The Land Claim — page 15: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MALE COOKERY. 11 to go wrong. I shouldn’t wonder, if we had a woman in the house, if she could put to flight these pilfering mice that are destroying every thing. There was Mrs. Smith that I boarded with when I studied Jaw—she never had a cat about the house nor a mouse either. I suppose she must have caught them herself Then she didn’t keep a cow, and yet we had plenty of milk—she said it was milk—for our coffee. There wasn’t _ a dog nor a horse about the place either, that I knew of; and we all got along comfortably. I always thought it was her management. In fact, I suppose a woman to be an epitome of the domestic universe !” ’ “You ought to be ashamed of yourself—talking so disre- spectfully of the sex,” said Doc, indignantly. “ Your mother was a woman, I suppose ?” “Guess so—couldn’t swear to it, though,” replied the “ Well, supper’s ready. I hope this coffee is hot enough to burn your tongue, and learn it better manners.” “You're confounded cross to-night, Doc,” said Flag, as he seated himself on one of the benches beside Squire. “Cross! Wasn't you cross, I wonder, while you was cook ? To be sure, you said it was because you had such a terrible cold from the wind blowing on your bed during the storm ; and that you had liked to have blown your brains out—the Sante thing you were ever guilty of saying, to my knowl- Plague take the mice!” ejaculated Doc, vehemently, as ‘the wreck of his only bit of butter; “they get into ry thing. I believe they would go a Dutchman's money-chest after a greasy coin; and as to keeping them out _ of things in this shanty, it isn’t to be done.” “ We'll have to have a rat-tail supper,” remarked Flag. “ A what?” asked Squire. “A rat-tail supper.” “Dhat’s a new delicacy! Pray, how should they be served ?” asked Doe, with great interest. “In soup, I should say,” suggested Squire. “Oh, you unsuspecting innocents!” laughed Flag, “ would you, really now, desire some rat-tail soup ?” “ Why, of course, if it’s good.” ai | Somnigpooksseom-