Scene.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XX, Issue 1415, 24 December 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

Scene.

Cook with apron on, standing before table with pasteboard, jar labelled mincemeat, flour dredger, &c. Cook — •• Weil, them as likes Christmas ain't no cooks, that's sartin. Eating and drinking, cookin' and workin' — that's what Christmas means for cooks. You Sall-ee!" Sally (a frowsey looking girl.) — 'Yes mum." Cook. — " Yes mum 1 What are you arter ? Have you got that pan ready ?" Sally;—" Pan 'm ?" Cook.— "Yes pan, /<z«, pan ! Can't you understand that?" Sally brings a frying-pan. Cook (in rage).—" Oh you'd be making game of me, you hussey, eh? Take tbat," (makes a blow with the rolling pin and, missing, breaks a dish.) Enter mistress. LADY.—" Dear me, cook, what can be tha matter?" Cook.— "The matter, mum! Matter enough. Here I has the mince and the paste all ready, beautiful, and I asks that girl to butter the pan, and bring it to me, and what dye think mum, she fetches me a frying-pan 1" Lady.— « Well, there is no need to fly into a passion about it. This is Cnristmas time and — " Cook.— "Ah, yes, that's all very well, mum, for them as can enjoy their Christmas. But for us poor critters as has to stand over a boiling fire cooking — " Sally. — Please j'm is this the pan you want?" (offers a patty pan.) Cook.— "Ah lof course. That's the pan I do want, and in that pan, my girl, I'm agoin' to put tbat crust and that mince which I'm going to cook, in that pan. And now, please take that pan into the kitchen and place it in the oven. If you please, missus, I want to consult you about that forcemeat." All withdraw, curtain drops, and scene is changed.