a kettle singing. These noises came from behind a curtain drawn
before a deep bay window. Daisy snatched it back, gave one
joyful, “Oh!” and then stood gazing with delight at what do you
think?
A wide seat ran round the three sides of the window; on one side
hung and stood all sorts of little pots and pans, gridirons and
skillets; on the other side a small dinner and tea set; and on the
middle part a cooking-stove. Not a tin one, that was of no use, but
a real iron stove, big enough to cook for a large family of very
hungry dolls. But the best of it was that a real fire burned in it, real
steam came out of the nose of the little tea-kettle, and the lid of the
little boiler actually danced a jig, the water inside bubbled so hard.
A pane of glass had been taken out and replaced by a sheet of tin,
with a hole for the small funnel, and real smoke went sailing away
outside so naturally, that it did one’s heart good to see it. The box
of wood with a hod of charcoal stood near by; just above hung
dust-pan, brush and broom; a little market basket was on the low
table at which Daisy used to play, and over the back of her little
chair hung a white apron with a bib, and a droll mob cap. The sun
shone in as if he enjoyed the fun, the little stove roared beautifully,
the kettle steamed, the new tins sparkled on the walls, the pretty
china stood in tempting rows, and it was altogether as cheery and
complete a kitchen as any child could desire.
Daisy stood quite still after the first glad “Oh!” but her eyes went
quickly from one charming object to another, brightening as they
looked, till they came to Aunt Jo’s merry face; there they stopped
as the happy little girl hugged her, saying gratefully:
“Oh aunty, it’s a splendid new play! Can I really cook at the dear
stove, and have parties and mess, and sweep, and make fires that
truly burn? I like it so much! What made you think of it?”
“Your liking to make gingersnaps with Asia made me think of it,”
said Mrs. Bhaer, holding Daisy, who frisked as if she would fly. “I
knew Asia wouldn’t let you mess in her kitchen very often, and it
wouldn’t be safe at this fire up here, so I thought I’d see if I could
find a little stove for you, and teach you to cook; that would be
fun, and useful too. So I travelled round among the toy shops, but
everything large cost too much and I was thinking I should have to
give it up, when I met Uncle Teddy. As soon as he knew what I
was about, he said he wanted to help, and insisted on buying the
biggest toy stove we could find. I scolded, but he only laughed, and
teased me about my cooking when we were young, and said I must
teach Bess as well as you, and went on buying all sorts of nice
little things for my ‘cooking class’ as he called it.”
“I’m so glad you met him!” said Daisy, as Mrs. Jo stopped to laugh
at the memory of the funny time she had with Uncle Teddy.
“You must study hard and learn to make all kinds of things, for he
says he shall come out to tea very often, and expects something
uncommonly nice.”
“It’s the sweetest, dearest kitchen in the world, and I’d rather study
with it than do anything else. Can’t I learn pies, and cake, and
macaroni, and everything?” cried Daisy, dancing round the room
with a new saucepan in one hand and the tiny poker in the other.
“All in good time. This is to be a useful play, I am to help you, and
you are to be my cook, so I shall tell you what to do, and show you
how. Then we shall have things fit to eat, and you will be really
learning how to cook on a small scale. I’ll call you Sally, and say