The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-03-23

new steel and oreide denominations
that within the week, and before Alice
had quite decided what to say when
she should get ready to write to her
motherin-law, there came 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.
at just will" said Joanna.
Mrs. John Smith. the elder, was not
In the least like the conventional idea
of mother-in-law. She was a COM
Portable, pillowy old lady, with twink
ling gold spcctacles, o frill of real lace
around her neck and 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 q better cook than ever I 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 a starved wolf.
"Ah-h-h!" said he, helping himself a
second time to the flaky chicken pie
and sending his coffee cup for re-
Punishment This is something like!
The people out west don't know what
cooking means l see, mother. you
haven't forgotten your old skill. An
other croquette, please. And pass the
doughnuts. Now, look mere, Allie
cat these, if you want to know what
doughnuts really are. Why, used to
when / was ten years old! i haven't
eaten such dinner as this since l was
at home 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 Alice's fair
head dropped over her plate.
HDcn,t mind him All;n ~ Sba sold
encouraginglt You may show him
tomorrow what you can do"
At breakfast the fishballs were pro-
nounccd too dry.
Don't you like them?" fluttered
Allie, with an apprchensive glance at
her mothcr-in-law.
"Do l like sawdust? What's that
you've got there? Broilcd chickens!
How came you to scorch them so? And
half raw in the middlc! 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 ovcrdonc, 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 grumblc so at what you ate and
drank"
Its Allies vile cooking" groaned
the young man.
NO, it isn't" said Mrs John Smith,
the elder. Its mine"
what" shouted her son, dropping
his knife.
1--WE done all the cooking to-day"
said Mrs. John Smith, the elder. Tx
actly as used to do it when you lived
at home, and suited you to r."
"And--and who cooked the dinner
yesterday" stammered John.
"Alicc! Everything on the table! l
always told her that she was better
cook than was. And you will believe
it now"
John sat for a moment or two in
silence; then he wnistlcd 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.
Joanna Johnson was on the alert to
catch every word and look when the
young couple returned home, and APP
parcntly the result of her obser-
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 thistiedowns"
just then Alice came in all radiant.
Joanna" said she, did you hear
what Mr. Smith said about my cook
ing?"
"Yes, dear, l did," smiled Joanna
"Ile likes my cooking now"
He'd be q 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 discomf1t-
ure even to faithful Joanna; and on
her side the lanlS New Englander never
let Alice know of the letter she had
surrcptitiously written to Mrs. John
Smith, the elder, suggesting this very