Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-03
4 LITTLE SHOP.GIRL.


Craxall, "and mean to help her all
can. I've got beautiful recipe for
cho olate inrs. and on Friday even
ing am going there to make up all
that can. so tnat the school-children
viii buy tncu on Saturday. l know
hYs ln make cinnamon apple tarts,
fuY and lemon drops, and cocoanut
h''s"
jirlrc. do believe you have taken
lryu,uf y0ur Senses" said Medora
N.r "Onc would think it was dis
w enough for Aunt Deborah--our
uua nn,Err's Sister-to open a horrid
little huckster shop without our mix
iur 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 needework,
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 factory.
/ suppose you wouldn't be willing TO
have her come here and live with
you?"
III" cried Mcdora. ..Do you sup
pose | want to proclaim to the whole
town that have such dlapidated old
relation as that?"
Il would take her quick enough"
said Grace, .'if didn't board with Mrs.
Hewitt, and share the little upstairs
back room with the two children. just
wait until l marry some rich man,
she added, with a saucy uplifting of
her auburn brows, land then see if
don't furnish up a stately apartment
for Aunt Debby!'
Don't talk nonsense" said Medora,
acidly. Its very likely, isn't it, that
factory girl like you is going to mar.
ry 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 a young lady
of fashion the while. And now Aunt
Deborah May, to the infinite disgust of
her aristocratically inclined niece, had
actually opened little w-windowed
shop in a shady street, Just out of the
main thoroughfare. and, as Medora de-
spairngly 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.
Il 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 Debby, that doesn't
sound bit like you," said Grace
cheeriully.
But what am to do?" said Aunt
Deborah.
What can you do?" said Grace.
81 DON'T know as am good for any,
thing said ;hc Old lady, with a quiet
tear or two, "esccpt to help around the
house, and ain t strong enough for
regular hired help. Your uncle always
used to say that | was a master hand at
making bread"
"'Ihem make it," brightly interrupt
ed Grace.
"Eh2n said Aunt Debby.
"Iucfu'1 a nice little store to let on
H.tF ,'rect," went on Grace, "for $40 a
wDu.h'
but haven't got $40 a month";"
feebly interrupted Aunt Deborah.
81 II lend it to YOU" said Grace,
''out Of the wages | have saved. And
there's pretty bedroom at the back
OF the shop, and a clean, dry basement
under it, where you can bake your
bread | know, for the sister of the
lady Mere board is looking for dress.
making rooms, and heard her speak.
ing about it."
''DO you mean to open a bakeryp"
said bewidered Aunt Debby.
mot exactly that" explained Grace.
''But ii 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 youp''
The old lady frightened up a little.
81 used to be pretty good at cook
ing" said she. "And if you think l
could support myself So"
II am sure of itr' cried Cheerful!
Grace. "And I'll 90 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
put 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 l was going to be your shop
grill" she added merrily. "But / can
help you in the evening, you know"
Grace Craxalfs prophecies proved
correct. Aunt Debby's delicious home
made bread, whittier than powdered
lilies, sweet as ambrosia, soon acquired
reputation, and the old lady could
scarcely bake it fast enough. People
came half dozen blocks to buy the
yellow pumpkin pies and delicious ap-
Pile tarts; children brought their hoard
ed pennies to invest in chocolate sweet
meats, vanilla caramels, and cream
cakes with puffy shells and delicious
centcrs of sweetness. The little mon
ey drawer grew fat with coins, and
Aunt Debby's dim eyes grew bright
and hopeful again.
And one day Herbert Valance, walk
ing with Medora May. stopped and
.'Isn't that your cousin Grace" said
no. ''behind the counterp"