The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-05-27

ink" said Joanna to herself. s.But Il
there's any lettcr-writin' done to his
mother, guess I'll take hand in it,
toor'
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 denominations
that within the week, and before Alice
had quito decided what to say when
she should get ready to write to her
mother-in-law, there came o pleasant
little note from Mrs. John Smith the
elder, saying bow long time it was
since she had had a visit from Allie.
| Cant you come now" she wrote,
'while John is away travelling? I
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 hcre!"
Alice's facs frightened. She ran to
show the letter TO Joanna.
won't it be nice?" said she, like a
! delighted child.
ut just will!' said Joanna.
Mrs John Smith, the elder, was not
in the least like the conventional idea
Of q mother-in-law. She was a COM
Portable, pillowy old lady, with twink
ling gold spcctacles, n frill of real lace
around her neck and black silk dress
that rustlcd softly as she walked. Just
the kind of u woman to confidc in, and
in less than twcnty-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 I'D lady, ''you
are better cook than ever / was"
But, mother, John doc 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 n starved wolf.
"Ah-h-h!" said he, helping himself a
second time to the flaky chicken pie
and sending his coffee cup for a re-
Punishment This is something like!
The people out west don't know what
cooking means see, mother, YOU
haven't forgotten your old skill. An
other croquettc, please. And pass tho
doughnuts. Now, look here, Allie
cat these. if you want to know what
doughnuts really are. Why, used to
take these to school In my lunch box
when ! was ten years old! haven't
eaten such n dinner as this since was
at homo before. 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 plate.
Don't mind him, Allie" she said,
encouragingly. ''You may show him
tomorrow what you can do"
At breakfast the iishbslls were pro-
nounccd too dry.
Don't you like thcm?" fluttcrcd
Allie. with On apprchcnsive glance at
her mothcr-in.law.
"Do ] like sawdust? What's that
you've got thcrc9 Eroilcd chickens!
How came you to scorch thcm so? And
half raw In tho middlci Call these
rolls? Why, they're heavy as lead!
Eoil mo IN cgg. can't you? Luckily no.
body can spoil boiled egg"
Dinner WINS no better. The roast
grouse was ovcrdoDc. the oyster pic
was pronounced ''soggy. the pudding
like lead.
mo WONDER" groancd Mr.. Smith,
that dyspepsia is the great American
"Why, John" chirpcd the CHEEKY old |
lady. what ais you? You never used |
to gruInblc SO at what you ate and
drank"
Its Allies vile cooking!" groancd |
The young man.
mo. it isn't" said Mrs John Smith,
The elder. "lt's mine"
''What" shouted her son, dropping
his xnifc.
"I'vc don, all the cooking to-day"
said Mrs. John Smith, the elder. "Ex-
actly as used to do it when you lived
ut homo, and suited you to r."
"And-and who cooked the dinner
stammcred John.
"Alicc! Everything on the tablet
always told her that she was better
.ools than was. And you will believe
{ now"
John sat for moment or two in
silence; then he wnistled q low, long
II give up bcat!" said he. "Alice, we
hall have to hand over the first prize
o you. Come around here, my girl,
md kiss me-"
And Alice obcycd, stopping on the
way to give her mother-in-law q Low.
ng little hug.
Joanna johnson was on the alert to
atch every word and look when the
Dung couple returned home, and APP
'arcntly the result of her obser-
atoms was satisfactory.
II kind O. thought it would work."
aid she to herself, with a grim smile.