The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-03-23
HIS MOTHERS COOKING.
How Mr.. Smith Was Cured of a
Bad Habit.

81 suppose you call these things
doughnuts! said Mr.. Smith, picking
up a curly, brown edible on the ex-
tremc end of his fork, and cycling it
with an untranslatable expression of
countenance.
Eyes, of course do" said Mrs.
Smith, little timidly. Aren't they
nice? made them myself"
Mr.. Smith laid the curly, brown edi-
BILE down again, and pushed the plate
back
''Nice?" he repeated, I don't say
they're not nice. ] presume they're
nice enough in their way. But wish
you could have eaten my mothers
doughnuts"
"IIow were they different from these,
John?" Mrs. Smith vcntured deferen-
italy to inquire.
Mr.. Smith moved fretfully in his
chair.
''In every way" said he Women
nowadays don't know how to cook"
won't you eat one, John?"
'Thank you, my dear, one mouthful
is enough" sarcastically answered her
lord and master. 1--WE n lingering re-
spect left for my digestion. Joanna,
make me piece of toast. Stale bread,
mind, and brown it but very little.
don't care to load my stomach with
charcoal"
II was perhaps good thing for Mr..
Smith that he was too much occupied
with the columns of the morning paper
TO observe the expression of Joanna's
face as she whisked off into the kitchen
to execute her order
I'D 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 Inc man! And
she as patient and sweet as new milk
over itI'
Joanna johnson was no ordinary
SHRED help" She was grim, straight
backed, lantern-ja wed New England
woman, who had taken care Of Allie
Aston as child, and who, sooner than
desert her nursing when she married,
Joined her establishment in the hum
BILE capacity of general houseworker
tDiic ult wv itC Nbub bhJ WV Va AOueoi
would have accomplished, and for half
the wages, although no earthly power
would have induced her TO call herself
a servant" or wear frilled cap like
the other housemaids in the block.
Mrs. Aston was very quiet all that
day. Joanna watched her with wistful
eyes, as dog watches his master.
"Sho amt happy" pondered Joanna,
land it's because he's pckin' at her all
the time. Women don't know how to
cook, don't they? Well, if l was to
write down in book all that men don't
know, I'd have to build a house to keep
the volumes in, guess"
JOANNA said Mrs. Aston, in the
afternoon.
"Ma'amr responded Joanna.
Joanna was particular to accord Mrs.
Aston all the honorary attributes of
mistresshood, as n general thing 1t
was only when they were quite by
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.
~ wish you'd get me Mr.. Smiths
little brown valise. want to pack
it."
'Eh?" said Joanna. MIR. Smith go
ing away againP"
Yes" the young wife answered,
with something of defiance in her man.
ner. Its nearly three months since
he went away before, and business is
business, you know"
Yes" Joanna laconically answered,
Al know"
Mr.. Smith was to take the night
train. He came home to an early sup
per, but he 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, I'm not
much of q cook"
Them oy stcrs was beautiful, deary,"
said Joanna, IAN the fritters was az
light as a 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.
81 won't again, dear" said the New
Englander, covered with confusion
1T kind o. slipped out. But" she per
sisted, in low tone to herself, Its
true, all the same"
And" added Alice. John thinks sc
much of nice things to eat and drink
All men do"
Joanna muttered a grunt which might
be translated yes" or no." according
to pleasure.
1--WE almost mind to write to his
mother" observed Alice, land ask heI
advice. Don't you think it would be
good plan, JOANNA"
ut mightn't be a 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 q new re-
solve.