The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-06-13
THE GINGER-sNAPS.

solid rlate-glass window, and "Parties aud
Weddings Supplied gilded in sprawling
letters across the front The floor was of
cheqnered marble, and the walls We're fres-
coed with peacock feathers and half-open
fans And Mrs Biggs knew nothing at all
about " the business but came in and out
of a private door, and Miss Edelgitha, her
daughter was taking lessons on the piano,
and in arrasene work, and read D'Israelis
novels.
As for Mr.. Biggs himself. he was invisible
half the day in the subterranean region,
whence he would occasionally emerge with
very red face, aud ham and whiskers pow
dered with -four.
They amt nothin' like the masters eye"
Mr.. Biggs would observe, with noble dis
regard of grammar, which was peculiarly
aggravating to Edelgitha, his daughter.
Then there was Mary" Polly" as Mr.
Biggs called her. Mary Biggs had come to
visit Edelgitha, and be educated with her,
when the sudden death of her father left her
unprovded for, and all but friendless.
"She's most educated, amt she ?" said
Mr.. Bggs. "Derll put her through and
make teacher of her, eh, wife ?"
pray, Mr.. Biggs, don't go to putting
such nonsense into the childs headl" said
Mrs. Bggs, "It's deal too expensive,
and it viii be three years at least before she
will be qualified to teach And we can't
board and elothe her all that time. Let her
go down into the bakery and help you You
were complaining only yesterday of being
short of hands.n
But it's most pity, amt it ?" said Mr..
Biggs, who was kind-hearted soul "Such
bright, smart little creet,ir rs Polly is"
"Pshaw." said Mrs. Biggs. "Yop want
bright smart creatures, don't you ?"
'Bi: somehow calculated to give Polly
the same advantages as Edelgitha" urged
the baker, wrigghng like an uneasy eel
Then you calculated entirely without
your host" observed Mrs. Biggs, tartly.
1--WE are not Rothschilds, and Signor Cara
coli charges eighty dollars n quarter; and
I've spoken to French mam'selle about
daily lessons in conversation at dollar
apiece. Besides with sudden change
of base" Mary was telling me, only yester-
day, that she pinned for something to do.
She has always been used to such an active
life"
So Mary, in her black calico dress, with
the mist of tears still heavy on her eyelids,
went down info the work-rooms to help her
uncle.
She was brisk, efficient girl, who had
what Uncle Biggs called "a level business
head" She was a good accountant, and
kept the books below stairs and once in
awhile she amused herself with making up
pile of dainty, snow-white me'iagues, or n
batch of old-fashioned donghnuts, for the
store. 1t was lonely down there, to-be-sure,
among the busy workmen, and she sighed
at times when she heard her Cousin Edel.
githa practicing the scales.
at is very ungrateful of me-" she said to
herself. " ought to be glad and thankful
to help good Uncle Biggs"
And ii never occurred either to Mary or
her uncle that If she hadn't been SO very
much prettier than Edelgitha she never
would have been banshed to the basement
of the bakery.
Eaelgitha must marry rich" said Mrs.
Biggs. We have prepared her to adorn
any station; aud MIR. Lilbnrne, certainly
was very attentive when he met her at the
private view of the picture gallery. really
think he likes Elelgitha"
" He's queer old fish !" said the naker.
meditatvely.
"But he's rich" said Mrs Biggs.
swell. then, let's ask him to supper, and
leave him and Edelgitha alone together
afterward ?" suggested Mr.. Biggs. "That
is, if she likes him."
"Biggs, don't be goose !" said the lady,
irritably. "You haven't soul above one
of your own ur-barrels-no, nor you
won't never have"
SO Mr.. Bigss retired and gave his whole
attention to the checking of of load of st.
Louis -four which was being delivered at
the alley door.
Mary Biggs had come up into the store to
whisper one of her uncle's messages to the
stylish young woman behind the counter,
about peck of little fiat brown cakes on
the glass top of the showcase.
Mr. Lilburne's coh pliinents, miss" sale
she; land they're trash !"
"What /" said the shopwoman.
"Mr. Lilburne's compliments; and they're
trash !" repeated the maid. @ He said they
wasn't ginger-snaps at all they was only
lard and molasses. lie wanted the kind his
mother used to bake, of Saturday mornings.
The very first one he tasted he threw on the
floor"
"Well," remarked the shopwoinan, tos-
sing her head, 4" it our ginger-snaps don't
suit the gentleman, then it's impossible to
suit him. That's all !"
"He's been sick, you know" said tho
maid-servant, apollo ically. :" And he's
just getting better, and his appette's dread
full uncertain, and Mrs. Pugsley-lny missus
she thought she was sure to tempt him
with these ere. 'Ginger-ssaps y said he.
Just what I've been a-longin' for My
mother used TO bake ZEN, for me, when was
child. Yes, Mrs. Pugsley,' said he, you
may order em for me- But, with mild
sigh, "missus might ha' known they
wouldn't suit. Nothin' suits when gentle
mans just off sick-bed."
"Is it Mr.. Lilburne 2" said Mary. "Oh
1 remember him. He came here once, and
went to sleep while Edelgitha was singing
Oh, Summer Eightn liked him. He
talked to me about the country. He knew
all about calves and chickens, and cranberry
swamps and robins NESTS. Does he like
ginger-snaps? I'll make some for him.
know an old-fashioned recipe that is always
good. Come here tomorrow, my good
girl" to the maid, and I'll have some ready
for you. Poor Mr. Llburnel Pm sorry
he's sick !"
The smart shopwoman stared as supercil-
iously az List or Chopin might have done
IL village bugler had volunteered to them
the first principles of music.
A country-Rirl, like that, expect to com.
pete with "Bigg' Celebrated Bakeryl"