The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1886-11-26
A LITTLE SHOP GIRL,

| Out du Oid ndlN
Grace OrIxall, "and mean to help
her all l can. I've got Il beautiful
recipe for making chocolate eclairs,
and on Friday evening pm going
there to make up all | can, SO that
the school children will buy them
on Saturday. | know how to make
cinnamon apple tartS, too, and lem.
on drops and c0coanuts balls"
"Grace, do believe you have
taken leave of your Senses" said
Medora May. "One would think
it was disgrace enough tor Aunt
Deborah-our own mothers sister
TO open a horrid little bucket
shop, without mixing ourselves up
in the affair.""
"Aunt Deborah must live, you
know" said Grace, who was perch
ed, kitten fashion, on the window
sill, feeding tho canary With bits of
sparkling white sugar. ''And
Cousin Nixon couldn't keep her any
longer, aud her eyes are not strong
for fine needle work, aud her edu-
cation has not fitted her to be a
teacher, and her poor old rheumat-
ic bones keep her from going be-
hind counter or entering facto-
ry. 1 suppose you wouldn't be
willing to have her come aud live
with YOU"
"Ip cried Medora. "DO YOU
suppose want to proclaim to the
whole town that have such n di-
lapidatcd old relation as that n
II would take her quick enoueh,"
said Grace, "if didn't board with
Mrs. Howitt aud share the little
up stairs back room with the two
children. just wait until | marry
somo rich man." she added with Il
saucy uplifting of her saucy brows,
"and then see if l don't furnish
stately apartment for Aunt Debby."
"DOn't talk nonsense" said Me
dora, acidly. "It's very likely,
isn't it, that n factory girl like you
is going to marry Il rich manP'
Grace Craxall laughed merrily.
All through life she and her cousin,
Medora May, had agecd to differ
OH most points. Grace, seeing no
other career before her, had, OH the
death OF her last surviving parent,
entered a factory, while
Medora, taking her stand on the
platform of Il false gentility, had
done fine sewing aud silk embroid'
err Ton the sly" to support herself,
putting on all the airs of young |
lady of fashion the while. And
now Aunt Deborah May, to tho
infinite disgust of her aristOcrati-
cally Inclined niece, had actually !
opened little lOw.windOwed shop |
in. shady street just ont OF the
main thoroughfare, and, as Medora
despairingly expressed it, "gone
into trade J"
81 don'C know as l am good for
said the old lady With
quiet tear or two, "except to help
around the house, and l amt strong
enough for regular hired help.
Your uncle always used 10 say L
was master hand at making
bread.'
"There's a nice little store to let
on Bay street," replied Grace, '4or
$40 a month"
"But | haven't got $40 = month";
Teebly answered Aunt Debby.
"I'll lend it to you out OF the
wages | have saved" said Grace.
Aud there's a pretty bedroom at
The back of the shop aud a clean,
iry basement under it, where you
eau bake your bread. l know, for
the sister OF the lady where | board
IS looking for dressmakiug rooms.
and l heard her speaking about IT,"
"Do you mean to open bakery u
said bewildered Aunt Debby.
aNot exactly that" explained
Grace. "But if Mrs. Hewitt, or
Mrs. Taylor or any of the ladies
around here could get real home
made bread, such as you make, do
suppose they would put up with
he stun they get at the baker
,bopsf And you could easily get
M a reputation Tor your ralsin
cakes aud fried erullers and New
England pumpkin pies. Now,
couldn't your
The old lady frightened up a lit
lie. T.
81 used 10 be pretty good at
said she. "And II you
.hink l could support myself So"
81 am sure Of itw cried cheerful