Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-05-03
The Belle of the Bakery.

1t was not one of your common baker
les. 1t was very genteel bakery, in
deed, with a solid plate-glass window,
and "Parties and Weddings Supplied
gilded in sprawling letters across the
front. The floor was of chequercd
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 DIsracli's novels.
As for Mr.. Biggs himself, he was in
visible half the day in the subterranean
region, whence he would occasionally
emerge with a very red face, and hair
and whiskers powdered with flour.
They amt nothin' like the masters
eye" Mr., Biggs would observe, with a
noble disregard of grammar, which
was peculiarly aggrayating to Edcl-
githa, his daughter.
Then there was Mary-"Polly," As
Mr.. Biggs called her. Mary Bigys had
come to visit Edelgitha, and be cduca-
ted with her, when the sudden death
of her father left her unproyided for
and all but friendless.
shes most educated. amt shc?''
said Mr. Biggs. del II put her
through and make a teacher OF her, ch,
wife,"
Pray, Mr.. Biggs, don't 60 to putting
such nonsense into the childs head
said Mrs. Biggs. its dead too cx-
pensiye, and it will be three years at
least before she will be qualified 70
teach. And We can't board and cIothc
her all that time. Let her 90 down
into the bakery and help you. You
were complaining only yesterday of
being short of hands"
But its most pity, amt it?' said
Mr. Biggs, who was a kind-hearted
soul. such a bright, smart little cree
tur as Polly is"
"Pshaw" said Mrs. Biggs. You
want bright. smart creatures, don't
you?"
But somehow calculated to give
Polly the same advantages as Edcl.
githa," urged the baker, wriggling like
an uneasy eel.
"Then you calculated entirely with.
out your host" observed Mrs. Biggs
tartly. 1--WE are not Rothschilds, and
Signor Caraooli charges eighty dollars
quarter; and I've spoken to a French
mam'selle about daily lessons in conver.
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.
rooms, to help her uncle.
She was brisk, efficient girl, who
had what Uncle Biggs called "a lcyc
business head" She was a good ac
countant, and kept the books below
stairs; and once in awhile she amused
herself with making up pile Of daiu.
ty, snOw-white meringues, or a batch
of old-fashioned doughnuts, for the
store. 1t was lonely down there, to bC
sure, among the busy workmen. and
she sighed at times when she heard
her Cousin Edelgitha practicing tn,
scales
at is very ungrateful of me-" she
said to herself. IL ought to be glad
and thankful TO help good Uncle
Biggs.'
And 1t never occurred either to Mary
or her uncle that If she hadn't been 50
very much prettier than Edelgitha sh,
never would have been banished TO th,
basement of the bakery.
"Edelgitha must marry rich" sait
Mrs. Biggs 1--WE have prepared hei
TO adorn any station; and Mr. Lilburnc
certainly was very attentive when h,
met her at the private view Of the pic
ture gallery. ] really think he like
Edelgitha."