Amy Waterman - A Little Candy Book for a Little Girl

The publishers wish to call the attention of the little candy maker to the Appendix in this book.

The United States Food Administration, while it does not object to a moderate use of sugar in candy making, strongly advises that it be used sparingly in order that our soldiers and allies may be provided with this energy-giving food that they require.

Accordingly, a number of recipes requiring a small quantity of sugar, or eliminating it entirely, have been prepared under the direction of this able Administration, and the publishers, glad to co-operate in every way, take pleasure in incorporating these recipes and suggestions as an Appendix.

It should be noted, however, that the author has furnished, throughout the book, a number of recipes that conform in every way to the suggestions made by the Government.

Betsey Bobbitt was a little girl whose real name was Elizabeth, but who, whenever she had anything to tell, came rushing to her mother and bobbed about so much—just couldn't keep still—that she earned the name Betsey Bobbitt.

Now, the funny part about the nickname was that it was not always appropriate; it only fitted when she came bobbing in with "Oh, mother!" and back and forth she would bob, like—like—well, if you ever saw a restless tiger at the circus, or at the zoo, pace back and forth in his cage bobbing his head, you will know just how Betsey Bobbitt looked as she told her little story.

Like most little girls, Betsey Bobbitt would often run errands for the neighbors and nearly always they would insist upon giving Betsey Bobbitt a penny, saying: "Thank you, dear; now buy yourself a stick of candy."

Poor Betsey Bobbitt how she did wish she might buy the candy, because if there was anything Betsey Bobbitt liked it was candy; and poor, poor mother how she wished the neighbors would not be so kind, or rather unkind, for she had tried ever since Betsey Bobbitt first tasted candy to let her eat only those candies that were pure and wholesome!

It truly was hard, because while mother had carefully explained that "penny candies" were unsafe for little children to eat, on account of the cheap, impure materials used in the making, as well as the bright, dangerous colors used upon the outside, to make them look attractive, still Betsey Bobbitt could not understand why other little girls and boys were allowed to eat them.

Mother said she was sure the other mothers of little children did not realize how harmful they were, because if they did, they would never allow their little girls and boys to eat them.

So Betsey Bobbitt tried to feel that mother was right about it, but she couldn't quite forget those "sticks of candy."

One afternoon in early September, Betsey Bobbitt and several little schoolmates, on their way home from school, were very busily engaged in talking, and what do you think they were talking about? They were discussing what they wanted to do when they grew up.

At first Betsey Bobbitt was very quiet; this was most unusual, but she listened attentively to the plans of all the others. Just then they came to a candy shop in which was displayed a most tempting array of candies.

Like a flash Betsey Bobbitt made her decision, and when she said she wanted to be a teacher of "Domestic Science" the other little girls were so impressed that their own plans were forgotten; in fact some of them did not even know what "Domestic Science" meant and they were very eager to learn.

So Betsey Bobbitt explained as best she could, what she knew about it and how she ever came to think of such a future; she told them of her mother's friend who went to college to learn how to become a teacher of "Domestic Science," which included knowing how to cook just everything, the best of all being the most, oh! most delicious candies, and that was what she, Betsey Bobbitt, wanted to study.

The little girls were very much excited and looked first at the pretty candies wistfully and then at Betsey Bobbitt with awe as it seemed to them very wonderful for any one to be able to make such delicious candies.

Betsey Bobbitt herself was so enthused that she could not wait for the others, so with another hasty glance at the candies and a hurried goodbye to her friends she left them and ran all the way home to tell mother about her wonderful plan for the future.

Mother knew at once that something very special must have happened and as soon as Betsey could gain her breath it all came out.

When Betsey Bobbitt finished her story she received the happiest surprise of her short life, for mother, seeing how earnest and eager her little girl was over her new plan, had been thinking rapidly, and so when all had been told Betsey's mother laughed merrily at her little daughter and said: "Why wait until you are old enough to go to college? Wouldn't you like to begin to learn now?"

Do you wonder Betsey Bobbitt nearly fell off her chair, for when she really understood that mother was to teach her to make candy, she bobbed about all over the room, exclaiming: "Oh! mother, may I really and truly?" and, again: "Oh! mother, I don't think I'll even want to look at penny candy again!"

This pleased mother so much that she began at once to look up all the simple ways of making candy that she herself had learned when she was a little girl like Betsey, as well as many that had been given to her or that she had cut from favorite magazines and cook books.

When these recipes were all arranged, Betsey Bobbitt began her candy making, and a happy, busy winter and spring she had indeed.

Mother did not get any special outfit, but just let Betsey use the things she had in the house and which would generally be found in any ordinary home, some of which were as follows:—

Aluminum and agate saucepans, one, two and three quarts; a double boiler; two glass and one tin half-pint measuring cups (divided into quarters, thirds and halves); a set of spoons (measuring one tablespoon, one dessert spoon, one teaspoon, one half teaspoon and one fourth teaspoon); an old large steel knife that had become very flexible with constant use; scales; food-chopper; nut-cracker; corn-popper; a long handled wooden spoon; a small brush for buttering tins; a fine wire strainer for sifting confectioner's sugar; one large and one small egg-beater; and a pair of scissors kept specially for kitchen use.

Mother also wrote out the following rules for measuring and weighing and hung them up so that Betsey could find them easily. These Betsey found very helpful.

The hints for candy making that mother gave Betsey, and which she memorized, were as follows:—

First. To butter with a brush the inside of the saucepan from the top about two inches down, to prevent the candy from boiling over.

Second. To use fresh, cold water each time she tried the candy.

Third. Any candy that is to be beaten is better if allowed to cool a few minutes by standing the pan in cold water and if when beaten it looks like smooth thick cream before pouring in pans.

Fourth. To butter the hands well when pulling candies.

Fifth. That "soft ball," "hard ball," "thread," and "brittle" mean the different stages sugar reaches while cooking.

When a little syrup dropped in cold water can be easily worked between the thumb and finger, it is a "soft ball;" when it is firm and solid, it is a "hard ball;" when it drops from the spoon into a fine thread, it is called "thread;" and when it becomes so hard it will break, it is called "brittle."