The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-10-29
miscellaneous.
JOS PRIZE BREAD.


The tea-table was ready Z; crimson slices of
tomato with cool Jumps of ice atop, shavings
OF dried beef and golden butter and light
bread, a generous pitcher of milk, and the lit
tie brown teapot, tuning and seaming as if
in great hurry for the meal to begin. Mr..
Steele took down his linen house coat from
its peg Mrs. Steele sank into her chair with
weary sigh, and said:
"'ve done that whole basket of peaches
this afternoon :" but still there was an empty
chair between them, and her husband did not
answer her remark, but asked, where's Jo?
Why don't she come to tea?'
oh, poor child, she's too ambitious for
anything, and | don't see how she'll ever get
through this world unless she learns to bear
disappointment better. She rushed off to her
own room and locked the door an hour ago,
and Jane couldn't get any answer when she
went to call her."
But what's the trouble Something wrong
at school ?"
"Oh no; it's her bread. l forgot she didn't
tell you. She said she wanted it for q sur
prise, but It's no harm to tell now. Don't
you remember reading us, two weeks ago, in
the Item, about the Cross town fair, and how
they offered medals for the best bed-qults,
dresses, sofa-pillows, and so on and for the
best loaf of bread, the best pie, and cake?
said there wouldn't be many to try; the girls
about Crosstown were like they were every
where else round here, too busy with more
eevating things TO understand everyday
work. (That was the day 10 let all Der pies
burn while she was studying her geometry
lessons, and felt real tried with her) And
you said you wished some of 'em would try.
You didn't believe all the smart girls were
dead yet, or married either"
Yes, remember that replied her hus-
band, with laughing glance at his smart"
wife. "Wcll ?"
"Well, from that time out 10 was bound
to get medal, and she took bread because
she thought it would be the hardest"
"Just like her" muttered her father, to
whom 10 was very dear little daughter.
"She made out right well two or three
times" continued her mother. "That baking
last Thursday that you praised, was hers
Didn't you notice how che blushed and shook
her head at me She was so glad the fair open
ed on Monday morning, so she could bake her
her loaf on Saturday, and Frank Stubs was
going to call and take it over with his cage of
pigeons, SO you shouldn't know anything
about it. When you wanted her to come
and help you with the milk accounts last
night, she was out in the kitchen settin' her
sponge, and had to make some sort of ex
cuse for her"
"Well,"-(Mr. Steee's cup of lea was grow
ing cold. He was too much interested in the
story TO drink iD-"well, what happened to
it. Did it burn ?"
"Oh no it's nicely baked But Jane want.
ed the table for the preserve jars this morn
ing, so she set it in the window by the
stove, not thinking about what it was, (for
twas too small batch TO be in the bread
pan 10 put it in china bowl,) and sup
posed it stayed there too long, for it's sour
Not real bad either, but quite enough to spoil
the taste, and seems sort of over-risen. She
was afraid something was wrong, but told
her to go on and bake it anyhow, but Mrs.
Stubs came in after it was done, and gave
her bit off the little tasting loaf that 10
baked with it, and says she right out ooh
my it's sour, Josephine !" Poor 10 I'd been
trying to pretend there wasn't much amiss
with it, for | saw that she was worried and
tired and just ready 10 cry. You know she
don't like Mrs. Stubs anyhow, and she just
gave her one look, and then rushed out of
the kitchen and upstairs like whirlwind.
was real sorry for her, but she's too old to
flare up that way, and she's got to learn to
bear worries like the rest of u.s. Have more
tea? It's got stronger standing
mo, nothing MORE" said Mr. Steele, alb
sently. He was better able to sympathize
with his impeluous little daughter than her
placid, easy going mother, and his mind was
full of her disappointment.
ON take her up cup Of tea, if you're
tired" he said, presently.
"Well, do and see that she drinksit. She'll
get one of her nervous headaches going on
this way"
The "whirlwind' was over in jos little
room, and her swollen eyes were bathed in
cold water. Only moist and much crumped
pillow was left to tell the story. She was
sitting by the window in her white wrapper,
and took the cup OF ten and her fathers kiss
pretty soon. My head feels better"
"Ah, well, think I'd stay up stairs
Rests the best thing for this kind of head
ache" returned her father, sitting down on
the edge of the bed and swinging his feet
"Mothers been telling me about the bread,
10. Wouldn't there be time to get up
another loaf? I'll help,-with a comical
glance that stopped The rising tears in JOS
brown eyes.
mo, couldn't make another in time un-
less it was baked tomorrow, and you know
mother wouldn't allow that on Sunday. I'll
have to give it up. Wouldn't care so much,
only did make it so good. That baking
last week.
eS yes, kuOW, luOtueT tOlu me. Dub
never you mind. I'm going to offer prize
myself, for the end of this month. Some
thing know you want. And only make
one condition. You are to give all the fail
ures to me, to dispose of, no matter how bad
they are. Now, how will that dop Don't
you care more about pleasing me than the
Judges at the Crosstown fair !"
"Oh, yes; I'll do it without any prize. Pm
bound to 60 on until / can do it, But did
want to do this too. And Jane says she's
sure it wasn't her fault she thinks the sponge
stood too long before made it up"
"Well, now, guess we know better than
Jane. l believe she spoiled it herself But
never mind that now. 1t goes to me, by our
new plan"
"Oh, made 1t before tho plan started
What will you do with IL? Please don't tell
any one else about it,"
Never mind what do with it. That's
my affair. But don't want you to see it ly-
ing about down stairs, and if seem restless