amazement. Seeing
no one, "Why,—where? Why,—who are <i>you?</i>" she
asked.</p>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i019a.jpg" width-obs="128" height-obs="265" alt=""And I!"" title="" /></div>
<p>"I'm Tea Kettle, Miss," said Tea Kettle, lifting
his lid very politely. "I'm gladly at your service, if
you please."</p>
<p>"And I!" It was Sauce Pan.</p>
<p>"And I!" cried Boiler Pan.</p>
<p>Mary Frances could scarcely believe her ears.</p>
<p>"My," she said, "can you all talk? and will you
help me? Isn't that grand!—But how you did s'prise
me! Won't we have a lovely time!"</p>
<p>"Look at the fire! Look at the fire!"</p>
<p>"What a tiny voice!" thought the little girl,—but
she quickly took the lids off the stove. Some very
bright coals stared up at her.</p>
<p>"The fire is fine," she said aloud, and she looked all
about to find where the voice came from, but she saw no
one.</p>
<p>"Look down, please!" said the same tiny voice,
this time very distinctly.</p>
<p>There stood the funniest little wire man, no higher
than the little girl's elbow.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i019b.jpg" width-obs="334" height-obs="202" alt=""And I!"" title="" /></div>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>"You didn't see me," laughed the little man,
"but I know how to make toast."</p>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i020a.jpg" width-obs="100" height-obs="308" alt=""You didn't see me"" title="" /></div>
<p>"Of course!" said the little girl, "you're—why,
you're the Toaster!"</p>
<p>"Yes, ma'am," said the little man, with a bow,
"at your service, Miss Mary Frances."</p>
<p>"Try me, and see what I can do," went on Toaster
Man. "Just put a slice of that bread into my head,
and hold me over the fire."</p>
<p>Mary Frances leaned over and gravely put a slice
of bread in Toaster. He looked so funny standing
there that she wanted to smile, but thought it wouldn't
be exactly polite to so helpful a friend. But when he
said, "Slide up my collar," in a thick, smothery sort
of voice, she laughed aloud before she could stop, but
turned the sound into a cough so quickly that Toaster
Man looked up at her queerly only a moment; and
she pulled the ring up until it held the bread tightly
in place.</p>
<p>"Now, lift me up over the fire!" he demanded.</p>
<p>Mary Frances hesitated—she couldn't tell where
to take hold of him.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i020b.jpg" width-obs="324" height-obs="227" alt=""Slide up my collar."" title="" /></div>
<p>"Never mind my legs," he said, as though he read<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</SPAN></span>
her thoughts, "I'll see to them," and he folded them
up so close that when Mary Frances lifted him up, she
could find no sign of them.</p>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i021a.jpg" width-obs="116" height-obs="191" alt="She opened her book." title="" /></div>
<p>"Oh, you'll be burnt!" she cried, as she held what
Toaster Man had called his head over the bright fire.</p>
<p>"Not I," he laughed, "not I. I like it. It's the
toast that'll be burnt, if I'm not turned over soon."</p>
<p>Mary Frances took the hint, and turned Toaster
carefully over.</p>
<p>"Not too close to the coals at first, Little Miss,"
said the little fellow. "Now,—closer! That's it!"</p>
<p>"How is it?" he asked, as Mary Frances took him
from the fire.</p>
<p>"What a beautiful piece of toast!" she cried.</p>
<p>"Grand-if-i-cent!" exclaimed Toaster. "Now, you
do the next piece without my saying a word—but
first spread that with butter, and put it in the oven.
Now, you read in your book, and see if that's not the
way to make Buttered Toast."</p>
<p>Mary Frances opened her book.</p>
<p>"Read it out!" said the little man.</p>
<p>"When I speak that way, Mother tells me to say
'Please,'" said she.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i021b.jpg" width-obs="402" height-obs="194" alt=""Grandificent!" exclaimed Toaster." title="" /></div>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>"Beg pardon," said the little man, "Please."</p>
<p>So Mary Frances read:</p>
<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">No. 2.—Buttered Toast.</span></p>
<p>1. Spread toasted bread evenly with butter.</p>
<p>2. Pile one slice on top of the other, and cover with a bowl.</p>
<p>3. Place in oven.</p>
</div>
<p>"That's it! that's what I told you," cried the little
fellow. "I'm always right about toast. Can you make
the next slice without a word more?"</p>
<p>"I think so," said Mary Frances; and she didn't
utter a sound until she had taken the second piece out
of Toaster.</p>
<p>"What a beautiful piece of toast!" exclaimed
Toaster. "It's better than the first."</p>
<div class="figright"> <ANTIMG src="images/i022a.jpg" width-obs="114" height-obs="290" alt=""What a beautiful piece of toast!"" title="" /></div>
<p>"Oh, I don't think——" Mary Frances started.</p>
<p>"I know!" snapped the little man. "Don't contradict
me about toast! By the way," he asked,
"why don't you make it into Milk Toast for your
mother? it would be softer, and more palat—palat—"</p>
<p>"Pal-a-table," said Mary Frances.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i022b.jpg" width-obs="263" height-obs="131" alt="Buttered toast." title="" /></div>
<p>"Yes," said he, "you know a good deal for a little<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</SPAN></span>
