"Father and Aunt Maria are in the library, and the boys are up in Billy's den! So we'll read the recipes over first thing, and get started soon as possible."

"Do read them, Mary Frances," said Eleanor. "I'm so anxious--I'm just 'crazy' to learn how to make them."

"Well," said Mary Frances, "the first is 'Pickaninny Fudge!' Isn't that just like Mother!--to call Chocolate Fudge that cute name!"

"Hurry, Mary Frances; do read it," cried Eleanor, delighted.

Mary Frances read:

NO. 29.--PICKANINNY FUDGE.

2 cups sugar 1 cup milk 2 tablespoons b.u.t.ter 4 squares chocolate (4 ounces) 5 drops vanilla

1. Put sugar, milk, chocolate and b.u.t.ter together in a pan.

2. Boil until a few drops harden when dropped into cold water.

3. b.u.t.ter a platter.

4. Add Vanilla to candy and stir while it cools.

5. Cut into squares with a b.u.t.tered knife while still soft.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Mary Frances read]

"That just makes my 'mouth water,' Mary Frances," said Eleanor. "If the next is as good as that----!"

"It is!" declared Mary Frances. "Listen!

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Hurry; do read it."]

NO. 30.--WALNUT KISSES.

1 cup brown sugar cup granulated sugar cup cold water white 1 egg

1. Boil sugars and water together until a few drops harden when dropped into cold water.

2. Beat white of egg stiff.

3. Pour the sugar syrup very slowly upon the white of egg, beating all the time.

4. b.u.t.ter a platter.

5. Drop by tablespoonfuls on the platter.

6. Put a half walnut on each little mound or "kiss."

[Ill.u.s.tration: Walnut Kisses.]

"These are 'grand,'" said Mary Frances. "Mother made some just before she was ill."

"But have you the walnuts?" asked Eleanor, anxiously.

"Yes," explained Mary Frances. "Aunt Maria saw these recipes yesterday at the picnic, and she brought over a lot of walnuts ready for us. If she hadn't, I'd never have thought of them, I guess."

"Now--to work! You can make the Walnut Kisses--if you like."

"If you'll explain it all to me," said Eleanor.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Now--to work!"]

"Of course I will," said Mary Frances; "but you see, Mother has written out every single action just as you do it,--that makes it so easy. See if you can do it alone--try."

"I'd love to," said Eleanor.

The little girls worked pretty quietly until they were ready to pour out the candy.

"How are you getting along, children?" inquired Aunt Maria at the door.

"Oh, Aunty, I'm so glad you came" said Mary Frances; "we were just a little afraid--without help."

"Yes, I see," said Aunt Maria; "you might easily be burned. This is perfect so far. Now----" and she showed the children how to pour out the candy.

("Almost as well as the Kitchen People could," thought Mary Frances.)

"Walnut Kisses," said her father, kissing Mary Frances good-night, "are next best to real kisses, which, although they are made of nothing----"

"Oh, Fudge!" exclaimed Billy, and everybody laughed.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration: They were ready to pour out the candy.]

CHAPTER XXIII

GETTING READY FOR A PARTY

"HOW time flies!"

Mary Frances tied on her new ap.r.o.n and put on her pretty little cap.