Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-11-19
THE BAKERS sTRATAGEM.


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. II was mysteryto 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 busi-
ness.likc 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
field, where several of their companions
were waiting to picnic with them, OF 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 irdg.
ment Do not suppose that the plundered
baker was, from the nature of his business,
a dough face, with opinions and conduct
moulded on the model of his neighbors.
He had a way of his own, and did not let
his feelings get into a talment, 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. ...-s-
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-
tcrmined, however, to protect his proper
ty, and at the same time to teach the
rogues 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 office
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 oftheir knavery.
! The doctor had a shrewd head, with q
tongue in it that could keep a secret, and,
like many of his profession he dearly
loved joke and plenty of practice So
he needed no kick to make him take
hint, and, putting up mammoth powder,
said,-
"Put that in your flour and the scamps,
Will let your cakes alone ("
l "It WON'T be too strong for them, will
0 it, doctor ?" asked the baker.
c ." It's pretty smart emetic and cathar-
S tic but" he added with a knowing
n twinkle, their mammas will be sure to
send for me, and I'll see that their young
4 hopefuls are not too much depleted"
: With this assurance, the baker, confident
1 as to the issue, made up large batch of
s the coveted cakes, wholly for the benefit
G of his clandestine customers.
When taken from the oven they proved
E beautiful illustrations of the adage, Looks
are -deccitful," 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 show case, and
the proprietor closing his establishment,
went away. Hewas scarcely out of sight,
, when the human mice for whom the trap
was set, made descent upon the cakes.
Having secured them, and taking their
: usual precaution to rebolt the door, they
hastened to their companions, who were
seated behind piles of lumber, and pro-
ceeded to discuss their ill-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 "tirst.class entertain
! ment" to the man of bread, who, con-
cealed from sight, was delighted speCta-
tor to their short lived fun.
"Myl how sick feeli" suddenly ex
claimed n lad turning white as he SPOKE,
and running from view.
$50 do II" echoed another, rapidly re-
treating homeward, followed by third at
"doubie quick" until in a marveously
short time, the group had vanished, and
! with like expedition, messengers were
5 flying from different dwellings for the
Q doctor.
, Never was the worthy man so beset. 1t
c was,-
:. "Doctor, won't you please come right
a up to Mr.. Pease's quick Our Hal is
! awful sick |"
+ Doctor, won't you see our Tom first
Y We can't stop his vomiting !"
Mothers were in great trouble. What
a the nature of the disease was that had SO
!. suddenly settled down upon the commun-
e ity, seizing only the young, they we're at
8 a loss to decide.
DIR. Dosem was calm amid the general
l fluster, and by his self possession won
a golden opinions; but little light did his
I lamp shed ON the question, and small COM
, fort did he offer to his patients. To the
:, oft,repeated inquiries at the bed-sides OF
e the sick boys
S "What is the matter, doctor Do you
think the attack dangerous ?" He would
q shake his oracular head and say, trust
!. not madam. Your son has undoubtedly
y | oota,, oOYnath Hmm he OnDht moi b"
am sure the good Samaritan" made
. at least two calls upon his conyalescing
!. patients, putting dollars in his purse, and
= Z feathers in his cap : for, skillful man,
= = he did not lose case. Indeed, double
4 cure was wrought-the lads got well, and
7 they stole no more Yoath's Companion
\ ti