[Ill.u.s.tration: "You didn't see me"]

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Slide up my collar."]

"Never mind my legs," he said, as though he read her thoughts, "I'll see to them," and he folded them up so close that when Mary Frances lifted him up, she could find no sign of them.

"Oh, you'll be burnt!" she cried, as she held what Toaster Man had called his head over the bright fire.

"Not I," he laughed, "not I. I like it. It's the toast that'll be burnt, if I'm not turned over soon."

Mary Frances took the hint, and turned Toaster carefully over.

"Not too close to the coals at first, Little Miss," said the little fellow. "Now,--closer! That's it!"

"How is it?" he asked, as Mary Frances took him from the fire.

"What a beautiful piece of toast!" she cried.

"Grand-if-i-cent!" exclaimed Toaster. "Now, you do the next piece without my saying a word--but first spread that with b.u.t.ter, and put it in the oven. Now, you read in your book, and see if that's not the way to make b.u.t.tered Toast."

[Ill.u.s.tration: She opened her book.]

Mary Frances opened her book.

"Read it out!" said the little man.

"When I speak that way, Mother tells me to say 'Please,'" said she.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Grandificent!" exclaimed Toaster.]

"Beg pardon," said the little man, "Please."

So Mary Frances read:

NO. 2.--b.u.t.tERED TOAST.

1. Spread toasted bread evenly with b.u.t.ter.

2. Pile one slice on top of the other, and cover with a bowl.

3. Place in oven.

"That's it! that's what I told you," cried the little fellow. "I'm always right about toast. Can you make the next slice without a word more?"

"I think so," said Mary Frances; and she didn't utter a sound until she had taken the second piece out of Toaster.

"What a beautiful piece of toast!" exclaimed Toaster. "It's better than the first."

[Ill.u.s.tration: "What a beautiful piece of toast!"]

"Oh, I don't think----" Mary Frances started.

"I know!" snapped the little man. "Don't contradict me about toast! By the way," he asked, "why don't you make it into Milk Toast for your mother? it would be softer, and more palat--palat--"

"Pal-a-table," said Mary Frances.

[Ill.u.s.tration: b.u.t.tered toast.]

"Yes," said he, "you know a good deal for a little girl,"--and he began to choke. Mary Frances patted him hard.

"A piece of toast?" she asked.

"No," he exclaimed in-dig-nant-ly, "a long word always makes me choke.

That's why I seldom use them. Now, please read about Milk Toast."

"If you know----" sug-gest-ed Mary Frances.

"Well, it's more like real grown-up people to have it out of a book,"

said the little man. "Go on!"

And Mary Frances read from her little Cook Book.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Cup of milk]

NO. 3.--MILK TOAST.

1 tablespoon b.u.t.ter 1 tablespoon flour 1 cup milk teaspoon salt 3 slices toast

1. Make ready the toast.

2. Heat the milk until smoking hot.

3. Melt the b.u.t.ter in a small saucepan.

4. Throw the flour into the b.u.t.ter. Cook until it bubbles a little, stirring all the time. Take from the fire.

5. Pour 1/3 the milk upon the b.u.t.ter and flour, a little at a time, stirring with the back of a spoon to press out the lumps.

6. Place over fire, and gradually stir in the remaining milk.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Measuring Cup & Pitcher]

7. Add the salt. Let boil a minute.

8. Put slices of toast in a heated dish; pour the sauce over and serve hot.

All measures are made level with the top of cup or spoon. To measure level spoonful:

Fill spoon heaping full, and level it off with the back of a knife.