The Bossier banner., 1893-05-11

JodHud mutteTeu SrunG Wnlcn might
be translated yes or no." according
to pleasure.
I've almost mind to write to his
mother" observed Alice, "and ask her
advice. Don't you think it would be
good plan, Joanna?"
"It mightn't be bad one," said the
noncommittal daughter of Cape Ann.
She went back to the kitchen and
stirred up batter for the mornings
buckwheats, her face full of new re-
solve.
II amt much of hand at pen and
ink" said Joanna to herself. ''But if
there's any letter-writin' done to his
mother, l guess I'll take hand in it,
tool"
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 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 visit from Allie.
Cant you come now," she wrote,
''while John is away travelling? l
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.
Wont it be nice?" said she, like a
delighted child.
1T just Will" said Joanna.
Mrs. John Smith. the elder, was not
in the least like the conventional idea
of a mother-in-law. She was COM
Portable, pillowy old lady, with twink
ling gold spectacles, frill of real lace
around her neck and a black silk dress
that rustled softly as she walked. Just
the kind of 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 / 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 a
flying visit on the way home. 1t was
just at dinner time when he arrived,
and he ate like starved wolf.
"Ah-h-h!'' said he, helping himself a
second time to the fiaky chicken pie
and sending his coffee cup for a re-
Punishment "This Is something like!
The people on. west don't know what
cooking means. l see, mother, you
haven't forgotten your old skill. An
other croquettc, 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 dinner as this since l was
at home before. / do wish, mother,
you could give Allie a few points in
these matters"
Mrs. John Smith, the elder, looked
across the table to where Alice's fair
head drooped over her plate.
Don't mind him, Allie" she said,
encouragingly. "You may show him
tomorrow what you can do"
At breakfast the fshballs were pro-
nounced too dry.
Don't you like them?" futtered
Allie, with an apprehensive glance at
her mother in-law.
"Do I like sawdust? What's that
you've got there? Broiled chickens!
How came 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 boiled egg"
Dinner was no better. The roast
grouse was overdone, the oyster pie
was pronounced "soggy," the pudding
like lead.
mo wonder" groaned Mr.. Smith,
"that dyspepsia is the great American
diseased"
"Why, john" chirped the CHEEKY old
lady, what ails you? You never used
to grumble SO at what you ate and
drank"
Its Allies vile cooking!" groaned
the young man.
mo, it isn't" said Mrs. John Smith,
the elder. '1ts mine"
"What!" shouted her son, dropping
his knife.
'I've done all the cooking to-day"
said Mrs. John Smith, the elder. "Ex-
actly as l used to do it when you lived
at home, and suited you to r."
."And-and who cooked the dinner
yesterday" stammered John.
''Alice' Everything on the table! I
always told her that she was better
cook than l was. And you will believe
it now"
John sat for a moment or two in
silence; then he wnistled low, long
whistle.
81 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 obeyed, stopping on the
way to give her mother-in-law a low
ing little hug.
Iooppa Jcbpeop ,roc IN, +bo o1or4 40