Los Angeles herald., 1890-11-11
RACHEL'S EXPERIMENT.

Rachel said Mrs. Edmonstone plain
lively. mo. wouldn't. not unless
Betsy Tacker, the manly maker, had
told me; and Betsy she never told lie
no more than George Washington did,
why, mother, what are you talking
about questioned Mrs. Thomas Edmon-
stone. untying the elder lady's bonnet
strings and relieving her of splint bas-
ket, black silk bag, waterproof cloak
and an umbrella.
'sAnd I've come to see if it's true, I"
added the old lady.
IF what's true, mother?"
THAT you said you wished there
wasn't no such person as m-mer' falter-
ed Mrs. Edmonstone.
Mother, you know never could have
said such thing" cried out Rachel.
Weii, it wasn't quite exactly that:
but Betsy Tacker she heard you say you
wished there wasn't no such thing as a
mother-in-law.
"Ohr' cried Rachel, with hysterical
little laugh. 81 plead guilty did say
chat. But. oh, motheri it was under
such strong provocation, and l never
meant you. How could l, when you
have always-always been so good to
fme?"
Il knew it couldn't be true" said Mrs.
Edmonstone. setting herself in the easi-
est rocking chair and nodding her cap
strings comfortably. But how came
you to make that ex-tra-or binary speech
Rachel, about mothers-in-law in gen
eral2''
1T was Tom," said the young wife.
He was SO aggravatingl'
Thomas always was aggravating,"
said Mrs. Edmonstone, stirring the cup
of tea that Rachel had brought her
"And what was it about now? The
breakfast cakes"
'Oh, you remember about the break
fast cakes, don't your said Rachel, with
merry mischief sparkling in her eyes
"No, it wasn't the breakfast cakes this
time; it was the shirts"
1.-The shirtsl'
well, you know he said it was such
q wasteful. extravagant proceeding to
buy shirts ready made" explained
Rachel He said the linen was poor,
and the work regular slop shop style,
and he declared you always used to
make his shirts at home, every stitch
before he was married"
$50 | did," acknowledged Mrs. Ed
monstone, with groan. "But that was
in the old times, before you could buy
such good article as they have now"
~'Yes, but Tom don't make any allow
-ance for difference in times and Gus
to1ns." sighed Rachel He wanted
hnu1e made shirts. and home made shirts
he would hayer'
And you made emp
"Yes, made them"
You were a great goose" refectively
spoke Mrs Edmonstone.
~And-and Tom swore dreadfully the
first one he put on
II don't in the least doubt it."
"And he said they set like meal bags,
and that they twisted his neck around
as if he had just been hanged, and
sgrasped him on the shoulders like po-
iceman! Oh, can't tell you what lie
didn't say!'
Bless mel" said Mrs. Edmonstone.
"He told me his mothers shirts set
like glove, and fitted him perfectly
and why couldn't turn out shirt like
those? And it was then. mother dear
suddenly finging her arms around the
,old lady's plump, comfortable neck,
THAT l lost my head, and told him
wished there wasn't such thing as
mother-in-law in the worldl And Betsy
Tacker sat in the sewing room altering
over my dolman in the spring style, and
I suppose she must have heard me-"
Don't mind it, my dear" said Mrs.
Edmonstone.
mo. won't" protested Rachel
~But, OH those shirts I've been rip
ping them apart and sewing them to-
;gether again, and rounding off a gusset
here and taking in a plait there. until
I've got so that dream of 'em at night,
and the more 1 try 'em on the worse
they fit, and the more unreasonable Tom
becomes. My mother never made such
work of it as thisr says he"
Thomas forgets." observed Mrs. Ed
monstone severely.
.And I'm sure if things go on like
this" added Rachel, pushing her short
fbrown curls off her forehead, It'll end
in separation on account of 'incom-
.patibility of temper
mo, it won't, my dear" said the mo-
xher-in-law. Here, get me the pattern
and some shirting muslin and pair OF
scissors"
.sWhat are you going to do. mother?
eagerly questioned Rachel.
"rm going to make Tom shirt. But
edon't you tell him, Rachel. Well see
whether it's Tom or the pattern that has
altered"
Once more the mischevious light came
into Rachel's bright blue eyes.
Il wish all the world was mother-in-
laws" she cried gleefully. "Why. why
didn't think of this beforeY
Zone can't think of everything. child,
said Mrs. Edmonstone consolingly.
Thomas Emondstone welcomed his mo
ther cordially when he came home from
business.
NTm SO glad you've come," said he
I'VE can have some of the nice old fash
Toned dishes now. Rachel can't seem tt
get the hang of them, although she has
always had your book of recipes to guide
her"
'Rachels good deal better cook thar
ever | pretended to be-" said Mrs. Ed
,.Tbav boua v,atopf aorey baof