The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-11-28
A LITTLE SHOP GIRL.

can. I've got beautiful recipe for choc olate eclairs, and on Friday evening am soing there 10 make up all that can, so that the school children will buy them on Saturday. l know low to make cinna- mon apple tarts. too. and lemon drops and cocoanut balls"
 "Grace, do believe you have taken leave of your senses" said Medora May aOne would think it was a disgrace enough for Aunt Deborah-our own mothers sister-to open a horrid little huckster shop without our mixing ouI- selves up in the sfair
 But Aunt Debby must live, you know" said Grace, who was perched. kitten-{ash. ion, on the window-sill, fee d;ag the can- sry with bits of sparkling white sugar "And Cousin N xon couldn't keep her any longer, and her c, es are not strong enough for fine needle work, and her edu cation has not fitted her 10 be a teacher and her poor old rheumatic bones keep her from going behind counter or en- tering factory. suppose you wouldn't be willing to have her come and live with your"
 "Ir' cried Medora. "Do you sup pose want to proclaim to the whole town that have such dtlapida,ed old relation as that 2'
 "I would take her quick enough" said Grace if didn't bosrd with Mrs How it, and share the li,le upstairs b ack-room with the two children. Just wait until marry some rich man." she added, with ssucy uplifting of her auburn brows, @an6 then see If don't furnish up a s:ately apartmen. for Aunt Debby."
 "Dont talk nonsense" said Medora acidly. "It's very likely, ism t it, that a factory girl like you is going to marry rich man ?"
 Grace Craxall laughed menily. 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, cheerfully entered factory, while Medora, taking her stand on the platform of a false gentiiity, had done fine sewing and silk embroidery on the sly to sup port herself putting on all the airs of 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 widowed shop in shady street just out of the main th oroughfare, and, as Medora despairingly exptessed it, "gone into trade
 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 straight forward common sense.
 [" only wish it wasn't sinful to take a dose of laudanum aud put myself out oi the way" sis shed the poor old lady.
 "Now, Aunt Debby. that doesn't sound a bit like you,' said Grace cheeriully.
 But what am to do p said Aunt De- borah.
 What can you do ?" said Grace.
 "l don't know as am good for any thing," said the old lady with quiet tear or two, "except to help around the house. and l ain't strong enough for regular help. Your uncle always used to say was a msster-hand at making bread"
 Then make it," brightly interrupted Grace.
 - Eh2 ?" said Aunt Debby.
 There's a nice little store to let on Bay street," went on Grace, for ten dol lars a month"
 |" Bu, haven't got ten dollars month, teebly interrupted Aunt Deoby.
 "fll lend It to you" said Grace, tout 1.-the wages have saved. And there's pretty bedroom at the back of the shop, and clean, dry basement under 1t, where you can bake your bread. l snow, for the sister of the lady where board is looking for dress-m aking rooms, and heard her speaking about it."
 Do you mean to open a bakery ?" said be~ildered Aunt Debby.
 Not exactly that" explained Grace. But if Mrs. Hewitt, or Mrs. Taylor or any of the ladies around here could get real homemade bread, such as you make, do you suppose they would put up .'th the sour stuff they get at the baker shopsr And you could easily get up a tePutation on your raisin cakes, and fried serullers and New England pumpkin pies. Nov couldn't you r
 The old lady frightened up a little.
 l used to be pretty good at cooking" said she. And If you think could sup port myself so-"
 am sure of it." cried cheerful Grace. Id I'll go there with you th,s very day so look st the place, and will engage 1t Tor three months on trial And ] can paint you a sign to put over your door: Home made Bread by Mrs Deborah May And I'll hem you some curtains and arrange the shelves in ,he 'low win dow. 1 most wish was going to be your shop-girl," she added meIrily. But 1 Can hep you in the evening, you know"
 Grace Crsxsil prophesles proved cor fect. Aunt Debbv delicious homemade bread, whiter than powdered lilies, sweet as ambrosia, soon acquired reputation. and the old lady could scarcely bake it last enough. People came half dozen olocks to buy the yellow pumpkin pies and delicious apple tarts children brought their boarded pennies to invest n chocolate sweetmeats, vanilla caramels end cream cakes with puffy shells and Sel,cious centers of sweetness. The little noney-drawer grew fat with coins, and