Page:Poet Lore, volume 31, 1920.djvu/529

Rh pick them over well as I told you, pound the sugar, prepare the jars properly. I will be with you soon.

, and go out by the rear door, which remains open.

Mrs. Rettig—Ančka, have you come to me for advice?

Ančka.—Why shouldn't I? You are an experienced lady. And a wise or a beautiful woman is capable of everything; and when she wishes, she can reign supreme, as old Mrs. Zelenek says, who saw the Emperor Joseph. She is always telling about the time when he made a visit to this place, and how they once awaited him with ceremony in front of the posthouse, and how the emperor, when he got out of the coach and noticed the countess, immediately went straight towards her, all politeness and bows, and how he left everybody standing, the whole retinue, generals, officers, and officials, and still gave the chief honor only to the countess; and then how he offered his arm to her and led her with him to the castle and all the gentry followed them; and how Mrs. Valašek, the postmistress, stood in front of the posthouse and shouted to everybody: "You see what a woman can do, how important she is!"

Mrs. Rettig (Listens, smiling).—And what then, Ančka?

Ančka.—Well, I was thinking, since people do write books—and I have a cook book that came out pretty well—why don't they write up this too?

Mrs. Rettig.—What do you mean?

Ančka (Exclaims).—O, about how silly it is for such an old man to marry such a young girl. Lord forgive me for repeating the old saying: "A skittish horse and an old carriage, a young wife and an old man in marriage."

Mrs. Rettig (Soothingly).—But, Ančka, you needn't worry; the doctor will not discharge you from his service.

Ančka.—O, I know that. His little lady will not make him dumplings to his liking; no, not even if he married an angel. Why, he won't eat them anywhere else, not even here!

Mrs. Rettig.—Ahem.

Ančka.—Pardon my rudeness, but he said so himself. And no one will attend to his drugs so well, pound his powders, make