Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-03-29
The Belle of the Bakery.

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 chequered
marble, and the walls were frescoed
with peacock feathers and half-open
fans. And Mrs. Biggs knew nothing
at all about 1.-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'Isracli'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 a
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-
led with her, when the sudden death
0f her father left her unproyided for,
and all but friendless.
"She's most educated, amt she?"
sid Mr.. Biggs. "Del II put her
through and make teacher of her, eh,
wife?"
Pray, Mr.. Biggs, don't 60 to oputting
such nonsense into the child's headw
said Mrs. Biggs. "It's deal too ex-
pcnsive, 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 60 down
into the bakery and help you. You
were complaining only yesterday of
being short of hands,
"But it's most a pity, amt it?" said
Hr. Biggs, who was kind-hearted
soul. "Such bright, smart little cree
tur as Polly is.''
"Pshawv' said Mrs. Biggs. "You
want bright, smart creatures, don't
sour
"But 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. Eve are not Rothschilds, and
Signor Caraooli charges eighty dollars
quarter; and I've spoken to French
mam'selle about daily lessons in CONVEX
sation at dollar apiece. Besides
with a 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,
T;th the mist of tears still heavy on
der 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
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 dain-
ty, sn0w-white meringues, CT batch
of oid-fashioned doughnuts, for the
score 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.
ait is very ungrateful of me-" she
said to herself. 81 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. I really think he likes
Edclgitha"