[Illustration]
Such lots of fun
The other day,
When Tom, and Jack,
And Maud, and May,
And children, till
The house was full,
Came trooping to
Our candy pull.
The tiny tots,
Who looked so sweet,
Did nothing much
Except to eat.
But we worked hard
The other day,
We older ones,
And thought it play.
For a frolic what can be pleasanter than a candy pull? Have you had one
yet this winter? No? Well, children, do fly to mamma, and tell her that
your Aunt Marjorie Precept has just given you the nicest bit of advice
you've ever heard from her, and that is that you shall have the fun and
uproar of a good old-fashioned time making molasses candy.
If any of you have such a splendid kitchen as the one in the picture,
and can swing your kettle of New Orleans molasses over a beautiful open
fire, you will enjoy it. But you may make very nice candy indeed upon
the stove or range. Aunt Marjorie made some the other day, and how she
would have liked to send you all a bit! She took two cups of molasses
and one of brown sugar, a tea-spoonful of butter, and a table-spoonful
of vinegar. After this mixture had boiled twenty minutes, she took it
off, and poured it on a wide platter to cool. As soon as it was cool
enough to be handled, she began to pull it, first buttering her hands
that the candy might not stick to them. The more she pulled it, the
whiter it grew.
How can you tell when the candy is done, do you ask? Why, just get a
saucerful of cold water and drop some into it. If the candy sets itself
into shape when dropped, it is done. The old nurse who is helping these
boys and girls has made so much candy in her time that she is quite a
veteran. She feels like smiling at Rose and Patty, who are afraid of
their hands, and she praises Master Arthur, who is pulling his piece
with such energy. People who play with their might usually work with
their might too.
Sly little Hughie, who is trying with his toy cane to pull off poor
nurse's cap, does not deserve a taste of candy. As for the little boy
who is drinking out of the pitcher, and the kitties that wait so
patiently to find out whether they are to have any milk after all the
fuss, we hardly know what to think. Some cats love candy, and some boys
think a drink is much more delicious if taken in a troublesome way.
If you should have a candy pull, be sure that you let everybody have a
share of the work, and when the frolic is over, think whether there is
not some little sick boy or girl, or some poor family, who have not many
pleasures, and send away a boxful of candy to these friends the next
day. I wouldn't be surprised if you should write to me in this fashion:
"Dear Aunt Marjorie,--The best part of our candy pull was the
postscript." See if you don't.
[Illustration: THE GOSSIPS.]