The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1869-11-18
THE BAKERS STRATAGEM.

Mr.. PERLEY was u Oaker in Meriden.
He had just started in business, and was
| encouraged that the good light bread, hot
| from his capacious ovens, and cakes
sweetened, spiced and plummed to taste,
were fast getting into everybOdy's
mouth"
But one thing puzzled him. The large,
| round molasses cakes" the plainest,
most wholesome, and, to healthy appetites,
relishable of his toothsome eatables. went
| off too fast for the number of pennies
they brought in. 1t was mystery to him.
And what heightened it was this He was
| his own clerk, but he noticed that if he
stepped out for half hour, the stock of
cakes would strangely lessen, though the
store meanwhile was closed.
So one day shutting up shop, he passed
through the principal street with bust
ness-like air, to return by back way, in
time to see his shop entered by two or
three boys, who deXterously undid the
fastening, helped themselves to the goodies,
as deity refastened the door and then ran to
a field, where several Of their companions
were waiting to picnic with them, off the
spoils. ~
Now the successful mixing and baking
of dough into bread in its various kinds,
especially on large scale, requires, as any
housewife can testify, great good judg
ment. Do not suppose that the plundered
baker was, from the nature of his business,
dough- face, with opinions and conduct
moulded on the model of his neighbors
He had way of his own, and did not let
his feelings get into fernlent, and temper
rise, leading him to collar the thieves, as
some persons would have done. and then
to fog them. No. Neither did he have
them sent to Jail, and disgraced without
reforming them.
He was comparative stranger in the
place, and it was not for his interest need
lessly to irritate the friends of the young
burglars, and not few of the trespassers
were from the best families" He de-
termined, however, to protect his proper
ty, and at the same time to teach the
rogues a salutary lesson. The way he
accomplished this we commend to the
study of reformers who believe in moral
but not in legal suasion.
At the opposite end of the town, lived
the village doctor. Calling at his offic,
the baker related the annoyances to which
he had been subjected and inquired if his
medical friend could not give him some
thing to mix with his dough that would
make the boys sick of their knayery.
The doctor had a shrewd head, with n
tongue in it that could keep secret, and,
like many Of his profession, he dearly
loved joke and plenty Of practice. So
he needed no kick TO make him take a
hint, and, putting up mammoth powder,
said,-
:" Put that in your flour and the scamps,
Will let your cakes alone -
Il WON'T be too strong for them, will
it, doctor ?" asked the baker.
It's pretty smart emetic and cathar-
tic but" he added, with a knowing
twinkle, their mammas will be sure to
send for me, and I'll see that their young
hopefuls are not too much depleted"
With this assurance, the baker, confident
as to the issue, made up large batch of
the coveted cakes, wholly for the benefit
of his clandestine customers.
When taken from the oven they proved
beautiful illustrations of the adage, Looks
are deceitful," for they were unusually
light and handsome, and the doctor, who
dropped in to watch the progress of the
experiment, declared that for once he was
tempted to take his own medicine
The cakes were now conspicuously
ranged in the front shop showcase, and
the proprietor, closing his establishment,
when the human mice for whom the trap
was set, made a descent upon the cakes
Having secured them, and taking their
usual precaution to rebOlt the door, they
fastened to their companions, who were
seated behind piles of lumber, and pro-
ceeded to discuss their i'll gotten repast.
Nothing in smell or flavor betrayed the
presence of the potent powder, and their
ravenous eating and jokes, at the bakers
expense, were a " first-class entertain
ment" to the man of bread, who, con-
cealed from sight, was a delighted specta-
tor to their short lived fun.
"Myl how sick | feeli" suddenly ex-
claimed lad, turning white as he spoke,
and running from view.
SO do Il" echoed another, rapidly re-
treating homeward, followed by third at
double quick" until in a marvelously
short time, the group had vanished, and
with like expedition, messengers were
flying from different dwellings for the
/ doctor.
Never was the worthy man so beset. 1t
was
doctor, won't you please come right
up to Mr.. Pease's quick Our Hal is
awful sickr'
Doctor, won't you see our Tom first
We can't stop his vomiting y
Mothers were in great trouble. What
the nature of the disease was that had SD
suddenly settled down upon the commun-
ity, Seizing only the young, they were at
loss to decide.
DR.. Doscm was calm amid the general
fluster, and by his self possession won
golden opinions but little light did his
lamp shed on the question, and small COM
fort did he offer to his patients To the
oftrepeated inquiries at the bed-sides of
the sick boys
What is the matter doctor :? Do you
think the attack dangerous ?" He would
shake his oracular head and say, trust
not, madam. Your son has undoubtedly
eaten something he eught not"
am sure the good Samaritan" made
at least two calls upon his convalescing
patients, putting dollars in his purse, and
feathers in his cap;' for, skillful man,
he did not lose a case. Indeed, a double
cure was wrought-the lads got well, and
they stole no more Youths Companion.