Cooking and castle-building

walk to the village post-office, and, on our wayhome, sat down to rest under the grand old oak that stands, like a faithful sentinel, at the entrance to Maplewood. Absorbed with my own meditations, I gazed in silence at the beautiful landscape, until my attention was arrested by an impatient exclamation from Emeline, who, in looking over the village paper, which was among our mailmatter, had been irritated by the following paragraph ; — " Personal. — The readers of the ' Democrat ' will be glad to learn that our reporter, after thoroughly investigating the affair, has come to the conclusion that there are no 'spooks* in or about the Douglas mansion ; and that the story of ghosts and goblins having been seen and heard there, originated with a nervous old lady, who one evening happened to see some fairy-like garments ornamenting a clothes-line in the garden, and permitted her imagination to get the better of her judgment. The facts in the case, as far as our reporter has been able to gather them, are simply these : Three lady friends of the Douglas family, who are said to belong to the class known as 'strong-minded women,' have been spending the summer at Maple wood, and doing the principal part of their own housework for the sake of privacy and seclusion. Rumor has it that they have been making experiments in cookery, etc., and intend getting up a book, in which instructions will be given for preparing food in a practical manner. We hope this latter report may prove true ; for the cook-book has yet to be written in which concise directions are given for plain cooking ; and improvements in the cooking of the average American housewife are certainly greatly to be desired. It is said the Douglases intend coming home shortly ; and it is also whispered among gossips that one of the present occupants of their mansion is a beautiful young lady, who, travelling with her mother in Switzerland last summer, fell in with the Douglas party ; that a sudden attachment sprung up between the young people ; and that, ere many months, a new mistress will occupy the old manse." " Kate," she said, after I had finished reading the obnoxious article, " I'd much rather Alice wouldn't see that. I think it would annoy and vex her exceedingly. And if it did not do that, it might start her on a new train of thought more objectionable than the one she is now pursuing. Do you know the child's behavior astonishes me. Educated in a convent, and always accustomed to the strict formalities of the church, one would naturally suppose she would have been shocked at the doubts and sentiments expressed by Gerald in his ravings about his dead wife. But the other day, when I said something of the sort to her, she simply answered, "Why so, mamma? I've had very similar thoughts myself. Quite as wicked, I dare say ; but I never could have given them such beautiful expression.' I confess to you, Kate, I'm becoming seriously annoyed. I don't like this hero-worship she is evidently indulging in. Why, the child is only twenty ; and I should prefer to have her keep clear of love's entangling alliances until she is twenty-five, at least."