Los Angeles herald., 1890-11-11
"Oh, shouldn't think Of interfering

III INdCutl hltCuou, 6dlu Ulo OlQ lazy.
"Please do, mother" coaxed the wife,
not without certain quiver in her lip.
"Do let Tom have reminiscence of the
old days while you are here"
well, just as you children say" con-
ceded the mother-in-law good humor-
edly
She remained week at her sons
house, during which period of time Tom
was all exultant complacency.
This" said he, sis something like
living. feel myself a boy again when
taste these apple fritters."
They're not bad" said Rachel. who
had made them with her own skillful
hands. And she helped herself to lit
tie of the sauce.
"And why don't you learn my moth
er's knack of making such pie crust as
this?" demanded Tom ''There is no
dyspepsia herer'
I'm glad you're pleased" said Rachel,
with guilty glance at her mother-in-
law.
"Oh, by the way, Tom, the last of the
set of shirts is finished now. Will you
put it on tomorrow
81 suppose So" ungraciously uttered
Tom. will set like fury, dare say,
like all the rest of them!"
''You might at least give it a trial"
Didn't say would?" still more un-
graciously. "Those shirts will be the
death of me yet" he added turning to
his mother with groan, while Rachel
sat steadily observing the pattern of the
table CLOTH
The breakfast SAT smoking cn the ia
BILE next morning when Mr.. Edmonstone
came into the room twisting himself as
if he were practicing to be a human
corkscrew. Mrs. Edmonstone glanced
timidly up at him.
Don't it fit, Tom?' she questioned
"Fit! Just look at it, will youY' he re-
torted. Eft! Hangs like window cur
tain around my neck-pinches my wrists
like pair Of handouts! feel as if
were in strait jacket"-writhing i'm
patiently to and fro. "Oh. might have
known it beforehand-you haven't an
idea what the word fit means I wish,
mother, you could teach this wife of mine
how to make decent Shirt"
Thomas said Mrs Edmonstone
solemnly, transfxing him with the
glistening spheres Of her spectacle
glasses, you're not very polite. l made
that shirt"
"You. mother!"
"Yes, | myself. Just as / used to
make shirts for you in the olden times
that you're always signing after I've
been working at it ever since I've been
in the house. Throw away the pattern.
Rachel, and don't waste any more time
trying to make your husbands shirts"
she added. "It's an economy Of time
and temper. as well as of money, to buy
them ready made. It's Tom that's in
fault, not the work. And as for the
cooking you've been praising up so elo-
quently all the time I've been here,
haven't touched pot or pan. It's all
her-your wife's work. So much for
imagination. Oh. you needn't hang your
head so sheepishly-you're neither better
nor worse than other men," went on
Mrs. Edmonstone. "And I never saw
the man yet that didn't need to hear
wholesome truth now and then. You've
got the best and sweetest little wife in
the world"
Mother" pleaded Rachel, trying to
put her hand over the old lady's mouth
but Mrs. Edmonstone resolutely per
sisted.
Sand it's my advice to you to try and
treat her as she deserves
"1-I don't know but that have been
rather cranky of late" said Tom self
consciously, now that come to think
of it."
Cranky. should think so," said the
old lady. "rm sure don't know what
the worlds coming to. Here's little
Georgy toddling around with his wooden
cart The first you know he'll be telling
his wife about the wonderful successes
that, and the other thing. We've all got
to come to it,"
"And Georgy II be right" said Tom
who after all had a magnanimous streak
through him. What a crab I've been
all this time. Hang the home made
shirts! I'll buy 'em out of the store next
time! Kiss me, Rachel-and you, too
motherl And be sure you let me have a
dish of scalloped oysters when l come
home to dinner" The oysters Rachel
cooked.
He ate his breakfast and departed.
And when he was gone young Mrs. Ed
monstone looked with shining eyes at
old Mrs. Edmonstone.
"Oh, what a nice thing to have mo-
ther- -in-lawr' said she fervently.
ley Browne in Fireside Companion.