The Mary Frances cook book

"Push my head down hard!" said he in a thick, mushy voice, and Mary Frances did as he directed. Suddenly Potato Masher stopped work. "How will you know how much potato to put into the soup?" he asked. "Why," said Mary Frances, "there were only six boiled ones altogether, so the three for the soup will be just half." "Pretty good, pretty good for a little girl just learning to cook," Potato Masher said, and ducked his head into the potatoes again. When they were finished Mary Frances said: "Y"You know so much about potatoes, perhaps you can sit right up on that box," pointing to the sugar box, "and tell me when I make a mistake. I'm going A Potato Lunch to do exactly as my book says — you cry out, 'Stop!' when I do anything the wrong way." "It — will — be — the — day — of — my — life — ever — to — be — remembered — ' ' Potato Masher ran his words together clumsily — "But I should be very much obliged to you if you would first wash my face." "Why, certainly," said Mary Frances. "I didn't like to suggest it." "Thank you kindly, Miss. 'Tis a pleasure to serve you," said the little fellow, as he perched himself on the sugar box, when Mary Frances brought him back to the table. "All ready?" asked the little girl. "Class proceed!" said Potato Masher, with a school teacher air. Only twice did he interrupt her as she followed every direction given in the recipes: once, to remind her of the potatoes in the oven; and again, to tell her to pour the soup very slowly, lest she bum herself. "It's mag-nif-i-cent! — this Potato Lunch," said he, as Mary Frances carried the last smoking dish to the Tirsl wash mv face. lass proceed" The Mary Frances Cook Book "Menus!" exclaimed ik dining table. "'Tis a proud day for the Assistant Chef — meaning myself." He made a pompous little bow toward the Kitchen Folks. ''I little thought she'd be on time. I was afraid I'd have to strike before she was ready," declared Mantel Clock, beginning to strike twelve just as Billy came in. ''Menus!" exclaimed the boy. "Jimminy! 'Billy's Potato Lunch,'" he read. "Oh, I say — if I'd known — I'd have dressed for the occasion!" "Don't make fun, Billy," begged Mary Frances. '"Make fun,'" cried Billy. "Just taste that soup — and see if anyone could make fun. It's fit for the President." "Oh — Billy!" Mary Frances laughed. "Maybe you think I don't mean it," said Billy, helping himself to mashed potatoes. "Why didn't you invite some company?" "I didn't know that Potato Masher — I mean, I didn't know it would turn out so well," blushed Mary Frances. «t I little tKough e on time. A Potato Lunch "Invite somebody — can't I bring Bob and Eleanor over some day soon to lunch?" ''Yes," said Mary Frances, ''if Aunt Maria " "Oh, by the way," said Billy "I 'most forgot! Aunt Maria had word her brother is sick at Upland, and she went to see him this morning, and can't possibly be back in time for breakfast. I guessed we'd make out 0. K. I told her — I was thinking of our lunches, you know." "Billy— really?" asked Mary Frances, "but I'm sorry for Aunt Maria's brother." TJJfp^ mnkjou kindly, ]P^ ■ rg iS ISS. iU» CHAPTER IX Mother's asl etter. MARY FRANCES GETS BREAKFAST