Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-03-08

could accustom herself to any of the
| new steel and oreide nominations
that within the week, and before Alice
had quite decided what to say when
| she should get ready to write to her
mother-in-law, there came a pleasant
little note from Mrs. John Smith the
| elder, saying how long time it was
since she had had a visit from Allie.
Cant you come now" she wrote,
''while John is away travelling?
should not at all wonder if he stopped
here on 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
delighted child.
sit just will" said Joanna.
Mrs. John Smith, the elder, was not
in the least like the conventional idea
of IA mother-in-law. She was q COM
Portable, pillowy old lady, with twink
ling gold spectacles, frill of real lace
around her neck and black silk dress
that rustled softly as she walked. just
the kind of n 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 better cook than ever l was"
But, mother, John doe sn'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
flying visit on the way home. 1t was
just at dinner time when he arrived,
and he ate like Il starved wolf
"Ah-h-h!" said he, helping himself
second time to the flaky chicken pie
and sending his coffee cup for a re-
Punishment. This is something like!
The people ont west don't know what
cooking means. l see, mother, you
haven't forgotten your old skill. An
other croqucttc, please. And pass the
doughnuts. Now, look here, Allie
eat these, if you want to know what
doughnuts really are. Why, used to
take these to school in my lunch box
when l was ten years old! haven't
eaten such n dinner as this since l was
at homo before. l do wish, mother,
you could give Allie few points in
these matters"
Mrs John Smith, the elder, looked
across the table to where Alicc's fair
head dropped over her plato.
Don't mind him, Allie" she said,
encouragingly. "You may show him
tomorrow what you can do"
At breakfast the flshballs were pro-
nounced too dry.
H,,kf
Allie, with an apprchensivc glance at
her mother-in-law
"Do l like sawdust? What's that
you've got thcre2 Broiled chickens!
How camc you to scorch them so? And
half raw in the middle! Call these
rolls? Why, they're heavy as lead!
Boil me an egg, can't you? Luckily no.
body can spoil Il boiled egg"
Dinner was no better. The roast
grouse was ovcrdonc, the oyster pie
was pronounced 'soggy," the pudding
like lead.
mo wonder" groaned Mr. Smith,
''that dyspepsia is the great American
diseasc!'
"Why, john" chirped the CHEEKY old
lady, what ails you? You never used
to grumble so at what you ute and
drank"
Its Allies vile cooking!" groaned
the young man.
mo, it isn't" said Mrs. John Smith,
the elder. Its mine"
WHAT" shouted her son, dropping
his knife.
I've done all the cooking to-day"
said Mrs. John Smith, the elder. Eek
actlv as used to do it when you lived
of 70
'And-nnd who cooked the dinner
yesterday" stammered John.
"Alice! Everything on the table!
always told her that she was better
cook than was. And you will believe
it now"
John sat for moment or two In
silence; then he wnistled q low, long
whistle.
II give up 'beat!' said he. "Alice, we
shall have to hand over the first prize
to you. Come around here, my girl,
and kiss me-
And Alice obcyed, stopping on the
way to give her mothcr-in-law q low
ing little hug.
Joanna johnson was on the alert to
catch every word and look when the
young couple returned home, and ap-
vations was satisfactory.
II kind O. thought it would work."
said she to herself, with a grim smile.
Them doughnuts she fried last night,
he said he had never tasted no better.
They was like thistledowns.'
Just then Alice came in all radiant
Joanna" said she, did you hear
what Mr.. Smith said about my cook
ingP"
Eyes, dear, did," smiled Joanna
"IIe likes my cooking now"
He'd be n strange person if he
didn't, dear" observed the help"
But Alice kept the story of the little
stratagem to herself. She was too
loyal n wife to betray Johns discomfit-
ure even to faithful Joanna; and on
her side the lank New Highlander never
let Alice know of the letter she had
surreptitiOhsly written to Mrs John
Smith, the elder, suggesting this very
plan.
"It takes a good deal of machinery to
get ahead of man." said Joanna to
L 4