THE DOLLS' KITCHEN PARTY
"NOW, everything is ready," she said, glancing carefully at the table
she had set with her little dishes; "I'll go up and bring the dolls.
Wait a minute, Mary Frances," she added after a moment's pause. "Let's
see if everything is ready. There's
Thimble Biscuits
Jam Cocoa
"Better look in the oven!"
[Illustration: "Better look in the oven!"]
"Oh, my, I'm glad you 'thought me,' Aunty Rolling Pin," cried Mary
Frances, opening the oven door.
"Oh, dear me! Most of the Thimble Biscuits are burnt up and the big ones
are just done, I guess!"
"The thicker things are, the 'slower' the oven, child. The thinner, the
hotter the oven----"
[Illustration: "Oh, dear me!"]
"Aunty Rolling Pin," cried Mary Frances, not realizing she had
interrupted, "there are enough Thimble Biscuits not burnt to go 'round.
Isn't that good? And the dolls can't make themselves sick with them."
"It's not much of a waste," smiled Aunty Rolling Pin, "and (seeming to
be seriously thinking) the dolls can't make themselves sick on
them--eating too many, I suppose."
[Illustration: "You see it's like this"]
"Well," said Mary Frances, "you see, it's like this:
"When I my dolls invite to tea,
It is a pretty sight to see
The things one seldom gets to eat
All on the table spread, so sweet;
But to my dollies I explain,
Don't eat too much--you'll have a pain.
"Then, just to save them such a trial,
I let them sit and look a while
At cakes, and tarts, and candies, too.
Then eat them up myself--wouldn't you?
For thus they're saved from being ill,
And I, likewise, a doctor's bill.
But--just between you, dear, and me--
They couldn't eat at all, you see."
[Illustration: "Dolls can't make themselves sick."]
[Illustration: THE DOLL'S KITCHEN PARTY]
And away ran Mary Frances to bring the dolls.
* * * * *
"It was a lovely Tea Party, wasn't it, Angie?" sighed Mary Frances,
putting her family to bed after it was all over.
[Illustration: After it was all over.]
"And you did 'behave a credit' to your mother. I feel sure now you will
remember all I've taught you. Not one of you would eat soup from the
point of a spoon, nor spread a whole slice of bread at once, nor leave
your spoon in your cup, which is a great comfort to a mother. Only Peg,
you poor child, you should not have spilled that cocoa down your best
dress. But 'Children will be children,' I 'spose--and you're very dear
children."
("I wouldn't have them, for the world, jealous of the Kitchen
People--and I've neglected them shamefully of late.")
* * * * *
"I'm not much taken with those things called 'dolls,' Aunty Rolling
Pin," said Sauce Pan, seating himself on the edge of the top
closet-shelf, and crossing one leg over his knee. "They're not much
use."
[Illustration: "They're not much use."]
"Ah," sighed Aunty Rolling Pin, looking wise, "a doll's a doll, for all
that."
[Illustration: "A doll's no good boiled!"]
"Of course," said Sauce Pan, "but a doll's no good boiled!"
"Well, no," admitted Aunty Rolling Pin, "the best, of course, are
_baked_ of
NO. 19.--GINGERBREAD COOKIES.
1/2 cup molasses
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons lard flour
1/2 tablespoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon warm water
1. Warm the molasses.
2. Put the butter and lard in a bowl. Pour over them
the molasses.
3. Dissolve soda in the warm water. Add to the
molasses.
4. Sift ginger, salt and 1/2 cup flour together.
5. Sift into the molasses, beating well. If necessary,
add more flour to make a soft dough.
6. Grease a shallow pan.
7. Roll the dough out 1/3 inch thick.
8. Cut out with a little round cutter, dipping it into
flour each time.
Place cookies some distance apart on the pan. Bake
about 10 minutes.
NOTE.--Instead of rolling out, little spoonfuls may be
dropped far apart on the pan and flattened with the
bottom of a round tin cup.
[Illustration: "The best, of course, are _baked_."]
"Then you----
[Illustration]
"Oh, Aunty Rolling Pin, nobody's doing a lesson. Besides, after it's
baked it's done!" cried Sauce Pan impatiently.
"So'm I!" smiled Aunty Rolling Pin.
[Illustration: "It was a lovely Tea Party, wasn't it Angie?"]