The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-09-23

| ont of an old-fashioned china tea -caddy,
which Hetty had unearthed in an upstairs
closet and brought down to serve as a till.
"TwO dozen biscuits, that's twentv-four
cents. a loaf of gingerbread and about
halfth buns. That's fifty three cents in
all. What did you say the material costp''
" About seventy cents. But then we
have our supper and breakfast out of
them, and nearly half the stock to sell at
reduced rate tomorrow. We shan't
lose anything, reckon, but we shan't
gain much either"
- Rome wasn't built all in minute.
You will do well yet," remarked Aunt
Polly, who had dropped in to hear the
result of the first days sales.
| But two days-three-a week went by
and still trade did not materially improve,
and it took all Aunt Polly's wise saws
and hopeful auguries to keep their spir-
its up. Each day showed the same rec
ord, no loss, but almost no gain. Toward
the end of the second week matters
mended. Mrs. Corliss, the wife of
wealthy manufacturer having an errand
in Farewell Street. happened to pass the
little window, and her bric-a-brac loving
eyes were caught at once by its unusual
appearance. She stopped, studied the
whole arrangement, from the ivy wreath
to the old pitchers; a recollection ofJthe
droll little advertisement over whicnsae
had laughed few days previously, came
over her. declare, this is the very
place." she said to herself and opening
the door she entered, precisely as HettY
came from the kitchen through the OPP
posite door, handkerchief tied over her
shiny hair, white apron with little
ruflled waist protecting her print gown,
her cheeks flushed rosy pink with heat,
and in her hands a tray full of crisp,
delectably smelling ginger-snaps.
"A real study-like Flemish pict-
ure," Mrs. Corliss said afterward. She
fell in love with the quaint room, the
pretty sisters, the old china, stayed
twenty minutes nibbling ginger-snaps
and looking about her, bought a dollar S
worth of everything, ION trial." as she
said, and swept out, leaving a wake of
rose-colored hope in the air-and Della
and Hetty executing a wild waltz behind
her back, for joy and congratulation.
Luck has turned-I know, feel it, ."
declared Hetty.
Luck had turned. Mrs. Corliss raved
to everybody she knew about the room,
the twin-sisters and the excellence of the
gingerbread. 1t became fashion to
90 to Farewell II Street for buns and bis
cults Hetty and Della had to work
early and late to fill their orders, but
what was that to "scwing their fingers
off for bare living?' Hetty said, and
toll was sweetened now by a gradually
increasing profit. At the end OF the first
six months, they had not only ''lived and
kept together" but had little sum laid
by, which, as Aunt Polly advised, was
treated as business capital" part
of it being invested in the purchase of
an awning for the window, and an extra
stove to increase their baking capacity.
| Very rarely were there any stale things
left now to be sold next day at half price,
the regular orders and chance custom
consuming all.
eve shall have to hire boy to carry
things round, Iactually believe, deelaVed
Hettv Mrs. Malcomb and Mrs. Sayres
both said that they would order our
bread regularly, if we could send it
home"
I've been expecting that would be
the next step" remarked Aunt Polly,
land guess I've Got Just the boy you
want in my eye. II Widow McCullen' 5
lad-Sandy. as they call him. He's a
good little chap, and it'll be real help
to his mother to have him earning a
tritle."
SO Sandy McCullen was regularly en-
gagged as bread boy" and business
grew brisker still.
"Aunt Polly, we've got to another
NOTCH" said Hetty, at the end of the first
year. "You don't happen to know of a
girl, do you, who could help us in the
baking? Della and | can't keep up with
the orders. She gets so tired every now
and then that she can't sleep, and that
worries me so that lie awake, too"
Thatn never answer; no, | don't
know of any girl, but there's a nice kind
of an oldish woman, if she'll do, that L d
like to recommend. Yes-I mean my
self'-she went on, chuckling at Hetty' $
amazed look. ITS come to me more
than once lately that it d be kind of good
and restful to make change, and not
90 on tailorin' forever all the rest of my
days. | used to be a master hand at
bread and pie-crust, too, when | was
your age, and I've little saved up which
can go with the business, if it's needed;
and, if you girls say we'll make kind
of family firm of the thing. How does
it strike you?"
80, Aunt Polly, the very thing, only
it seems too good to be true. Do you
really mean it? We did so hate the idea
of Il raw girl, to whom we should have to
teach everything, and who would spoil
half she made for the first month, and
I've fought it otfas long as | could; why
it will be like having grandmother come
back to have you living with us. There's
the west room all ready. Dear me! How
delightful things seem to turn out for Us
alwaysr'
That wasn't your view always. i
seems to me-" rejoined Aunt Polly. "A
year ago you was pretty down in the
mouth, if don't mistake. Gingerbread
is good for something, you see."
" The Old Time Bakery" still goes or
in Farewell Street, but it has grown far be
yondi its original proportions. If you werC
to visit it to-day you would find room
double the size of the former, and which
has been made by taking down a parti
ton wall between the sitting room and ,