" The same thing occurred to me," answered Mrs. King; " and besides, the wax is almost sure to run down on the icing, and then that has to be thrown away. I have seen one pretty good contrivance to prevent this. Each candle was set in a little flat candlestick, from the bottom of which projected downwards a sharp piece of tin which held it in the cake. That did very well, but I found something yesterday at a toy shop that I like still better." Then she showed them ten little tall candlesticks which were to stand on the table immediately round the cake, and could be easily removed when the candles were burned down. The children still thought there ought to be one in the middle of the cake " to grow on," but at last decided to be contented without it After this chief ornament was finished, the girls turned their attention to the rest of the entertainment. There was plenty of icing left for the little sponge-cakes, which looked extremely pretty in the cake basket mixed with macaroons and cocoanut drops. The chocolate, being for young people, was diluted with double the quantity of milk given in ordinary recipes, and was quite as accepta- ble; the whipped cream and orange jelly made a very agreeable contrast in color, being served together in the AUNT JANE'S COOKING CLASS. 187 same saucer; and as for the biscuit, made by Rose, and Grace's puffs, filled with different kinds of jelly, all that needs to be said of them is that they were worthy of Aunt Jane's Cooking Class. 188 8IXLITTT, EOOOK8. THIRTEENTH DAY. u I think of inviting some friends to lunch to-morrow, Jane," said Mrs. Yernon to her sister soon after the birth- day party. " May we depend on you and the girls again? ' " With all my heart," answered Mrs. King. " Just tell us what you would like tc have, and we'll do our best to please you, ma'am." " I think you might better tell me what you would like to make," said Mrs. Yernon, " I'm very humble. I'd put up with anything — that was good." " We musn't have any of the dishes we made for Aunt Carroll's lunch, because we want to tiy some novelties. Broiled chickens are good, but the girls are hardly old enough to undertake those, and I want that the cooking should be bona fide their own. What do you say to a dish of sweetbreads, a nice salad, and potato croquettes?'1 " I can't imagine anything better; but do you know what you are undertaking?" "Oh, yes, perfectly; you don't know how skillful the little things have become, now that they have their heart AUNT JANE'S COOKING OLASB. 189 in the matter. All I do is to look at them; they would feel quite hurt if I touched anything." " I am delighted to hear it. I had no idea that the fancy would hold out so long. What do you think would be nice in the way of sweets ? r " Peaches are tolerably plenty now, and I should like to show the girls some ways of using them. An open pie in puff paste would be very handsome." "Elegant! Anything else?"

AI-modernized reading of the original text

" The same thing occurred to me," answered Mrs. King; " and besides, the wax is almost sure to run down on the icing, and then that has to be thrown away. I have seen one pretty good contrivance to prevent this. Each candle was set in a little flat candlestick, from the bottom of which projected downwards a sharp piece of tin which held it in the cake. That did very well, but I found something yesterday at a toy shop that I like still better." Then she showed them ten little tall candlesticks which were to stand on the table immediately round the cake, and could be easily removed when the candles were burned down. The children still thought there ought to be one in the middle of the cake " to grow on," but at last decided to be contented without it After this chief ornament was finished, the girls turned their attention to the rest of the entertainment. There was plenty of icing left for the little sponge-cakes, which looked extremely pretty in the cake basket mixed with macaroons and cocoanut drops. The chocolate, being for young people, was diluted with double the quantity of milk given in ordinary recipes, and was quite as acceptable; the whipped cream and orange jelly made a very agreeable contrast in color, being served together in the same saucer; and as for the biscuit, made by Rose, and Grace's puffs, filled with different kinds of jelly, all that needs to be said of them is that they were worthy of Aunt Jane's Cooking Class. 188 SIX LITTLE COOKS. THIRTEENTH DAY. u I think of inviting some friends to lunch to-morrow, Jane," said Mrs. Yernon to her sister soon after the birthday party. " May we depend on you and the girls again? ' " With all my heart," answered Mrs. King. " Just tell us what you would like tc have, and we'll do our best to please you, ma'am." " I think you might better tell me what you would like to make," said Mrs. Yernon, " I'm very humble. I'd put up with anything — that was good." " We musn't have any of the dishes we made for Aunt Carroll's lunch, because we want to tiy some novelties. Broiled chickens are good, but the girls are hardly old enough to undertake those, and I want that the cooking should be bona fide their own. What do you say to a dish of sweetbreads, a nice salad, and potato croquettes?'1 " I can't imagine anything better; but do you know what you are undertaking?" "Oh, yes, perfectly; you don't know how skillful the little things have become, now that they have their heart in the matter. All I do is to look at them; they would feel quite hurt if I touched anything." " I am delighted to hear it. I had no idea that the fancy would hold out so long. What do you think would be nice in the way of sweets ? r " Peaches are tolerably plenty now, and I should like to show the girls some ways of using them. An open pie in puff paste would be very handsome." "Elegant! Anything else?"

Six little cooks