Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-03-21
3.-NO. 26 FI5OSTBCRC3, MD, MARCH 21 1886.
SELECT STORY.
A LITTLE SHOP-GIRL.

| y Ii LII Ol1Oi -UlNL.
"She's an old darling," said Grace
CraxalI, "and I mean to help her all
can. I've got a beautiful recipe for
chocolate cellars, and on Friday
evening | am going there to make up
all that | can, so that the school
children will buy them on Saturday.
! know how to make cinnamon apple
tarts, too, and lemon drops and cocoa
nut balls"
"Grace, do believe you have taken
leave Of your Senses" said Medora
MAY. zone would think it was dis
grace enough for Aunt Deborah-our
own mothers siste'- to open a hor
rid little huckster shop without our
mixing ourselves up in the affair."
"Aunt Dcbby must live, you
know 5ald Grace, who was pcrched,
kitten fashion, on The window sill,
feeding the canary with bits Of spark
ling white sugar. "And Cousin
Nixon couldn't keep her any longer,
and her eyes are not strong enough
for fine nccdlework, end her educa-
ton has not fitted her to be teacher,
and her poor old rheumatic bones
keep her from going behled n count
er Or entering q factory. [ suppose
you wouldn' be willing to have her
come here and live with you:'
II" exclaimed Mcdora. ''Do you
suppose ! want to proclaim to the
whole town that | nave such u diap.
dated old relation as that %
Il would take her quick enough
said Grace, ''if ! didn't board with
Mrs. Howilt, and share the little up
stairs back room with the two chill
dren. ,'ust wait until |. marry some
rich man, she added, with q saucy
uplifting OF her auburn eyebrows,
and see jf don't furnish up Il stately
apartment for Aunt Debby.'
"Don't talk nonsense, said Me-
dora, aoidly. cts very likely, isn't
it, that II factory girl like You is going
to marry u rich man :"
Grace Craxall laughed merrily.
All through life she and her cousin,
Medora May, had agreed to differ on
most points. Grace, seeing no other
career. before her, had, on the death
of her last surviving parent, cheer
fully entered Il factory, while Medora,
taking her stand on the platform of a
false gentility, had done fine sewing
and silk embroidery OH the sly to
support herself, putting on all the
airs Of d young lady of fashion the
while. And now Aunt Deborah
May, to the infinite disgust OF her
aristocratically inclined niece, had
actually opened Il little low-window-
ed shop in Il shady street just out of
the main thoroughEare, and, as Me-
dora despalringly expressed it, "gone
into trade"
For Aunt Dolby, in her bcwildered
loneliness, had scarcely known what
to do until Grace Craxall came to
the rescue with her hopeful courage
and straightforward common sense.
Il only wish it wasn't sinful to
take Il good big dose Of laudanum
and put myself ont of the way" sigh
the poor old lady,
'Now, Aunt Debby, that doesn't
sound bit like you," said Grace,
cheerfully.
TFBut what am to do ?" said Aunt
Deborah.
"What can you do :" said Grace.
Il don't know as | am good for
anything" said the old lady, with
quiet tear Or two, "cxcept to help
around the house, and amt strong
enough for regular hired help, Your
uncle always used to say that | was a
master hand at making bread"
"Then make it," brightly inter
rupted Grace.
och ?" said Aunt Debby.
'Therc is nice little store to let
on Bay street" went on Grace, "lor
$40 month"
"But haven't got $40 & month"
fcebly interrupted Aunt Debby.
"I'lI lend it to you," sad Grace,
'sout Of the wages have saved. And
there is pretty bedroom at the back
Of the shop, and Il clean, dry base
lnent under 1t where you can bake
YOUR bread. | know, for the sister
of the lady where l board is looking
for dress making rooms, and | heard
] L., u,