The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-04-11

ncr gray goose QullI-ior Joanna never
! could accusto1 herself TO any of the
new steel and oreide denominations
that within the week. ard before Alice
had quito decided what to say when
she should get ready to write to her
mother-in-law, there came pleasant
little note from Mrs. John Smith the
elder. saying how long a time it was
since she had had visit from Allie.
Cant you come now" she wrote,
''whiie John is away travelling?
should not at ell wonder if he stopped
| here on his way home, and what a
pleasant surprise it will be to him to
tnd you here!"
Alicc's fac, frightened. She ran to
show the letter 10 Joanna.
Wont it be nice?" said she, like a
delighted child.
lit just will.' said Joanna.
Mrs. John Smith. the elder, was not
in the least like the conventional idea
OF mother-in-law. She was Il com
Portable. piilowy old lady. with twink
ling gold spectacles, frill of real lace
around her neck and black silk dress
that rustled softly as she walked Just
the kind of u woman to confde 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 doesn'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 slime when he arrived,
and he ate like a starved wolf.
''Ah-h-h!' said he, helping himself a
second time to the haky chicken pie
and sending his coffee cup for re-
punishment This is something like!
The people out west don't know what
cooking means. I see, mother. you
haven't forgotten your old skill. An
other croquette, please. And pass the
doughnuts. Now, look here, Allie
cat these. if you want to know what
doughnuts really are. Why, used to
take these to school in ray lunch box
when l was ten years old! l 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.
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 / 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 4 boiled egg
Dinner was no better. The roast
grouse was overdoDc, 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 grunble SO at what you ate and
drank"
"It's Allies vile cooking" groaned
the young man.
''No. it isn't" said Mrs. John Smith,
the elder ats mine"
what" shouted her son, dropping
his knife.
1--WE done all the cooking to-day"
said Mrs. John Smith, the elder. "Ex-
actly as l used 10 do it when you lived
at home, and suited you to a r."
"And-and who cooked the dinner
stammered John.
"Alice! Everything on the table, /
always told her that she was better
cook than 1 was And you will believe
it now"
John sat for a moment or two in
silence; then he wnistled a low, long
whistle.
81 give up beat" said he.E''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 lool; when the
young couple returned home, and ap-
parentiy the result of her obser-
vations was satisfactory.
Il kind O. thought it would work"
said she to herself. with 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 Dir. Smith said about my cook /
ing?"
Yes, dear, I did" smiled Joanna,
''He likes my cooking now"
He'd be a strange person if he
lidn't dear" observed the help"
But Alice kept the story OF the little |
,tratagem to herself She was too
oval wife to betraY Johns discomfit-
IRE even to faithful Joanna: and on
ler side the lanlz New Highlander never
ct Alice know Of the letter she had /
sure ptitiously written to Mrs John
Smith, the elder, suggesting this very
plan.
1T takes good deal of machinery 70
ret ahead of a man" said Joanna to
herself, but l guess we did it this
inc. Saturday Night.
"A door has two lambs. Write /