Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-09-27
A Loaf OF Bread.

Mr. Merriman, looking up from his sermon
like paper desparingly.
For there was hurrying to and fro from
all quarters of the mansion, running up
and down stairs, subdued hustle, MUIR
mur of excitement, and finally burst of
laughter, in many keys Of elation, sounding
as if it came from the subterranean recesses
of the kitchen.
"No, papa" cried little Lottie, breath
lessly but Minnies bread has come out
of the oven, and it's success"
"Oh l' said Mr.. Merriman, abstractedly
staring out of the window and scratching
his bald head, "is that all ?"
"That all, indeed |" said Minnie herself,
a very blooming girl, with short rings of
faxen hair falling over her head, light blue
eyes and a pretty pug nose, with just the
proper upward inclination to give it a be-
witching shape. And she ran into the room
with bib-apron enveloping her slim figure
and fresh color deepening on her cheek,
while by means OF stout kitchen towel she
held up tin baking pan containing a
puffy, snow-white loaf of bread. "That
all, papa, when it's the first bread
ever made, and when it is to be sent TO the
hospital fair to be cut into sandwiches and
sold for the sick poor at ten cents apiece
Look at it, papa smell of it and see how
deliciously light it is And then tell me if
you ever expected to have your little Minnie
turn into such stupendous housekeeper /"
And Miss Minnie Merrimsn kissed her
father on the top of his nose, and looked at
him with pretty girlish triumph.
Every nice-very creditablel" said the
good clergyman, beaming on his daughter.
Il dare say you will make a famous cook
one of these days."
al only hope" put in Penny, the second
daughter (whose baptismal name was Pencil
ope Dorcas), "that Mr.. Ayton will come to
the fair and buy some Of Minnies sand
wiches, 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 liberal subscription to
the fair; and what can it possibly matter
who buys the bread ?"
Penny subsided, rather abashed, and Min
ME ran down stairs again to wrap the white
spongy loaf in a snowy napkin, and send
Jerusha, the bound girl, to the rooms of the
fair committee with it.
"Now remember, Jerushs," she uttered,
impressively, as she held up one finger to
add force to her words, "No. 1919, do you
hear 2-l9 Saville street I"
"Yes'm," said Jerusha, who was 80 de-
moralized at the prospect of temporary
reprieve from her washing 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
raf,,1lxy loaf of hraaA in q
basket on one arm.
"My first loaf of bread p said Minnie TO
herself, as she leaned against the window
casing. "Oh, I'm so glad it has turned out
a success |"
And then her thoughts wandered to Mr.,
Harry Ayton. Would he be we'll enough
to come to the fair that evening? Would
he patronize the refreshment hall 2 Would
he think her little pink ribboned apron
with the bib front becoming? Would he
oh, pshaw, this would never do. Here it
was ten o'clock and the parlors not busted
nor Billy's Sunday suit mended and brushed
ready for service.
While Jerushs, after giving her impartial
attention to hsnd-organs, scissors-grinder
and a street scuffie between two belliger-
ently-minded little boys, finally trudged up
the steps of No. 80 Saville street.
"Please, with Miss Minnie Merriman' 8
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 8
faithful old nurse and house keeper, carried
the loaf of bread upstairs to the room
where the convalescent sat in the sunshine
and delivered the message, Uerbdtim ct dterd-
tim.
"Aud very kind it is of the minister
daughter" she said, setting the parcel on
the table. "And it's as beautiful light
bread as ever see And how thoughtful
of EN-, Mr.. Harry, to remember you now,
amt it 7 But Miss Minnie was always one
for doing kind things to sick folks ever since
she was knee-high to grasshopper, 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, Lois ?"
"We'll see what the doctor says, Mr..
Harry" said the old woman, cheerfully.
"And anyhow, if you can't have it to-day,
you shall have it tomorrow"
An hour afterward Mr.. Merriman himself
came in-bald-headed, specialized and kindly
eyed-to make pastoral call. And Harry
Ayton broke abruptly into the good man 3
rather prosy platitudes to ask the question
nearest TO his heart.
"Mr Merriman, do you think it possible
that your daughter Minnie could ever care
for me 2"
Mr.. Merriman pushed his spectacles high
up on his forehead.
any daughter Minnie 2" he repeated.
"Why, she's only baby Seventeen last
fall, my dear Harry"
any mother was married at seventeen,
sir" said Ayton, smiling.
Bless me !" said the good pastor. "Aud,
now | come to think of it, my wife was not
quite eighteen when she and | determined
to try life together, on salary of five hun,
dred per annum. Dear dear how time
does slip along, to be sure My daughter,
Minnie, eh 2"
"Because," said Mr.. Ayton, bravely, al
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.
AMY dear young friend" said he, "if !
was my daughter Minnie | should say yes.
But Pm not And don't pretend to un-
derstand the ins and outs of woman's heart,
So, perhaps, you had better ask her about il p
al will" said Mr. Ayton 0Rut | may