io8 



RECREATION. 



which was walking about, hunting scraps 

 around the remains of the fire, and drag- 

 ging his tail in the ashes. Realizing that 

 "2's company, 3 is a crowd," he leaped into 

 the air, and flapped away, assisted in his 

 departure by a billet of wood from the 

 hand of U. S., who hates a buzzard. 



Mose picked and cleaned the ducks, while 

 U. S. cut wood, started the fire, etc., and 

 when the sun went down behind a distant 

 cypress swamp an odor was emanating from 

 the bake oven that caused wrinkles around 



the noses of the amateur trappers. That 

 night, as they lay around the fire, full of 

 peace and contentment, and duck, they 

 heard a snarling, as of animals fighting, 

 up toward the head of the dead water on 

 which they were camped. 



"Listen to the coons fighting," said Mose. 

 "We'll go over there to-morrow and hunt 

 for signs." 



Uncle Snap responded not. He was 

 asleep. 



OLD-FASHIONED CAKE. 



EMMA G. CURTIS. 



We took supper at Aunt Belle's last night, I took 2 helps of damson plums for old 



on Brush Creek, Jane and me ; acquaintance sake ; 



That we struck luck in vittles there, I think But nothin' else appealed to me and warmed 



you'll all agree. me like the cake. 



Aunt never learned new-fangled ways to As -soon as I bit into it, it touched a memory 



pickle, bile and bake, spot 



And, actin' on a little hint, she made old- And called up scenes of boyhood days that 



fashioned cake. I had quite forgot. 



She made the good, substantial kind they It took me back into the woods I played in 



measure by the pound, years ago, 



With a hole right through the middle and When haws were ripe and hazel nuts were 



scallops all around. . drying sure but slow ; 



She turned it bottom upward on a plate, I even saw the sugar camp, and heard the 



and there it stood sap's faint drip, 



As brown as home-cured bacon is ; I tell And felt the wax, all warm and soft, against 



you it looked good ! my slobbery lip. 



Then while the cake was coolin' and 'taters A settin' at the table I could look out on 



gettin' done, the snow 



She fixed up ham and ' eggs and tea that And see a drama actin' there, made up of 



smelled just number one. long ago; 



I saw her at the big, blue crock she keeps See Pa and Ma and Uncle Eb and jolly 



peach butter in, Grandpa Grey, * 



And time that meal was ready I was And Jane, a little dumplin' gal, not half a 



hungrier than sin. jump away. 



I've sat at banquets lots of times; but, high- 



falutin' fare, 

 With Aunt Belle's old-fashioned meals in 



my mind don't compare ; 

 Wishy-washy salads, junket and lady finger 



cake 

 May do for some, but I like good old roast 



and bile and bake. 



