The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-03-15
HIS MOTHERS COOKING.

-Four girls sat around q pretty Iuhch-
table on which was spread very nice
little meal. The room, tsstefully fur
nished, and the dress of the hostess-the
latest thing in tea gowns-proyed that
she had an ample purse at command.
So, in fact, did the china, the silver, the
damask upon the board.
The tea-goTn, the little cap pe-ched
upon the lovely hair, all the matronly
sffectations Of dress, as well as the we'd
ding ring and keeper upon her finger,
were tokens that she had now been mar
ried year. But as her guests studied
her face they became aware that it wore
a worried, puckered look that they had
never seen upon IT in the days Of her
single blessedness. and being near rela-
tiyes and very intimate they did not
make any pretense Of not noticing it.
"You don't look well, my iear," said
her cousin Persis, breaking the silence.
"You don's look comfortable some
how" said her sister Fannie. Il know
that look Of old"
@You look cross" said Fleda, plump
ly, taking another tea biscuit from the
plate. THAT is the long and short Of it,
Penelope"
Thank you" said Penelope, tossing
her head Bat Suddenly she set the plate
she was about passing to her guests down
upon the table again, drew q little scrap
of lace and linen cambrie from some mys-
terious recess Of the teagown, and appli-
ed it to her eyes.
"He hasn't taken to beating you, has
he p asked Persis.
'Why, what a question: OF course
not :" answered Penelope.
AT all events" said Persis, Il had as
soon be lashed with a whip as with a
tongue"
Laurence is incapable of scolding, !"
said Mrs. Chapone.
"But is it Laurence?" said Fannie.
1T is always the husband when one is
married." said Persis.
YES / confess it is Laurence. He
he-he is always talking about his moth
ers cooking" sobbtd Penelope, fairly
breaking down. "He really did love the
things his mother made for him. Now,
l deal with a good baker; l have Wen
na bread; vary the sorts, all light and
good, and think l known about meat
and vegetables, and 1 like fruit deserts.
can buy so much that is good, but it is
that old New England, homemade cook
cry that Laurence pines for. The other
day he said in quite a tragic way, oh,
for one of those dear old boiled apple
dumplings.'"
~Awfuliy indigestible," said Persis, in
her doctors voice.
Il wen. to visit dear Mrs. Chapone be-
fore was married" said Penlope, "and
you went with me, Fannie"
"How kind she was" said Fannie.
"She was always cooking something
good"
"Good% said Penelope. 20 Fannie,
Il love and respect my mother-in-law.
She is the salt of the earth. But every
thing swan in grease"
"The bread came on the table from the
oven," said Fannie.
"Four kinds each meal" said Pene-
lope. Coffee, tea chocolate. pies, waf-
fles, for breakfast. Bacon, fried potatoes,
fried everything"
"And she made one taste it all, " laugh
ed Fannie.
"When we got home" said Penlope,
I'VE went to bed and had bilious at
tack apiece. All that time Laurence liv-
ed in the country, out of doors all the
while. on horseback, in the open air for
hours, rowing, fishing, experimenting
the farm work, lendinga a hand himself
You know lumbermen upin Maine can
live on Eat pork and beans. But now he
comes from his Office to the fat or walks
block or two after tea. Ifhe takes me
anywhere We usually ride / know he
would not like the same things, but il
has gotten to be mania with him.
"Just so" said Persis, @and you suffer-
"Why, ifI were to hint his mothers
cooking might not be the best known on
earth, We should quarrel" said Penelope
ALREADY am so sick of that continual
repetition Of homemade bread that
want to shrek when hear it. Itried tc
make batch, and Bridget tried TO make
another; the result was not encouraging.
81 don't know what you are to do
Penelope" sighed Fannie.
"Resist tyranny from the frst," sait
Fleda.
81 know what you ought to do" said
Fleda. @Ask his mother down. Let hel
cook for you q month. She'll do it
She'll just know how her poor boy snf
fers from want of proper nourishment
She'll come and You will see.
Il don't know but what you are right,
said Penelope. "My sister-in-law knowl