Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-03-21
The Belle of the Bakery.

The Belle Of the Bakery.
1t was not one of your common baker,
es. 1t was very genteel bakery, in
Iced, with solid plate-glass window,
md Parties and Weddings Supplied"
gilded in sprawling letters across the
,ront. The floor was of chequered
marble, and the walls were frescoed
With peacock feathers and half-open
ans. And Mrs. Biggs knew nothing
It all about 1.-The business" but came
n and out of private door, and Miss
Edelgitha, her daughter, was taking
essons on the piano, and in arrasene
work, and read DIsraeli's novels.
AS for Mr.. Biggs himself, he was in
visible half the day in the subterranean
'egion, whence he would occasionally
emerge with very red face, and hair
md whiskers powdered with flour.
They amt nothin' like the masters
ye," Mr.. Biggs would observe, with a
loble disregard of grammar, which
vas peculiarly aggravating to Edel-
yitha, his daughter.
Then there was Mary-"Polly," as
Mr.. Biggs called her. Mary Biggs had
,ome to visit Edelgitha, and be .educa-
ed with her, when the sudden death
If her father left her unprovided for,
md all but friendless.
"She's most educated, amt she?"
aid Mr.. Biggs. "Del II put her
through and make a teacher OF her, eh,
yife?'
"Pray, Mr.. Biggs, don't go toputting
,uch nonsense into the child's head"
aid Mrs. Biggs. "It's a deal too eX-
oensive, and it will be three years at
east before she will be qualified to
each. And we can't board and clothe
Ter all that time. Let her go down
nto the bakery and help you. You
we're complaining only yesterday Of
leing short Of hands
but it's most pity, amt it?' said
Mr. Biggs, who was kind-hearted
oul. "Such a bright, smart little cree
ur as Polly is.'
"Pshaw" said Mrs. Biggs. You
want bright, smart creatures, don't
iou?'
"But | somehow calculated to give
Polly the same advantages as Edel-
yitha,' urged the. baker, wriggling like
IN uneasy eel.
"Then you calculated entirely with
,ut your host" observed Mrs. Biggs,
iartly. "We are not Rothschilds, and
signor Cara4plI charges eighty dollars
quarter; and I've spoken TO a French
nam selle about daily lessons in conver-
lation at a dollar apiece. Besides
With sudden change of base-"Mary
vas telling me, only yesterday, that she
9ined for something to DO. She has
always been used to such an active
ife."
SO Mary, in her black calico dress,
With the mist Of tears still heavy on
ler eyelids, went down into the work
ooms, to help her uncle.
She was brisk, efficient girl, who
lad what Uncle Biggs called "a level
business head" She was good ac-
,ountant, and kept the books below
stairs; and once in awhile she amused
herself with making up pile of dain.
", snow-white meringues, Cr a batch
If old-fashioned doughnuts, for the
store. 1t was lonely down there, to be
mre, among the busy workmen, and
Ihe sighed at times when she heard
Ter Cousin Edelgitha practicing tht
icales.
at is very ungrateful of me-" she
aid to herself. 81 ought to he GLAD
md thankful to help good Uncle
Biggs.'
And it never occurred either to Mary
)r her uncle that if she hadn't been Sc
very much prettier than Edelgitha SHE
leyer would have been banished to th(
basement of the bakery.
"Edelgitha must marry rich," sale
Mrs. Biggs. 1--WE have prepared hel
20 adorn any station; and Mr.. Lilburne
certainly was very attentive when h,
net her at the private view of the pic
.ure gallery. l really think he like,
Edclgitha."
"IIe's a queer old fish" said the ba
Ser, meditatively.
"But he's rich,' said Mrs. Biggs.
"Well, then, let's ask him to supper
md leave him and Edelgitha alone to
tcther afterward?' suggested Mr.
Biggs. "That is, if she likes him.
"Biggs, don't be goose!' said tn
ady, irritably. you haven't sou
above one of your own ilour-barrel
! mo, nor you won't never have"