Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-03-19
ALIITLE SHOP GIRL.

ILL car. I've got beautiful recipe
Tor chocOlate cellars, and on Friday
evening [ am going there to make up
all that I can, so that the school child,
rem will buy them on Saturday. |
know how to make cinnamon apple
arts, too, and lemon drops aud cocoa
nut balls"
Grace, do believeyou 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 p horrld
title huckster shop without our mix
fng ourselves up in the affair.""
But Aunt Debby must live, you
know, said Grace, who was perched,
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 cot strong enough for fine
needle work, and her education has
not fitted her to be a teacher, and her
poor old rheumatic bones keep her
from going behind counter or en-
tering a factory, 1 suppose you
wouldn't be willing to have her come
acre and live with you?"
II y cried Medora. DO you sup,
pose I want to proclaim to the whole
town that I have such dilapidated
old relation as that2'
L would take her quick enough, !"
said Grace, eff | didn't board with
Mrs Hewitt, and share the little up
stairs back room with the two chill
cIy 17CfT4 r
rich man." she added with a saucy up
lifting of her auburn brows, land
then see if [ don't furnish up stately
apartment for Aunt Debby?"
Don't talk nonsense, +" said MedOra,
acidly. Its very likely, isn't it, that
a factory girl like you Is going to mar
~ a 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, tax
ing her stand on the platform of a
and silk embroidery GA the sly to sup.
port 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 low windowed shop in a shady
street just out of the main thorough.
fare, and as Medora despairing ex-
pressed it, gone into trader
For Aunt Debby, in her bewildered
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
4 good big dose of Iaudanum and put
myself ont Of the way" sighed the
poor old lady.
Now, Aunt Debby, that doesa't
SOUND q bit like you, said Grace cheer
July
"But what am I to do?" said Aunt
Deborah.
What can you do?" said Grace.
Z don't know as I am good for any
hing" said the old lady with quiet
lear or two, "except to help around
the house, and [ amt strong enough
for hired help. Your uncle always
''sed TO say I was a master hand at
making bread"
Then make it." brightly interrupt
ed Grace.
Enc" said Aunt Debby.
~Slhere's a nice little store to let on
Bay street" said Grace, ''for so per
month"
But 7 haven't got ten dollars a
uonth, " feebly interrupted Aunt De
horah.
I'll lend it to YOU" said Grace,
out of the wages l have saved. And
there's a pretty bedroom at the back
Of the stoop, and a clean, dry base
ment under it, where you could make
your bread. know, for the sister OF
the lady where board is locking for
dress making rooms, and heard her
speaking about it"
DO you mean to open bakery? 2"
said bewildered Aunt Debby.
Not exactly that, explained Grace
But if Mrs. Hewitt, or Mrs. Taylor,
or any other Of the ladies around you
could get hopae made bread, such as
you make, do you suppose they would
pNO u " Will bII0 SOur SLUn lucy YET al
the bakers shops? And you could
easily get up q reputation on your
raIsin cakes, and fried crullers, an
New England pumpkin pies. n o
couldn't you?"
The old lady frightened up little.
i used to be pretty good at cook
ing" said she. And if you think I
could support myself So"
II am sure of itr' 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 sign to
put over your door. Home made
Bread by Mrs. Deborah Mayl" And
I'll hem you some curtains and ar
range the shelves IL the Window
almost wish I was going to he your
shop girl" she added merrily. But
I can help yoa IN the evening, you
know"
Crack Craxalls prophecies proved