The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1891-01-01
Hehes Of al I<.vnns Peva-U Govt Report Aug ~ 1852
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ABSOLUTELY PURE
THE BAKER or BARNBURY

>
n vas three days before Christmas. an
the baker Of the little village OF Barpbur
J. sat 10 the room behind bis shop. He Va
= . short and sturdy baker. . good fellow
= snd ordinarily Of jolly demesnor, tu
this Day be sst grim in bis little bacl
room.
Christians indeed, he said 10 himself
and What OF CbristmssY Thank yon. bsk
or. aud . merry Christmas 70 you. snt
4 every one OF them goes svsy. with tb'
present OF rsisin- cake. or horse ginge
cake. IL they like that better. All this fo
the good OF the trade. Of course Con
found the trade I'm tired OF trade. il
; there 20 good 10 this world. but the good
OF the trader Oh, yes. they II say. there,
Christmas and that's good. But what il
the good Of it to me' FAY ], Christina,
day is family day, aud to man without
family it's 10 day at all. I'm not even
fourth cousin TO sonl 10 the town. No
body asks me to family dinner Bake!
blkerl they cry. that we may eat and love
each other. Confouad them. ] am tired
oft What is Christmas to me. have
q MUD to skip it.
A. he said this smile broke out on his
face. Skip Christmas. said be. that's =
good idea. They did not think Of ne lsst
year; this would make tbem think OF ms
this year.
As be said this he OPP nsd bis order book
and ran his eye over the names. Here's
orders from every one OF them. said be,
from the doctor down TO Cobbler John
All have families, oil give orders It's pas,
try, cake or sweetmests, or it's meat or
fowl to be baked. What jolly Christnss
they will have without mel Orders from
all OF them, every one; ell sent IN good
time for fear Of being crowded out
Here he stopped and ran his eye again
over the list.
No, not sll, be said. the Widow Monk 10
no. here. What is the matter with her,
wonder' The only person in Barnbury
Who has not ordered either pastry. cakes
or sweetcakes; or fowls or meat TO be bak
ed. II skip Christmas, she'll not mind
ii, but she'll be the only one the only
one in all Bsrnbury. Hsihsl
The baker wanted some fresh air, and,
as this was supper time for the whole vii
lsge. he locked up bis shop and went out
for . walk The night was clear and fros
ty. He liked this; the sir was 81 different
from that in bis bakery.
He walked to the end OF the villsge, and
at the last house he stopped. i
It's very odd, said he to himself; no
cakes, pastry or rsweetmeats; not even poul
try or meat TO be baked. Ill look In and
see about this, and be knocked u the
door.
The Widow Monk was at supper. She
was plump little body, bright and cheer
ful TO look upon. and not more than
thirty.
Good evening. baker, said she, will you
sit down and have cup Of tea.
The baker put down his hat. unwouud
his long woolen comforter. took of his
overcost and bad cup OF tea.
Now. then. said be 10 bimself. ss he put
down his cup. II she'd ask me to dinner
wouldn't skip Christmas. and the whole
village might rise up and bless herr
We sre like to have fne Christ mas be
said to her. Il
Fine enough for the rest Of you. she
paid with q smile. but shall not have any
Christmas this year.
How's thatp cried the baker; no Christ
mas, Widow Mons2
Not this year. baker, said rbe. and she
poured him another cup Of tea. You see
that horse blanket? said she pointing TO
one thrown over q chair.
Bless me, Widow Monk, cried the b.
ker; you're not intending to set up
horse?
Hardly that, she answered, with smile
Dnt that's the very last horse blanket that
can get to bind. They don't put them on J
horses. but they have them bound With
red. and uss them Tor door curtains. That
q oil the fashion now. and oil the Barn
bury folks who can sford them have sent
hem 10 me 10 ba bound with red. Tbs, y
me is nearly flushed. aud there are 20
more 10 he bonnd
But bsveu't tbs Barubnry folks suy more
york Tor you fcried the baker. haven't they
kirts or gowns. or some other sort OF
ieedliug. .
Those things they make themselves aus.
rered the wijow. bnt this binding Ia 4
lesvy work and they give !, 10 me. The a
blankets are coarse. .ou see, bat they 8
lang we'll in the doorssy.
Copiouni the 3, ople VI Bsrpbary leriei b
be baker. Every one u them would u
,sna well 10 doorSsy II hsdfbe doug v
4 il. Aad 40 you cAat fl IA cnns b
nss, Widow Mogki
No, said she sitting herself u sork su A
Ier horse blanket. mol this yesr. wbrn ] il
sme 10 B,rrbury. baker. though, ! o
aisht do sell. bat have not don. veil I
Did not your hasbloi lesss you any 81
hinss be askes.
NJ busbaad was sailor. sail she. and \
q sen, dosn sith bic brig. the M,s,Ic
oe. iLre- years ago aud al thst be ieft 81
be 10 gone. baker. sl
II sss time for The baker TO opsn bis
bop. and be vent away. aud - he walked b
Iene soov drops aud ,ssr drops vere eli !,
aiIed together 90 his lace. b
eoniant do this sort Of thicg before Il
.sr. he said. and Am GLAD II uS time 10 .,