girl,"—and he began to choke. Mary Frances patted
him hard.</p>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i023a.jpg" width-obs="104" height-obs="216" alt="Cup of milk" title="" /></div>
<p>"A piece of toast?" she asked.</p>
<p>"No," he exclaimed in-dig-nant-ly, "a long word
always makes me choke. That's why I seldom use
them. Now, please read about Milk Toast."</p>
<p>"If you know——" sug-gest-ed Mary Frances.</p>
<p>"Well, it's more like real grown-up people to have
it out of a book," said the little man. "Go on!"</p>
<p>And Mary Frances read from her little Cook
Book.</p>
<div class='center'><span class="smcap">No. 3.—Milk Toast.</span></div>
<div class="blockquot">
<div class='center'>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="ingredients">
<tr><td align='left'>1 tablespoon butter</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'>1 tablespoon flour</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'>1 cup milk</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'>¼ teaspoon salt</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'>3 slices toast</td></tr>
</table></div>
<p>1. Make ready the toast.</p>
<p>2. Heat the milk until smoking hot.</p>
<p>3. Melt the butter in a small saucepan.</p>
<p>4. Throw the flour into the butter. Cook until it bubbles a little,
stirring all the time. Take from the fire.</p>
<p>5. Pour 1/3 the milk upon the butter and flour, a little at a time,
stirring with the back of a spoon to press out the
lumps.</p>
<p>6. Place over fire, and gradually stir in the remaining milk.</p>
</div>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i023b.jpg" width-obs="300" height-obs="198" alt="Measuring Cup & Pitcher" title="" /></div>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</SPAN></span></p>
<div class="blockquot"><p>7. Add the salt. Let boil a minute.</p>
<p>8. Put slices of toast in a heated dish; pour the sauce over and
serve hot.</p>
</div>
<div class="blockquot"><p>All measures are made level with the top of cup or spoon. To
measure level spoonful:</p>
<p>Fill spoon heaping full, and level it off with the back of a knife.</p>
<p>For half spoonful, cut through lengthwise.</p>
<p>For quarter spoonful, divide a half spoonful across.</p>
<p>A saltspoon is 1/8 teaspoon.</p>
</div>
<div class="figright"> <ANTIMG src="images/i024a.jpg" width-obs="107" height-obs="238" alt=""Hurrah!"" title="" /></div>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i024b.jpg" width-obs="401" height-obs="202" alt="To look over the edge of the dish" title="" /></div>
<p>"That's right!" said Toaster Man. "That's the way
my grandmother made it. If I were you, I'd make
only half of that sauce for only two slices of toast.
You did so well with the Plain Toast; you go right
ahead with the Milk Toast, and see if you can make it
all yourself, and if you need any help, I'll be on the spot
in a twinkle. Follow carefully what your little Cook
Book says. You know you must measure everything
even with the top of the spoon, or cup."</p>
<p>So Mary Frances did exactly what the recipe told
her.</p>
<p>As she poured the last of the sauce over the toast,
which she had put in a pretty dish, the little man,
who had been running here and there, watching everything<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</SPAN></span>
she did, shouted, "Hurrah!" At least, he tried
to shout, but his voice would scarcely reach to a grown-up
person's ear. "You are the best pupil I ever had!"</p>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i025a.jpg" width-obs="108" height-obs="284" alt=""Everything falls out backwards"" title="" /></div>
<p>"Have you had many?" asked Mary Frances.</p>
<p>"You are the only one," said Toaster. "Why?"</p>
<p>"Nothing," said Mary Frances.</p>
<p>"I should think," said the little man, standing on
his toes, to look over the edge of the dish, "that that
Milk Toast would taste awful good!"</p>
<p>"Won't you try it?" asked Mary Frances. She
was very much afraid he would, but she wanted to
show her gratitude for his kindness.</p>
<p>"Oh, no," sighed the little man, "I never eat."</p>
<p>"You never eat!" exclaimed Mary Frances.</p>
<p>"It may seem strange to you," said the little man,
"but everything that is put into my head falls out
backwards, and I simply can't eat."</p>
<p>"It must be dreadful!" said Mary Frances.</p>
<p>"It keeps me very thin," complained Toaster,
"but if I'm not mistaken, your mother will eat all
that toast,—if she gets it while it's hot."</p>
<p>"Oh, I hope so," said Mary Frances; "and I thank
you so very very much."</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i025b.jpg" width-obs="444" height-obs="181" alt="Followed by the admiring gaze of all." title="" /></div>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</SPAN></span></p>
<div class="figright"> <ANTIMG src="images/i026a.jpg" width-obs="114" height-obs="129" alt="Geranium" title="" /></div>
<p>"Good-bye!" added the little girl, as she went
out of the kitchen, followed by the admiring gaze of all
the Kitchen People.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i026b.jpg" width-obs="523" height-obs="595" alt=""I thank you so very, very much."" title="" /></div>
<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</SPAN></span></p>
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