Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1885-04-30
A Little Shop Girl.


chocolate eclairs, and on Friday even-
ing I am going there to make up all |
can, so that the school children will
buy them on Saturday, I know how to
make cinnamon apple tarts, too, lemon
and cocoanut bals.'
"Grace, do believe you have taken
leave of your Senses said Medora May
Zone would think it was disgrace
enough for Aunt Deborah to open a
horrid huckster shop, without our mix
ing ourselves up in the affair."
"But Aunt Debby must live, you
know" said Grace, who was perched
kitten fashion on the window sill feed
ing the canary with bits of sparkling
white sugar. "And Cousin Nixon
couldn't keep her any longer. l sup
pose you wouldn't be willing to have
her come and live with you p
"I!" cried Medora. do YOU sup
pose l want to proclaim to the town
that l have such dilapidated old re-
lation as that?'
81 would take her quick enough" :"
said Grace, "it | didn't board with
Mrs Hewitt, and share the little up
stairs back room with the two children
Just wait until | marry some rich
man. she added, with Il saucy uplift-
ing of her auburn brows "and then see
if don't furnish up a stately apart
ment for Aunt Dcbby.
Don't talk nonsense" said Medora,
acidly. "lt's very likely, isn't it, that
factory girl like you is going to mar
ry rich man %
Grace Craxall laughed merriIy. All
through life she and her cousin Medo-
ra May, had agreed to differ on most
points. Grace, seeing no other career
before her, had, on the death of her
last surviving parent, cheertully enter
cd factory, while Me lora, taking her
stand on the platform of Il false gentil-
ity, had done fine sewing and silk en-
broidery on the sly t. support herself,
putting Oil all the airs Of . young lady
Of fashion the while. And now Aunt
Deborah May, to the infinite disgust Of
the aristocratcalIy y-inclined niece, had
actually opened a little low windowed
shop in a shady street just out of the
main thoroughtare.
"But what am | to do p Aunt Pc
borah had suid
What can you do o. said Grace.
Il don't know. Your uncle always
used to say | was IL master hand at
making bread.
"Then make it, brightly interrupt
ed Grace.
"Eh q said Aunt Debby.
"There's nice little store to let on
Bay street" went on Grace, "tor ten
dollars month"
"But l haven't got ten dollars Il
month"; feebly interrupted Aunt De-
borah.
"I'll lend it to you,' said Grace, 'out
of the wages I have saved. And there's
a pretty bed room at the back of the
shop, and clean, dry basement under
it, where you can bake your bread
"Do you mean to open a bakery ?"
said bewildered Aunt Debby.
Not exactly that" explained Grace.
But if the ladies around here could
get real home made 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 ralsin cake
and fried crulers, and New England
pumpkin pies. Now, couldn't you ?'
The old lady frightened up a little.
Il used to be pretty good at cooking,
said she "And if you think l could
support myself So
II an sure of it, cried cheerful
Grace. "And III go there with yoa
this very day to look at the place, and
will engage it for three months on trial.
And can paint you sign to put over
your door Homemade Bread by
Mrs, Deborah May" And I'll hem
you some curtains and arrange the
shelves in the low window. | almost
wish | WAS going to be your shop girl,
she added merrily. "Bht ! can help
you in the evening, you know
Grace Craxall's prophecies proved
correct, Aunt Debby's delicious home
made bread, winter than powdered
lilies, sweet as ambrosia, soon acquired
II reputation, and the old lady could
scarcely bake it fast enough. People
came half dozen blocks to buy the
yellow pumpkin pies and delicious