<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2>
<div class='chaptertitle'>A POTATO LUNCH</div>
<div class="figright"> <ANTIMG src="images/i049a.jpg" width-obs="109" height-obs="263" alt=""Yes," chimed in Mantel Clock" title="" /></div>
<div class='cap'>"I'M so relieved," said Mary Frances with a sigh.</div>
<p>"Now, I can hurry along the Potato Lunch."</p>
<p>"Yes," chimed in Mantel Clock, "it's
quarter past eleven. You have only three-quarters
of an hour."</p>
<p>"That's so!" said Mary Frances. "The next
recipe is:</p>
<div class='center'><span class="smcap">No. 5.—Baked Potatoes.</span></div>
<div class="blockquot">
<p>1. Choose potatoes of the same size—rather large.</p>
<p>2. Scrub well, and wipe.</p>
<p>3. Bake in a hot oven from 30 to 45 minutes, or until soft when
pressed between thumb and fingers.</p>
<p>4. Roll each between the fingers: this makes them mealy.</p>
<p>5. Serve on a napkin.</p>
</div>
<p>"Why, I won't need to pare those! I'll put two of
these I've washed in the oven. The oven's grand and
hot!</p>
<p>"Let me see,—will all the others need paring?</p>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i049b.jpg" width-obs="364" height-obs="128" alt=""I won't need to pare those."" title="" /></div>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>"Yes," she laughed, "I didn't notice the heading
of the chapter before——</p>
<p>"'Potatoes Without Jackets,'"</p>
<div class="figright"> <ANTIMG src="images/i050a.jpg" width-obs="124" height-obs="491" alt="Potatoes without jackets" title="" /></div>
<div class='center'><span class="smcap">No. 6.—Boiled Potatoes</span>.</div>
<div class="blockquot">
<p>1. Wash potatoes.</p>
<p>2. Pare, throwing into cold water.</p>
<p>3. Drain; cover with boiling water, allowing 1 tablespoon salt
to every twelve potatoes.</p>
<p>4. Let boil ½ hour, or until the largest is soft when pierced with a
fork.</p>
<p>5. Drain off all the water.</p>
<p>6. Shake over fire, or place on back of stove to dry off the potatoes.</p>
</div>
<div class='center'><span class="smcap">No. 7.—Mashed Potatoes</span>.</div>
<div class="blockquot">
<p>1. Boil potatoes. Drain; dry off.</p>
<p>2. Mash in pan in which they were cooked.</p>
<p>3. For every cupful, add</p>
<div class='center'>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Ingredients">
<tr><td align='left'>1 dash pepper,</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'>1 saltspoon salt,</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'>½ tablespoon butter (scant).</td></tr>
</table></div>
<p>4. For every cupful, heat 2 tablespoons milk.</p>
<p>5. Throw the heated milk on potatoes.</p>
<p>6. Beat with a wire fork until creamy.</p>
<p>7. Pile lightly on a hot dish. Serve uncovered.</p>
</div>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i050b.jpg" width-obs="278" height-obs="211" alt="Measuring Spoons" title="" /></div>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</SPAN></span></p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i051.jpg" width-obs="549" height-obs="742" alt="Billy's Potato Luncheon." title="" /></div>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</SPAN></span></p>
<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Note.</span>—Remember that all measurements are level or even with the
top. To divide a spoonful, cut it through the middle lengthwise, for a half;
and across that, for one-quarter of a spoonful.</p>
</div>
<div class='center'><br/><span class="smcap">No. 8.—Potato Soup.</span></div>
<div class="blockquot">
<p>Place on the table:</p>
<div class="figright"> <ANTIMG src="images/i052a.jpg" width-obs="89" height-obs="202" alt="Two cups of milk" title="" /></div>
<div class='center'>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Ingredients">
<tr><td align='left'>3 freshly boiled potatoes</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'>1 onion</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'>butter</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'>parsley</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'>flour dredger</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'>pepper</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'>salt</td></tr>
<tr><td align='left'>1 pint milk (2 cups)</td></tr>
</table></div>
<p>1. Put the milk in the upper part of a double boiler, half filling
the under part with boiling water.</p>
<p>2. Throw in 2 slices of onion, and put double boiler on the stove
for 10 minutes.</p>
<p>3. Mash potatoes and add to the hot milk.</p>
