The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1892-01-07
THE BAKER OF BARNBURy


Itxs three day before Christmas, sne
the baker Of the little village Of Bsrpbur,
sat 10 the room behind bis shop He wa
short aud sturdy baker. q good fellow
and ordinarily Of a jolly demeanor. bu
this day ho sat grim 10 bis li'tle bsct
room.
Christmas indeed, be raid 10 himself.
aud What OF Christmssf Thank you. bsk
er and = merry Cblistmss 10 you, and
every one OF them goes away, with spres
en-, Of raisin cake. or horse ginger cake,
II they like that better. All this for the
good OF the trade OF course Confound the
trade. I'm ,ii,d Of trade. Ia there nc
good in this world but the good OF the
trader Oh. yes. they II say. there's Christi
mas aud that's good. But what is the good
Of it to me2 say l. Christmas day 10
family day. and to man without family
it's no day at oil. lm not even fourth
cousin to soul in town. Nobody asks me
to family dinner. Bake bakel they cry.
that We may eat and love each other Con'
found them. ] sm tired of it. What il
Christmas to me? have mind TO skip
II.
As he said this smile broke out on his
face. Skip Christmas9 said he, that's
good iles. They did not think OF me last
year; this would make then think Of me
this year.
As be said this be opened 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, all give orders.
It's pastry. cake or sweetneals. or ITS
meat or fowl to. be baked What Jolly
Christmas they will have without mel Or
ders from all OF them. every one; all sent
in good time for fear Of being crowded
ou'.
Here be stopped aud ran his eyes again
over the list.
No, not at all, be ssid, The Widow
Monk is not here. What is the matter
with her l wonder2 The only person 10
Barnbury who has not orderd either pastry
cake or sweetmests; or fowls or meat to be
baked. IfTll skip Christmas she'll be the
only one the only one 10 Barnbury. Ha'
hal
The b ker wanted some fresh air, and as
this was supper time for the whole village
be locked up bis shop ard vent out iorla
walk. The night was clear and frosty. He
liked this; the air was SO different from
that in the bakery.
He walked to the end OF the village, and
at the last house he stoppei.
It's very odd, be said to himself; no
cakes, pastry OF sweetmeats; not even poul
try or meat to be baked. III look in and
see about this, and he knocked at the
door.
The Widow Monk was at supper. She
was plump little body. bright and cheer
ful TO look upon. and not more than tbif
ty.
Good evening. baker, said she, " II you
si, down and have cup OF tes?
The baker put down his bat unwound
his long WOODEN comforter, took on his
oyercost aud had cup OF tea?
Now, then, ssii he TO himself as he put
down his cup. # she'd ask me to dinner
wouldn't rkip Christm's, and the whole
village might rise up and bless her
We are like TO have foe Christmas. be
said to her
Fine enough for the rest OF you. she
said, with sm,le, but shall not have aby
CBristmss this year.
Hows that? cried the baker no Christ
ma, Widow Monk?
Not this year baker. said she. and sh'
poured Lin another cup OF tes. You see
those borse,blankets? said she, pointing Z
one thrown over q chair.
Bless me, Widoa Mouk, cried the baker
you're no, intending to sci up horst'
Hardly that, she answered, with smile
but thst's The very last borse,blsnket thS
can sci 10 bind. They dou't put then
on horses, but they have them bound viii
red sn use them for door curtains That
ali The fashion. nov. and all the Barnbuf'
folks who can sfford them have sebt then
10 me TO be boupd with red. That on'
is tesrly finished. and there are no NOR
! TO be tound.
Bat haven't the Bsrbbnry flks sn'
more work for you? cried tie baker
haven't they shirts or gowns, or som
Other sort Of needlirg9
Those things they make themselves, an
svered the widow. but this binding !
heavy vork and they eive it to me- ih'
blankets are cosr,e you see but they ham
we'll In the doorssy.
/ Confouni the people oi Barrbuiy erie
the baker. Every Gre 81 them woui'
hang veil in doorway il ! bad The dom
of And 70 you can't ~ nd Chrisims'
Widow Monk?
No. said stf. setting berssf TO srs o
her horse blspkei, cot thi. year "hr
came 70 Brnbufy, baker. thought
might do xell. bu, have Dot done "eii'
p.a DO, your tu.band le.ye You Ahy
lthinsf be Gked.
Nv husband ~ss saiior. said che. sn
vent down With HE brig, the Misiie'o'
three yens ago. snd all that bs lei' the
gone. baker
II, us time TOT baker ,o open b.. sh9i
and te vent swsy. and ~ be ~siked bon
,uu~ drops aud tear drops we're sli NIKE
. ,Ose,h,r on bis lace.
i couldn't do thss scft OF th'cs beio'
her. be said. aud an glad u v" time
20 spd opeu my shop.