Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-26
A LOAF OF BREAD.

IT'S the house coming DOWN" asked Mr.. Mer-
riman, looking up from his sermon-llke paper
desparingly.
For there was q hurrying to and fro from
all quarters Of the old mansion, a running I'D
and down stairs, subdued bustle a murmur
of excitement, and finally burst of laughter in
many keys OF elation, sounding as IL it came
from the subterranean recesses of the kitchen.
mo, papa" cried little Lottie, breathlessly:
but Minnie's bread has come out Of the oven,
and it's success"
'Oh" said Mr.. Msrriman, abstractedly staring
out of the window and scratching his bald head
lis that all?"
THAT all, indeed" said Minnie herself. very
blooming GIRL with short riRgs of fiaxen hair
falling all over her head, light blue eyes and a
pretty pug nose, with just the proper upward
inclination to give 1t O bewitching shape And
She ran into the room with bib-apron envelop-
Ing her slim figure and q fresh color deepening
on her cheek, while by means Of a stout kitchen
towel she held up tin baking pan containing a
puffy, snOw-whlte loaf of new bread. THAT all,
papa, when it's the first bread ever made, and
when it's to be sent to the hospital fair to be cut
into sandwiches and sold for the sick poor at
ten cents apecei Look at it, papa, smell of
it. see how deliciousy light it is And then tell
me if you ever expected to have your little Min
ME turn into such q stupendous hOusekeeperi"
And Miss Minnie Merrman kissed her father
on the tip of his nose, and looked at him with
pretty girIish triumph.
Very nice-very creditable!' said the good
clergyman, beaming on his daughter II dare
say you will make q famous cook one Of these
days"
Il only hope" put In Penny, the second
daughter (whose baptismal name was Penelope
Dorcas), that Mr.. Ayton will come to the fair
and buy some of Minnies sandwiches, and"
Minnie turned short round. flushing pink to
the very roots of her pretty hair
Penny, said she, 'what nonsense you are
talking, when you know very well that Mr..
AytOn Is sick with pneumonia. And Of course
he has sent a liberal subscription to the fair;
and what can it possibly matter who buys the
bread?"
Penny subsidized, rather abashed, and Minnie
ran down stairs again to wrap the white spOngy
loaf in snowy napkin and send Jerusha, the
bound girl, to the rooms of the fair committee
with it.
Now remember, Jerusha." she uttered i'm
pressively as she held up one finger to add force
to her words. cit is No. 1919, do you hear p
10 Saville street,"
"Yesm." said Jerusha who was so demoral-
lied at the prospect OF q temporary reprieve
from her DISTINGUISHING that she could hardly
stand still long enough to tie on her bonnet.
And away she went gamboling down the
street like half-grown elephant, with the
carefully wrapped-up loaf of bread in a basket
ON one arm.
my first loaf of bread!" said Minnie to her
self, as she leaned against the window casing
''Oh, I'm so glad it has turned out success %
And then her thoughts wandered to Mr.. Har-
ry AytOn Would he be well enough to come
to the fair that EVENING" Would he patronize
the refreshment hall? Would he think her little
pink ribbOned apron with the bib front becom-
ing2 Would he-Oh, pshaw, this would never
do Here it was ten o'clock and the par.Ors not
busted nor Biliy's Sunday suit mended and
brushed ready for service.
While JeruSha after giving her imDartial at
teltiOn to hand-organs, scissors grinder and a
street scutfle between two belligerenty- minded
little boys, finally trudged up the steps Of No.
30 Saville street.
''Please, with Miss Minnie Merriman's kind
compliments" said she. "Please, and it's the
first bread she ever made; please, and she hopes
you'll like it,
And Lois Jenkins Mr.. Harry AytOn's faithful
old nurse and hOusekeeper, carried the loaf of
bread upstairs to the room where the conva-
descent sat in the sunshine and delivered the
message, uerbdtim ct hterotina.
''And very kind it Ia Of the minister's daugh-
ter" she said, setting the parcel on the table
''And it's as beautiful light bread as I ever see!
member you now, amt it? But Miss Minnie
was always one for doing kind things to sick
folks ever since she was knee-high to q grass
hopper, bless her dear little SOUL"
Yes" said Harry, slowly. "it is kind-very
kind, indeed! Couldn't have little of that
fresh bread with my beef tea at noon, Lois2"
"Well see what the doctor says, Mr.. Harry
said the old woman, chearfully. t"And anyhow,
if you can't have it to-day, you shall have it to-
morrow"
An hour afterward Mr. Merriman himself
came in-bald-headed. specialized and kindly
eyed-tO make pastoral call. And Harry Ay-
ton broke abruptly into the good mans rather
prOsy patitudes to ask the question nearest to
his heart.
''Mr. Merriman, do you think it possible
that your daughter Minnie could ever care for
me?"
Mr.. Merrlman pushed bis spectacles high up
on his forehead. IS ~.
MY daughter Minnie?" he repeated. 'Why.
she's only baby! Seventeen last fall, my dear
Harry"
my mother was married at seventeen, SIR"
said AytOn, smiling.
BLESS mel" said the good pastor Sand, now
/ come to think of it, my wife was not quite
eighteen when she and determined to try life
together, on salary OF five hundred per
annum. Dear, dear! how time does slip along,
to be sure, My daughter, Minnie. eh?"
Because" said Mr.. AytOn, bravely, II love
her And of all the women that ever / saw
she is the only one whom / could care to make
my WIFE"
Mr. Merriman rubbed his nose.
MY dear young friend. said he, ''if was my
daughter Minnie l should say yes. But Pm
not. And l don't pretend to understand the
ms and outs OF woman's heart: So, perhaps,
You had better ask her about it''
Il will, said Mr.. AytOn. but may take it
for granted that have your sanctiOn?"
by all MEANS" said the old gentlelnan-"by
all means"
'And you will prepare her mind for visit
from me when am little stronger"
''Oh, certainly said Mr.. Merriman.
And absent-minded as usual he went home
and forgot all about it.
At 3 O'Clock pretty Miss Minnie put on her
blue velvet capote and neat little sack and went
to No. ~ Saviile street to help prepare the
reireshment table for the hospital fair.
''How did you like my bread?" she asked of
the lady superintendent, who stood at the big
table with a dozen white-aproned young girls
gliding around her In various directions. "The
first ever made"
what bread5" said Mrs. Raymond lifting her
eyebrows. eve have received no bread from
you, Minnie"
Goodness gracious mel" cried the ministers
daughter, clasping her hands, ''what has be-
come OF 1t, them For sent Jerusha with it at
ten o'clock, and she came back and declared
that she had delivered it all right"
There has been some mistake evidently -
said Mrs. Raymond. "And / am sorry, for
We are in great need Of real, nice homemade
bread"
Minnie hurried back home and sternly con-
fronted Jerusha, who was surreptitiOusly
buying penny ballad of q boy at the area