Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-05-28
A LITTLE SHOP-GIRL.

that can, so that the school-children
will buy them on Saturday. / know
how to make cinnamon apple tarts,
too and lemon drops, and cocoanut
balls.
Grace. do believe you have taken
leave of your senses said Medora
May. "One would think it was dis
grace enough for Aunt Deborah-our
| own mothers sister-to open a horrid
little huckster shop without our mix
ing ourselves up in the affair. "
"Aunt Debby must live, you know,
said Grace, who was perchcd, kitten
fashion, on the window-sill, feeding the
| canary with bits of sparkling white
| sugar "And Cousin Nixon couldn't
keep her any longer, and her eyes are
not strong enough for fine needlework,
| and her education has not fitted her to
be teacher, and her poor old rheu-
matte bones keep her from going be-
| hind a counter or entering a factory.
l suppose YOU wouldn't be willing TO
have her come here and live with
you?"
"lr' cried Medora. "Do you sup
pose | want to proclaim to the whole
town that have such a dilapidated old
relation rs that?n
II would take her quick enough, y
said Grace, ''if didn' board with Mrs
Hewitt, and share the little upstairs
back room with the two children. just
wait until marry some rich man,
she added, with saucy uplifting of
her auburn brows, land then see if /
don't furnish up stately apartment
for Aunt Debbyr'
Don't talk nonsense said Medora,
acidly. "It's very likely, isn't it, that
factory girl like you is going to mar
ry 4 rich man?'
Grace Craxall laughed merrily. All
through life she and her cousin, Me
dora May, had agreed to differ on most
points. Grace, seeing no other career
before her had on the death of her last
surviving parent, cheerfully entered
factory, while Medora, taking her
stand on the platform of false gentility,
had done fine sewing and silk en-
broidery on the sly to support herself,
putting on all the airs of young lady
of fashion the while. And now Aunt
Deborah May, to the infinite disgust of
her aristocratically inclined niece, had
actually opened little low-windowed
shop in a shady street, Just out of the
main thoroughfare. and, as Medora de-
spairingly expressed it, gone into
trade.
For Aunt Dolby, in her bewildered
loneliness, had scarcely known what to
do until Grace CraNall came to the res
cue with her hopeful courage and
straightforward common sense.
81 only wish it wasn't sinful to take
a good big dose of laudanum and put
myself out OF the way sighed the poor
old lady.
Now, Aunt Dolby, that doesn't
sound a bit like YOU" said Grace
cheerfully.
"But what am ! 10 do?" said Aunt
Deborah
"What can You do?' said Grace.
Il don't know MS | am good for any
thing" said the old lady, with quiet
tear or two, except to help around the
regular hired help. Your uncle always
used to say that | was master hand at
\ making bread. -
Then make it, brightly interrupt
ed Grace.
"Eh2" said Aunt Dolby.
There a nice little store to let on
Bay street went on Grace, "for SO q
month
But haven't got $40 a month, :"
feebly interrupted Aunt Deborah,
I'm lend it to You, said Grace,
Tout of the wages ! have saved. And
| there's o pretty bedroom Mt the back
of the shop, and clean, dry basement
/ under it, where you can bake your
| bread. | know, for the sister of the
lady where board is looking for dress
making rooms, and heard her speak
| inc about it.
ADO YOU mean to open a bakery?
| said bcwildered Aunt Debby.
Not exactly that explained Grace.
"But if Mrs Hewitt or Mrs. Taylor, or
| any other of the ladies around here
could get real homemade bread, such
rs You make, do you suppose they
would put up with the sour stuff they
get at the bakers shops? And you
could easily get up n reputation on
/ your raism cakes and fried crullers,
and New England pumpkin pies. Now
couldn't your
The old lady frightened up a little.
II used to be pretty good Mt cook.
ing, said she. And if YOU think
could support myself So
IL am sure of it, cried cheerful
Grace. "Aud I'll 80 there with yot
this very day to look at the place. ant
win engage it for three months Oh
triad. And can paint You a sign tC
put over your door 'Home-mad,
bread by Mrs. Deborah May And III
hem YOU some curtains and arrange
the shelves in the low window, | all
most wish was going TO beyour shop
girl" she added merriy. But / ear
help you in the evening, YOU know
Grace CraNall's prophecies provet
correct. Aunt Debby's delicious home
made bread, winter than powdered
lilies, sweet as mbrosia, soon acquired
a reputation, and the old lady cou,J
scarcely bake il fast enough Peopl,
I nat,o ba1f Il 1pynu blorkS tD huv tht