Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-05-07
a LITTLE SHOP-GIRE.

She's an old darling" said Grace
Craxall, 'sand | mean to help her all
can. Eve got beautiful recipe for
chocolate cellars. and on Friday even
ing ! am going there to make up all
that / can, so that the school-children
will buy them on Saturday. I know
how to make cinnamon apple tarts,
TOO, and lemon drops. and cocoanut
balls -
Grace. 1 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 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 perched, 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 q counter or entering q factory.
/ suppose YOU wouldn't be willing TO
have her come here and live with
you?"
IL cried 1Icdora. do YOU sup
pose ! want to proclaim to the whole
town that ! have such a dilapidated old
relation as that?'
i would take her quick enough, "
said Grace, IF didn' board with Mrs.
Howitt, 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 furnish up a stately apartment
for Aunt Debby!n
Don't talk nonsense" said Medora,
acidly. "It's very likely, isn't it, that
a factory girl like you is going to mar
~ 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 a
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 a young lady
of fashion the while. And now Aunt
Deborah May, to the infinite disgust of
her Rristocratically 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 Debby, in her bewildered
loneliness, had scarcely known what to
do until Grace Craxall came to the res
cue with her hopeful courage and
straightforward common sense.
4 only wish it wasn't sinful to take
Il good big dose of laudanum and put
myself out of the way, sighed the poor
old lady.
Now, Aunt Debby, that doesn't
sound q bit like you," said Grace
cheerfully.
But What am to doP" said Aunt
Deborah.
What can you do?' said Grace.
i don't know as I am good for any,
thing" said the old lady, with quiet
tear or two, except to help around the
house, and | amt strong enough for
regular hired help. Your uncle always
used to say that [ was master hand at
making bread. -
Then make it," brightly interrupt
ed Grace.
''Eh?" said Aunt Debby.
There's a nice little store to let on
Bay street" went on Grace, for so
month"
but I haven't got $40 month"
feebly interrupted Aunt Deborah.
IN lend it to you," said Grace,
''ouS Of the wages | have saved. And
there q pretty bedroom at 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 1 heard her speak
ing about it."
DO you mean to open a bakery?"
said bewildered 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
as 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 reputation on
your raisin cakes and fried crullers,
and New England pumpkin pies. Now
couldn't you?"
The old lady frightened up a little.
Il used to be pretty good at cook
ing" said she. 'sAnd if you think l
could support myself So
Il am sure of it!'' cried cheerful
Grace. And I'll go there with you
this very day to look at the place, and
will engage it for three months on
trial. And can paint you a sign to
pat over your door: Homemade
bread by Mrs. Deborah Mayr And I'll
hem you some curtains and arrange
the shelves in the low window! / al
most wish | was going to beyour shop
girl!' she added merrily. But I can
help you in the evening, you know"
Grace Craxal,s prophecies proved
correct. Aunt Debby's delicious home