Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-07-26
Homemade Bread.

"She's an old darling" said Grace Craxall.
And | mean to help her all can. I've got a
receipt for chocolate eclaires, and on Friday
evening I'm going there to make up all
can, so that the school children shall buy
them on Saturday. | know how to make
cinnamon apple tarts, too, and lemon-drops
and coooa-nut balls"
"Grace, do believe you have taken leave
of your Senses" said Medora May. "One
would think it was disgrace enough for
Aunt Deborah-our own mothers sister-to
open horrid little huckster's shop, with
out our mixing ourselves up in the affair"
"But Aunt Debby must live, you know"
said Grace, who was perched, kitten-fashion,
on the window-sill, feeding the canary with
bits of white sparkling sugar. "And cous-
in Nixon couldn't keep her any longer-and
her eyes aren't strong enough for fine nee
dle-work, and her education has not fitted
her to be teacher, and her poor old rheu-
matte bones keep her from going behind a
counter or entering factory. / suppose
you wouldn't be willing to have her come
here and live with you ?"
at" cried Medora. Do you suppose
want to proclaim to the whole town that
have such dilapidated old relation as
that 2"
al would take her quick enough" said
Grace, " if didn't board with Mrs Hewitt,
and share the little upstairs back bedroom
with the two children. just wait until
marry some rich man." she added with q
saucy uplifting Of her pretty auburn brown
eyes, 6" and then see II don't furnish up a
state apartment for Aunt Debby."
"Don't talk nonsense" said Medora,
acidly. ats very likely, isn't it, that
factory girl like you is going to marry a
rich man I"
Grace Craxall laughed merrily. All
through life she and her cousin, Medora
May, had agreed to differ on most points
Grace, seeing no other career before her,
had, on the death of her last surviving
parent, cheerfully entered a factory, while
Medora, taking her stand on the platform of
false gentility, had done fine sewing and
silk embroidery on the sly to support her
self, putting on all the airs of young lady
of fashion the while. And now Aunt Deb
orah May, to the infinite disgust of her
aristocratically- niece, had actually
opened little low-windowed shop in a
shady street Just out of the main thorough
fare and, as Medora despairingly expressed
it, gone into trade"
For Aunt Debby, in her bewildered lone
illness, had scarcely known what to do until
Grace Craxall came to the rescue with her
hopeful courage and straightforward COM
mon sense.
al only wish it wasn't sinful to take
good big dose OF laudanum and put myself
out of the way" sighed the poor old lady.
"Now, Aunt Dsbby, that doesn't sound a
bit like you," said Grace, cheerfully.
"But what am l to do ?" said Aunt
Deborah.
"What can you do 2" said Grace.
81 don't know as am good for anything"
said the old woman, with quiet tear or
two, "except TO help around the house; and
| amt strong enough for regular hired help.
Your uncle always used to say was mas
ter hand at making bread"
"Then make it," brightly interrupted
Grace.
"Eh |" said Aunt Debby.
"There's nice little store to let on Bay
street." went on Grace, "for ten dollars a
month";"
"But haven't got ten dollars month" {"
feebly interrupted Aunt Debby.
"I'll lend it to you" said Grace, "out of
the wages | have saved. And there's a
pretty bedroom and sitting-room at the back
of the shop, and a clean, dry basement under
it where you could bake your bread, know,
Tor the sister Oh the ihuy where DOaru Is
looking for dress-making rooms, and heard
her speaking about it,"
ado you mean to open bakery 2" said
bewildered Aunt Debby.
"Not exactly that" explained Grace.
But if Mrs. Hewitt, or Mrs. Taylor, or any
other of the ladies around here, could get
real homemade bread, such as you made do
you suppose that they would put up with
the sour stuff that they get at the bakers
shops And you could easily get up rep
ers, and New England pumpkin pies, now
couldn't your"
! The old lady frightened up little.