Dinners were more difficult, till she hit on the happy idea of having Mrs.Kenny roast a big piece of beef or mutton, or a pair of fowls every Monday.

These _pieces de resistance_ in their different stages of hot, cold, and warmed over, carried them well along through the week, and, supplemented with an occasional chop or steak, served very well.

Fairly good soups could be bought in tins, which needed only to be seasoned and heated for use on table.

Oysters were easily procurable there, as everywhere in the West; good brown-bread and rolls came from the bakery; and Clover developed a hitherto dormant talent for cookery and the making of Graham gems, corn-dodgers, hoe-cakes baked on a barrel head before the parlor fire, and wonderful little flaky biscuits raised all in a minute with Royal Baking Powder.
She also became expert in that other fine art of condensing work, and making it move in easy grooves.

Her tea things she washed with her breakfast things, just setting the cups and plates in the sink for the night, pouring a dipper full of boiling water over them.