St. Paul daily globe., 1893-03-30
HIS MOTHERS COOKING.

up a curly brown edible on the extreme
end of his fork, and eyeiDg 1t with an
untranslatable expression of counte-
nance.
"Yes, of course do" said Mrs. Smith.
little timidly. Aren't they nice?
made them myself"
Mr.. Smith laid the curly brown edible
down again, and pushed the plate back
"Nice?" he repeated. IL don't say
they're not nice. presume they're nice
enough in their way. But L wish you
could have eaten my mothers dough-
nuts"
How were they different from these.
John?" Mrs. Smith ventured deferen-
TALLY to inquire
h Mr.. Smith moved fretfully IN his
I'm every way" said he. "Women
nowadays don't know how to cook"
Wont you eat one, John"'
THANK you. my dear, one mouthtul
is enough" sarcastically answered her
lord and master. 1--WE lingering re-
spect left for my digestion. Joanna,
make me piece OF toast. Stale bread,
mind, and brown it very little. L don't
care to load my stomach with charcoal
| Smith that he was TOO much occupied
with the columns of the morning paper
to observe the expression of ,IOanna's
face as she whsked off into the kitchen
to execute his order.
"Fd like to shake some of that non
| sense out of him. muttered Joanna to
| herself, as she shut two slices OF bread
into the toaster and held it over the fire.
"Of all fools give me a man! AND
| she as patient and sweet as new milk
! over it,"
| Joanna johnson was no ordinary
"hired help" She was grim, straight
backed, lantern-jawed New England
woman, who had taken care of Allie
Alston as child, and who, sooner than
desert her nurSling when she married,
! Joined her establishment in the humble
capacity of general houseworker. She
| did twice what any Celt or TeutOn
would have accomplished. and for half
the wages, although no earthly power
would have induced her to call herself
servant or wear frllled cap ike
the other housemaidS in the block.
Mrs. Smith was very quiet all that
day. Joanna watched her with wlsttul
eyes, as a dog watches his master.
"She amt happy" pOndered Joanna,
land it's because he's pickup at her all
the time. Women don't know how TO
cook, don't they? Well, if | was to
write down III book all that men don't
know, I'd have to built house to keep
the volumes in, guess"
"Joannan said Mrs. Smith, in the
afternoon.
"Ma'amr' responded Joanna.
Joanna was particular to accord Mrs.
Smith all the honorary attributes of
mistresshood, as general thing. 1t
| ,l,r
themselves that she INDUCED in the
sweet usages of the past and called her
pet and "sweetheart' and ''her own
little Allie" as if they were nurse and
baby again.
ii wish you'd get me Mr.. Smiths lit
tie brown valise. L want to pack it"
"Eh?' said Joanna. Mr.. Smith going
away again?"
Yes" the young wife answered with
something of defiance i'll her manner.
''It's nearly three months since he went
away before, and business is business.
yOn know"
Yes" Joanna laconically answered,
II know"
Mr.. Smith was to take the night train.
He came home to an early supper, but
lie would not eat much Of the nice fried
oysters and apple fritterS which Alice
had prepared for him.
JOANNA" sighed the young wife,
when her husband had gone, Pm not
much of a cook"
"Them oysters was beautiful, deary."
said Joanna, "an' the fritters was as
light as feather"
John couldn't eat them"
That's all his cantankerousness,
dear"
Joanna, you shouldn't speak of my
husband in that way!" cried Alice, fir
ing up.
Il won't again, dear" said the New
Englander, covered with confusion. "It
kind O. slipped out. But" she persist
ed in a low tone to herself, "its true all
the same"
'And," added Alice, John thinks so
much of nice things to eat and drink.
All men do"
Joanna muttered grunt which might
be translated "yes" or MOI according
to pleasure.
"Pve almost mind to write to his
mother" observed Alice, land ask her
advice. Don't you think 1t would be a
good plan, Joanna?"
''It mightn't be a bad One," said the
non-commlttal daughter of Cape Ann.
She went back to the kitchen and
stirred up batter for the mornings buck
wheats, her face full of a new resolve.
Il amt much of a hand at pen and
ink" said Joanna to herself. but
if there's any letter-writin' done to his
mother, | guess FL take hand in it,
tooI'
And so effectual was the work of her
gray goose Quill - for Joanna never
could accustom herself to any of the
new steel and oreide abominations-that
within a week, and before Alice had
quite decided what to say when she
should get ready to write to her mother
in-laW. there came pleasant little note
from Mrs. John Smith the elder, saying
how long a tine it was since she had
had a visit from Alice
Cant you come nOW," she wrote,
"while John is away travelling? l
should not at all wonder if he stopped
here OH his way home. and what a
pleasant surprise it will be to him to
find you here!"
Alice's face frightened. She ran to
show the letter to Joanna.
won't it be nice?" said she, like a
delighted child.
lit Just will! !" said Joanna.
Mrs. John Smith. the elder. was not
in the least like the conventional idea
of muther-in-law. She was a comfort
able, pillowy old lady, with twinkling
gold spectacles, frill of real lace
around her neck, and black silk dress
that rustIed softly as she walked. Just
the kind of a woman to cOnfide in, and
in less than twenty-four hours she and
Alice had talked the whole matter over,
and Alice had prepared sundry test
dishes in the kitchen
my DEAR" said the old lady, ''you
are a better cook than ever | was"
"But, mother, John doesn't think So"
"John must be made to appreciate his
blessings, my DEAR" said Mrs. Smith,
! the elder.
Of course, Mr.. Smith was pleased to
find Alice there when he stopped for a
, fiving visit on the way home. 1t was
lust at dinner time when he arrived.
, and he ate like a starved wolf.