<p>4. Add 1 teaspoon salt and a dash of pepper.</p>
<p>5. Put through a wire strainer, rubbing the potatoes through
with a spoon.</p>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i052b.jpg" width-obs="372" height-obs="175" alt="To divide a spoonful" title="" /></div>
<p>6. Put into double boiler and place on stove.</p>
<p>7. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a little pan.</p>
<p>8. Throw into it ½ tablespoon flour. Stir well.</p>
<div class="figright"> <ANTIMG src="images/i053a.jpg" width-obs="111" height-obs="233" alt=""I just hurry them along"" title="" /></div>
<p>9. Dip a little of the hot milk on this, stirring well, then pour
into the soup.</p>
<p>10. Let boil 10 minutes.</p>
<p>11. Add 1 tablespoon chopped parsley. If too thick, add hot
water or milk.</p>
<p>12. Serve very hot.</p>
</div>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>"Oh, I know how to cook boiled potatoes! They're
just like jacket-boiled, only they have their jackets
off," she cried.</p>
<p>"Why, certainly," exclaimed Boiler Pan, which
she had put on the stove half full of water, "I
know my part—I just hurry them right along in a
jiffy."</p>
<p>He looked so interested that Mary Frances laughed
as she dropped the potatoes in.</p>
<p>"Are they all to be boi—boiled?" stuttered the
bubbling Boiler Pan.</p>
<p>"Yes," said Mary Frances, "all except those I
put in the oven. Listen! I'll tell you the menu for
Billy's Potato Lunch. We'll begin, of course, with
soup—Potato Soup."</p>
<p>"'Purée' is the word for thick soups," suggested
Boiler Pan. "It seems more stylish, don't you
think?"</p>
<p>"Yes, indeed!" said Mary Frances. "I do believe
I'll write a card for each of us to have at our places at
the table!" and she quickly brought her school pad
from her desk.</p>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i053b.jpg" width-obs="302" height-obs="166" alt="She brought her school pad." title="" /></div>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>Then she wrote:</p>
<div class='center'>
<span class="smcap">Menu</span><br/>
<br/>
Billy's Potato Lunch<br/>
<br/>
Purée of Potato<br/>
Potatoes-in-the-Shell<br/>
Cold Meat Mashed Potatoes<br/>
Sliced Bananas with Cream<br/>
Milk<br/></div>
<p>"That 'Potato-in-the-Shell' sounds 'swell,'" said
Coffee Pot, "but it seems to me you ought to have
something to drink, like coffee, or something of that
kind."</p>
<p>"Oh, that's true," Mary Frances replied, "but I
don't know how to make coffee, and Mother said I
must make everything in the order it came in my
book——"</p>
<p>"Won't you look to see if my turn doesn't come
soon?" interrupted Coffee Pot.</p>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i054a.jpg" width-obs="116" height-obs="241" alt=""See if my turn doesn't come soon?"" title="" /></div>
<p>"Not to-day," Mary Frances shook her head.
"To-day we have milk.</p>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i054b.jpg" width-obs="296" height-obs="167" alt=""To-day we have milk."" title="" /></div>
<p>"Why, to-morrow!" as she looked in her book.<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</SPAN></span>
"Isn't that fine! But—those potatoes must be done.
I should think so! A minute more, and they'd
have been burned!" she said as she drained off the
water.</p>
<p>"Now, ready for the masher!"</p>
<p>"Quite ready," said a little voice, and Mary Frances
was not surprised to see Potato Masher tumble over the
edge of Boiler Pan as she put him on the table.</p>
<div class="figright"> <ANTIMG src="images/i055a.jpg" width-obs="95" height-obs="171" alt=""Quite ready."" title="" /></div>
<p>"Push my head down hard!" said he in a thick,
mushy voice, and Mary Frances did as he directed.</p>
<p>Suddenly Potato Masher stopped work.</p>
<p>"How will you know how much potato to put into
the soup?" he asked.</p>
<p>"Why," said Mary Frances, "there were only six
boiled ones altogether, so the three for the soup will
be just half."</p>
<p>"Pretty good, pretty good for a little girl just learning
to cook," Potato Masher said, and ducked his
head into the potatoes again.</p>
<p>When they were finished Mary Frances said:</p>
<div class="figright"> <ANTIMG src="images/i055b.jpg" width-obs="420" height-obs="200" alt=""Push my head down hard"" title="" /></div>
<p>"You know so much about potatoes, perhaps you
can sit right up on that box," pointing to the sugar
box, "and tell me when I make a mistake. I'm going<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</SPAN></span>
to do 'xactly as my book says—you cry out, 'Stop!'
