The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1890-10-22

mouse, Qur1ES winch perlod OF Ilme LON
was all exultant complacency.
This" said he, sis something like
living. feel myself a boy again when
l taste these apple fritters."
They're not bad" said Rachel. who
had made them with her own skillful
hands. And she helped herself to a 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 hereg'
I'm glad you're pleased" said Rachel,
with a 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"
II suppose So" ungraciously uttered
Tom. "Will set like fury, l dare say,
like Al the rest Of them!'
You might at least give it a trial"
Didn't I say l would?" still more I'M
graciously. Those shirts will be the
death of me yet" he added turning to
his mother with a groan, while Rachel
sat steadily observing the pattern of the
table cloth.
The breakfast sat smoking On the Ia
BILE next morning when Nj. 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, Tomy" she questioned.
eft! Just look at it, will you he re-
torted. eft! Hangs like a window cur
tain around my neck-pinches my wrists
like a pair of handouts! | feel as if l
were in a strait jacket"-writhing i'm
patiently to and fro. "Oh, I might have
known it beforehand-you haven't an
idea what the word fit means. | wish,
mother, you could teach this wife Of mine
how to make a decent shirt"
"Thomas." said Mrs. Edmonstone
solemnly, transflng him with the
glistening spheres of her spectacle
glasses, you're not very polite. made
that shirt"
You. mother!"
Yes, | myself. Just as l 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. cts 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, l
haven't touched a pot or a 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 l never saw
the mar yet that didn't need to hear a
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.
"And it's my advice TO you to try and
treat her-sss asseB#Hss -
rather cranky Of late. 5 said Tom self
consciously, now thatI come to think
Of it."
Cranky! should think so" said the
old lady. I'm sure I 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
his mother used to make in this, and
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! III buy 'em out of the store next
time! Kiss me, Rachel-and you, too,
mother! 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 a mo-
ther-in-law!" said she fervently.- Shir-
ley Browne in Fireside Companion.