The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-08-10

! up dAA udS, anu SUCH urea Trio as they
were when night came! Aweek's time
found them very nicely settled.
This front ROOM said Louise. sis to
be parlor, Office and reception room, 50
we u make it look its prettiest."
Meanwhile Fred had not been idle; a
very c~reditdble little sign had been
made and painted, a notice had been
put in the local paper, a few circulars
describing the new business OF Patch
ing and Darning." and giving prices
for work, had been distributed by this
same enterprising boy. The absurd
little garden in the rear of the house
had been spaded and put in nice order,
awaiting some seed packets that were
even now on the way; and next week
college would begin, and the light
hearted. helpful boy would be busy
with his books. But Efie would be
left; and a jolly little helper she was,
full of dimplcs and good nature.
Now and then a small bit OF work
came in. Only ten cents a pair for
stockings, but so beautifully done
were they that Others followed Don
L pLlC DACiltlOL dilo LliCh dIONi4CI
rescued his mending from the colored
"Aunty' who did his washing (who
sewed on white buttons with black
thread and vice versa"O, and sending
it down to the tiny store at the streets
end found everything put in order las
mother used to do it" But the college
boys were Il wonderful help to the
business. Of course they got dread
fully torn up" as boys always will,
and as most of them were away from
home, they were glad enough to lind a
pair of deft fingers so near
By and by the great hotel began to
show signs Of life. Then the hacks
and street cars began making frequent
trips, and great piles of "Saratogas"
numbered the platforms at the station.
While all this hubbub was going on
half Il mile away, there were also ex-
citing times at the hunters. \ mys-
FERROUS box had arrived from the north.
and certain delicious odors hung
around the various packages. A half
barrel Of sparkling sugar was dcpos-
tied in one corner; the oil-stove and
several small kettles and pans received
an extra securing. A busy trio of
young folks sat around the lamp after
supper, cracking and picking nuts,
stoning raiSins and dates, chopping
citron and figs. All her resting mo-
ments Louise spent in the big rocker"
studying receipts and inventing new
combinations. She decided that her
first candy venture should consist of
only a few varieties, and those the
most familiar to her.
Chocolate creams, of course; but
there are cream and creams. Louise's
all looked about the same outside, a
rich, dull brown, but you were never
sure into what delicious inner COM
pound your teeth would sink; some
were white and vanilla favored; some
with cocoanut with lemon added; some
pink, with 4 trace of bitter almond;
some a dainty fruit paste; and the last
II was always the best. Cream dates,
pink and white, rolled in granulated
sugar; c%Ocoanut cones, baked in her
little oven and with just the right
golden brown tinge on the top; walnut
and maple creams, and lastly, a de-
lightful combination invented by
Louise herself, and irreverently dubbed
hash balls" by the irrepressible Fred.
In due time all were made, tastcfuIly
arranged in an amber glass bowl, and
left at Browns" the one drug store
of the village. 1t was a pretty, at
tractivc store. where soda water and
other things besides the usual stock
could be obtained, SO the hotel people
were quite sure to be frequent custom
ers. A little card was fastened to the
bowl of glittering sweets, which read:
homemade; help YOURSELF for Louise
had decided hat the first two or three
consignments must be given away free
ly, in order to establish a reputation.
Mr.. Brown awaited himself of the in
speedily, and, being a great
friend of Fred, spread praises of the
and drew everyonc's attention
to them. In a few days Louise sem
another lot, simply varying fiavors
and by the time that was
gone purchasers became 4 reality.
There was always to be found in the
showcase a bowl of fresh. tempting
candies; but the placard had changed
to: Homemade, 80 cts. 4 lb.; and near
by lay a little pile of empty boxes.
Meanwhile the mending and darning
was not neglected; the mornings were
to the sweets, the afternoons
to the needle. Carefully tended by Ellie.
and by Fred after school hours, the
flower and vegetable seeds were doing
and for recreation, there were
occasional moonlight walks or a pleas
ant row on the lake.
Two weeks before Christmas the or
iers for confectionery poured in so
thick and fast that Louise was obliged
20 No patching and darn
.ng till after the holidays" and work
and late to meet all require
nents. This was her harvest; but
she coined mooey rapidly she
used it sparingly, knowing that after
/ time dull days would come.
Christmas came, and with it a pres
from Miss Beesley-a barrel of nuts
her loved New England; black
v~alnuts, ''shellbarks," b~utternuts,
,hestnuts, hazelnuts, plump, sound and
fresh, enough to last the season"
and infinitely better than the
stale ones at the stores. And so one
heavy expense was lifted, and the dear
Did maid again proved herself a friend