The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1890-12-05
NO. 46.
.achel's Kitchen said the old lady.

Rachel's kitchen, " said the old lady.
"Please do, mother" coaxed the wife,
not without 4 certain culver in her lip.
"Do let Tom have a "Reminiscences of the
old days while you are here"
well just as you children say" con-
coded the mother-in-law good humoredly.
She remained a week at her sons house
during which period Of time Tom was all
exultantcomplaeency. This, - said he, sis
something like living. I feel myself a boy
again when | taste these apple fritters."
They're not bad" said Rachel, who
had made them with her OWL skillful hands.
And she helped herself to a little of the
sauce.
"And why don't you learn my mothers
knack of making sueh pie crust as this?"
demanded Tom. There is no dyspepsia
here!''
"I'm glad you're pleased, - said Rachel,
with a guilty glance at her mother.in-law.
ooh, by the way, Tom, the last of the
set of shirts is finished now. Will you put
it or to-morrow?"
81 suppose So ungraciously uttered
Tom. will set ike fury, I dare say, like
all the rest OF theml''
"You might at least give it a trial"
"Didn'tI say would?,, still more H.
~graciously. .'Those shirts will be the
death of me yet, he added turning to his
mother with a gfoan. while Rachel sat
steadily observing the pattern of the table
cloth.
The breakfast sat smoking on the table
next morning when Mr.. Edmonstone came
into the room twisting himself as if he was
practicing to be a human corkserew. Mrs.
Edmonstone glanced timidly up at him.
Don't it fit, Tom?' she questioned.
GIFT! Just look at it, will you?" he le-
torted. Fit Hangs like a window cur.
tain around my neck-pinches my wrists
like a pair of handouts! I feel as If were
in a strait jacket'-writhing impatiently
to and fro. .oh, | might have known it
before hand-you haven't any idea what
the word fit means. | wish, mother, you
could teach this wife of mine how 10 make
a decent shirt!''
Thomas" said Mrs. E~dmonstone
solemnly, transixing him with the glisten-
ing spheres of her spectacle glasses,
"yoa're not very polite. I made that
shirt"
you, MOTHER
Yes, | myself. Just as I used to make
shirts for yon 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. s.It's an
economy Of time and temper, as well as of
money, TO buy them ready made. Its Tom
that's in fault, not the work. And as for
the cooking you've been p~raising up SO
el%oq1ently all the time I've been here. |
haven't touched a pot or a pan. It's all
her-your wife's work. So much for mag
i%nstion. Oh, you needn't hang YOU 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 the 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. Edmousdone resolurely persisted ;
And it's my advice to you TO try and
treat her as she deserves"
IL don't know but that ave been
rather cranky of late" said Tom, self
consciously, nov that | come to think of
it."
Cranky! | should think so, said the
old lady. I'm 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 selling
his life 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 Georey' Il be right" said Tom.
who after all had a magnanimous streak
through him. What a crab I've been all
this time. Hang the house made shirt.
Kiss me, Racbel-and you TOO, mother,
And be sure you let me rave a dish o.
sealloped oysters when leone home to din.
ner." The oysters Rachel cooked.
He ate his breakfast and departed. And
lien he was gone young Mrs. Edmon-
stone looked with shining eyes at old Mrs.
Eomonstone.
'Oh, what a nice thing to have a mother.
in-iaw,,'' said she f~eryently.
Do not consult anybody, but invest
twenty-five cents in bottle of Salvation