For half spoonful, cut through lengthwise.

For quarter spoonful, divide a half spoonful across.

A saltspoon is 1/8 teaspoon.

"That's right!" said Toaster Man. "That's the way my grandmother made it. If I were you, I'd make only half of that sauce for only two slices of toast. You did so well with the Plain Toast; you go right ahead with the Milk Toast, and see if you can make it all yourself, and if you need any help, I'll be on the spot in a twinkle. Follow carefully what your little Cook Book says. You know you must measure everything even with the top of the spoon, or cup."

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Hurrah!"]

So Mary Frances did exactly what the recipe told her.

[Ill.u.s.tration: To look over the edge of the dish]

As she poured the last of the sauce over the toast, which she had put in a pretty dish, the little man, who had been running here and there, watching everything she did, shouted, "Hurrah!" At least, he tried to shout, but his voice would scarcely reach to a grown-up person's ear.

"You are the best pupil I ever had!"

"Have you had many?" asked Mary Frances.

"You are the only one," said Toaster. "Why?"

"Nothing," said Mary Frances.

"I should think," said the little man, standing on his toes, to look over the edge of the dish, "that that Milk Toast would taste awful good!"

"Won't you try it?" asked Mary Frances. She was very much afraid he would, but she wanted to show her grat.i.tude for his kindness.

"Oh, no," sighed the little man, "I never eat."

"You never eat!" exclaimed Mary Frances.

"It may seem strange to you," said the little man, "but everything that is put into my head falls out backwards, and I simply can't eat."

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Everything falls out backwards"]

"It must be dreadful!" said Mary Frances.

"It keeps me very thin," complained Toaster, "but if I'm not mistaken, your mother will eat all that toast,--if she gets it while it's hot."

"Oh, I hope so," said Mary Frances; "and I thank you so very very much."

[Ill.u.s.tration: Followed by the admiring gaze of all.]

"Good-bye!" added the little girl, as she went out of the kitchen, followed by the admiring gaze of all the Kitchen People.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration: "I thank you so very, very much."]

CHAPTER III

MARY FRANCES' MOTHER

MARY FRANCES pushed open the door of her mother's room very softly.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "What has my little girl there?"]

"What has my little girl there?" asked her mother.

"Oh, are you awake, Mother? It's a s'prise for you," and she carried the tray over to the bed.

Her mother carefully lifted the lid of the dish.

"Milk Toast! the only thing I could eat! why--who made it?"

"If it hadn't been for Toaster, it couldn't have been made," said Mary Frances.

Her mother looked at the little girl in surprise.

"I mean," she added, "that Toaster really did it--he showed me how----"

[Ill.u.s.tration: "It's a s'prise for you."]

"Oh!" laughed her mother, as she lifted a slice of toast out on a saucer. "Well, dear, anyway I want you to have some toast with Mother"--and she handed the saucer to Mary Frances, who said she would much rather watch her mother eat it than to have some herself; but, after her first taste, she found how hungry she was.

"It's the best toast I ever ate," said her mother, "and Mary Frances, dear, I feel much better already."

She would have said more had not Mary Frances' brother bounded up the stairs two steps at a time with,----

"What do you think! I met Father downtown, and he says Aunt Maria's coming over to keep house for us. In the daytime, she must be at home; but she'll come over to get breakfast for us, and we'll go there for our dinners--and Father says Mother is going to the seash.o.r.e to have a 'perfect rest' until she's well. Anyhow, I'm glad we won't starve. I wish Sis knew how to cook!" and he teasingly pulled one of Mary Frances'

curls.

"Hush, Brother!" said the mother, "you should have been here to see the lovely Milk Toast Sister just brought me. It was the best I ever ate--and she made it all herself."

"Almost!" said Mary Frances.

"Oh, yes," said her mother, "the dear little girlie wants Toaster to get part of the praise."

[Ill.u.s.tration: "What do you think?"]

[Ill.u.s.tration: "I must warn the Kitchen People."]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

"Ha, ha!" laughed Brother, and Mary Frances, somehow, couldn't explain about the Kitchen Folks.