The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-10-09
A MOTHER IN LAW.

u wouldn't have believed it Of you,
Rachel" said Mrs. Edmonstone plant-
lvely. mo, wouldn't, not unless Betsy
Tacker 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 Ed
monstone, untying the elder lady's bon
net strings and relieving her Of splint
basket, black silk bag, a waterproof
cloak, and an umbrella.
And I've come to see if it's true,'
added the old lady.
If what's true, mother?"
That you said you wished there wasn't
no such person as m-me!" faltered Mrs.
Edmonstone.
Mother, you know never could have
said such thing!r cried Rachel.
well, it wasn't exactly that; but
Betsy Tacker heard you say you wished
there was no such thing as mother in
law"
4Oh, cried Rachel, with hysterical
little laugh, Il plead guilty. l did say
that. But it was under such strong
provocation, and l never meant you.
How could l, when you have always
been so good to me:' ...
Il knew it couldn't be true, said Mrs.
Edmonstone. settling herself in the
easiest rocking chair and nodding her
cap strings comfortably. But how came
you to make that tex-tra-or-dinary speech,
Rachel, about mother in law in general?"
1T was Tom" said the wife. He
was so aggravating! .di T.m-
Thomas always was aggravating,
said Mrs. Edmonstone, stirring the cup
of tea that Rachel had brought her.
What was it about now? The break
fast 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 shirss." 1861
The shirts;" .r|......' Is
"Weu, you know he said il was such a
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 de-
clared you always used to make his shirts
at home, every stitch, before he was mar.
ried."
$50 did," acknowledged Mrs. Edmon-
stone, with groan. -But that was in
the old times, before you could buy such
a good article as they have now."
Yes, but Tom doesn't make any allow
ance for difference in times and customs
sighed Rachel. He wanted homemade
shirts, and homemade shirts he would
have!"
And you made emp"
"Yes, / made them."
you were great goose, "reflectively
spoke Mrs. Edmonstone.
8 And-and Tom swore dreadfully the
first time he put one Oh"
Il 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 grasped
him on the shoulders like policeman!
Oh, can't tell you what he didn't say"
Bless me-" said Mrs. Edmonstone.
lie lOlu HE Ills lIlOtHcI . Sill ott llko
a glove, and fitted him perfectly-and
why could l not turn out shirt like
those? And it was then, mother dear"
suddenly fiinging her arms around the
old lady's plump, comfortable neck,
that / lost my head, and told him I
wished there wasn't such thing as
mother in law in the world! And Betsy
Tacker sat in the sewing room altering
over my dolman in the spring style, and
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 ripping them
apart and sewing them together again,
and rounding off gusset here, and TAX
ing in plait there, until l have got so
that dream of them at night; and the
more try them on the worse they fit,
and the more unreasonable does Tom be-
come. MY mother never made such
work Of it as this' he says"
Thomas forgets. observed Mrs. Ed.
monstone severely.
And am sure, il things go on like
this" added Rachel, pushing her short
brown curls off her forehead, "it will end
ina separation on account of incompat-
ibility Of temper" st. 10.
"No,it won't, my dear, said the nssth.
or in law. Here, get me the pattern and
some shirting muslin, and pair Of scis.
sors." --
What are you going to do, mother?"
eagerly questioned Rachel.
"Im going to make Tom shirt But
don't you tell him, Rachel. Wen sec
whether it is Tom or the pattern that has