Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1883-03-31
The Belle Of the Bakery.

1t was not one Of your common baker,
les. 1t was very genteel bakery, in
deed, with solid plate-glass window,
and parties and Weddings Supplied"
gilded in sprawling letters across the
front. The floor was of cheauered
marble, and the walls were frescoed
with peacock feathers and half-open
fans. And Mrs. Biggs knew nothing
at all about "the business" but came
in and out of private door, and Miss
Edelgitha, her daughter, was taking
lessons on the piano, and in arrasene
work, and read D'Israeli's novels.
AS for Mr.. Biggs himself, he was in
visible half the day in the subterranean
region, whence he would occasionally
emerge with very red face, and hair
and whiskers powdered with flour.
''They amt nothin' like the masters
eye." Mr.. Biggs would observe, with
noble disregard of grammar, which
was peculiarly aggravating to Edel-
githa, his daughter.
Then there was Mary-"Polly," as
Mr.. Biggs called her. Mary Biggs had
come to visit Edelgitha, and be educa-
ted with her, when the sudden death
Of her father left her unprovided for,
and all but friendless.
"She's most educated, amt she ?"
said Mr.. Biggs. "Del II put her
through and make teacher OF her, eh,
wife?'
pray, Mr.. Biggs. don't go oputting
such nonsense into the child's headp'
said Mrs. Biggs. 1t's a deal too ex-
pensive, and it will be three years at
least before she will be qualified to
teach. And we can't board and clothe
her all that time. Let her go down
into the bakery and help you. You
we're complaining only yesterday of
being short of hands,"
.:But it's most pity, amt it?' said
MIR. Biggs, who was kind-hearted
soul. "Such bright, smart little cree
tur as Polly is"
"Pshawl' said Mrs. Biggs "You
want bright, smart creatures, don't
sou?"
"Bnt I somehow calculated to give
Polly the same advantages as Edel-
githa." urged the baker, wriggling Like
an uneasy eel
''Then YOU calculated entirely with
out your host" observed Mrs. Biggs,
tArtly. I'VE are not Rothschilds, and
signor Caraooli charges eighty dollars
quarter; and I've spoken to French
mamselle about daily lessons in CONVEX
sation at dollar apiece. Besides
with sudden change of base-"Mary
was telling me, only yesterday. that she
pined 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 into the work.
looms. to help her uncle.
She was Il brisk, efficient girl, who
had what Uncle Biggs called "a level
bus:ness head" She was a good ac-
conntant, and kept the books below
stairs; and once in awhile she amused
herself with making up pile of dain-
ty, snOw-white meringues, CT batch
of old-fashioned doughnuts, for the
svore. 1t was lonely down there. to be
sure, among the busy workmen, and
she sighed at times when she heard
her Cousin Edelgitha practicing the
scales.
at is very ungrateful of me-" she
said to herself. Il ought to be glad
and thankful to help good Uncle
Biggs."
And it 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 banished to the
basement of the bakery.
"Edelgitha must marry rich" said
Mrs. Biggs. 1--WE have prepared her
to adorn any station; and Mr.. Lilburne,
certainly was very attentive when he
met her at the private view of the pic
ture gallery. l really think he likes
Edaloitha