when I do anything the wrong way."</p>
<p>"It—will—be—the—day—of—my—life—ever—to—be—remembered—"</p>
<p>Potato Masher ran his words together clumsily—"But
I should be very much obliged to you if you would
first wash my face."</p>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i056a.jpg" width-obs="107" height-obs="228" alt=""First wash my face."" title="" /></div>
<p>"Why, certainly," said Mary Frances. "I didn't
like to suggest it."</p>
<p>"Thank you kindly, Miss. 'Tis a pleasure to serve
you," said the little fellow, as he perched himself on
the sugar box, when Mary Frances brought him back
to the table.</p>
<p>"All ready?" asked the little girl.</p>
<p>"Class proceed!" said Potato Masher, with a school
teacher air.</p>
<p>Only twice did he interrupt her as she followed
every direction given in the recipes: once, to remind
her of the potatoes in the oven; and again, to tell
her to pour the soup very slowly, lest she burn
herself.</p>
<div class="figright"> <ANTIMG src="images/i056b.jpg" width-obs="266" height-obs="199" alt=""Class proceed"" title="" /></div>
<p>"It's mag-nif-i-cent!—this Potato Lunch," said he,
as Mary Frances carried the last smoking dish to the<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</SPAN></span>
dining table. "'Tis a proud day for the 'Assistant
Chef'—meaning myself."</p>
<p>He made a pompous little bow toward the Kitchen
Folks.</p>
<p>"I little thought she'd be on time. I was afraid
I'd have to strike before she was ready," declared
Mantel Clock, beginning to strike twelve just as Billy
came in.</p>
<p>"Menus!" exclaimed the boy.</p>
<div class="figright"> <ANTIMG src="images/i057a.jpg" width-obs="110" height-obs="272" alt=""Menus!" exclaimed the boy." title="" /></div>
<p>"Jimminy! 'Billy's Potato Lunch,'" he read.
"Oh, I say—if I'd known I'd have dressed for the
occasion!"</p>
<p>"Don't make fun, Billy," begged Mary Frances.</p>
<p>"'Make fun,'" cried Billy. "Just taste that
soup—and see if anyone could make fun. It's fit for
the President."</p>
<p>"Oh—Billy!" Mary Frances laughed.</p>
<p>"Maybe you think I don't mean it," said Billy,
helping himself to mashed potatoes. "Why didn't you
invite some company?"</p>
<p>"I didn't know that Potato Masher—I mean, I
didn't know it would turn out so well," blushed Mary
Frances.</p>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i057b.jpg" width-obs="387" height-obs="178" alt=""I little thought she'd be on time."" title="" /></div>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</SPAN></span></p>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i058a.jpg" width-obs="112" height-obs="279" alt="Pot and potatoes" title="" /></div>
<p>"Invite somebody—can't I bring Bob and Eleanor
over some day soon to lunch?"</p>
<p>"Yes,'" said Mary Frances, "if Aunt Maria——"</p>
<p>"Oh, by the way," said Billy "I 'most forgot!
Aunt Maria had word her brother is sick at Upland, and
she went to see him this morning, and can't possibly
be back in time for breakfast. I guessed we'd make
out O. K. I told her—I was thinking of our lunches,
you know."</p>
<p>"Billy—really?" asked Mary Frances, "but I'm
sorry for Aunt Maria's brother."</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i058b.jpg" width-obs="527" height-obs="447" alt=""Thank you kindly, Miss."" title="" /></div>
<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</SPAN></span></p>
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