The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1893-03-23
HIS MOTHERS COOKING.
How Mr.. Smith Was Cured Of q
Bad Habit.

II suppose you call these things
doughnuts!" said Mr.. Smith, picking
up curly. brown edible on the ex-
IRENE end of his fork, and cycling it
with IN 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-
bic down again, and pushed the plate
. back.
''Nice?' he repeated, II don't say
they're not nice. I presume they're
nice enough in their way. But wish
you could have eaten my mothers
doughnuts.
''How were they different from these,
John?' Mrs. Smith ventured deferen-
TALLY to inquire.
Mr.: Smith moved fretfully in his
chair.
''In every way" said he. "Women
nowadays don't know how to cook
Wont you eat one, John?'
"Thank you. my dear, one nlouthful
is enough" sarcastically answered her
lord and master. live 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" +
It was perhaps good thing for Mr.
Smith that he was too much occupied
with the columns of the morning paper
nj, <l,o
face US 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 toastcr and held it over the
fire. 'Of all fools, give Inc man! And
she as patient and sweet us new milk
over it!''
Joanna johnson was no ordinary
''hircd help" She was u grim. straight
backed. lantern-jawed 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
bic capacity of general houseworker.
She did twice what any Celt or Teuton
would have accomplished, and for hall
the wages, although no earthly power
would have induced her to call herself
= ''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 a dog watches his master
''She amt happy" pondered Joanna,
land it's because he's pickin' 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 house to keep
the volumes in, guess"
''Joanna!" said Mrs. Aston, in the
afternoon.
"Ma'am"" responded Joanna.
Joanna was particular to accord Mrs.
Aston all the honorary attributes of
Inistresshood, as a general thing. 1t
was only when they We're quite by
themselves that she INDUCED in the
sweet usagcs of the past and called
her pet" and ''sweetheart'' and 'her
own little Allie" as if they were nurse
and baby again.
Il wish you'd get me Mr.. Smiths
little brown valise. l want to pack
it,"
''Eh?" said Joanna. MIR. Smith 60
ing away again?'
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 lacon,cally answered.
IL know"
Mr.. Smith was to take the night
train. lie 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 COOK
Them oysters was beautiful, deary,"
said Joanna. IAN the fritters was as
light as feather
John couldn't eat them"
''Thats all his cantankerousness.
dear" j
Joanna, you shouldn't speak of my
husband in that way!" cried Alice. fir
ing up. 49, s.,
II won't again, DEAR" said the New
Englander, covered with confusion.
1T kind O. slipped out. But" she per-
sisted, in a low tone to herself, Its
true, all the same"
''And," added Alice, John thinks-so
much Of nice things to eat and drink.
All men do.'' - 50
Joanna mrttered grunt which might
be translated yes or no." according
to pleasure.
1--WE almost mind to write to his
mother" observed Alice. land ask her
advice. Don't you think it~would be a
good plan, Joanna?'
at 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 a new re.
solve.
II amt much of q hand at pen and
ink" said Joanna to herself. But il
there's any lelter-writin' done to his
mother, l guess I'll take hand in it,
too!''
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 a1ominations.-
that within the week, and before Alice
had quite decided what toAsay wher
.she should set ready to write to hel
2nother-in:law, there came a pleasant
little note from Mrs. John Smith the
older, saying how long a time it wa.
since she had had q visit from Allie.
Cant you come now," she wrote
"whilc John is away traveling?' !
should not at I'LL swonder if he stopped
here on his way home, and what {
pleasant surprise it will be to him K
find You here!''
A1ice's face frightened. She ran tt
show the letter to Joanna. - y.
e wont it he nice?". said she, like ,
delighted child. .s ~ 90
1T just will!' said Joanna. Y NH