Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-08-08

with wide Lodges, facing the street,
and small row of shelves on ono side.
But there was plenty of dust and cob
webs, and work for everybody. Such
q trotting as the three pair OF feet kept
up all day, and such tired trio as they
were when night came! Aweek's time
found them very nicely settled.
This front ROOM" said Louise, ''is to
be parlor, Office and reception room, so
we must make it look its prettiest."
Meanwhile Fred had not been idle; q
very creditable little sign had been
made and Tainted, a notice had been
put In the local paper, 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 Effie would be
left; and a jolly little helper she was,
full of dimples and good nature.
Now and then a small bit Of work
came in. Only ten cents pair for
stockings, but SO beautifully done
were they that others followed soon.
First one bachelor and then another
rescued his mending from the colored
"Aunty" who did his washing (who
sewed on white buttons with black
thread and "vice versa"), 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 a 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 find q
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 a mile away, there were also ex-
citing times at the Hunters. A mys-
terious box had arrived from the north,
and certain delicious odors hung
around the various packages. A half
barrel of sparkling sugar was depos-
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
ordinations She decided that her
first candy venture should consist of
only few varieties, and those the
most familiar to her.
Chocolate creams, of course; but
there are creams 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 trace of bitter almond;
some dainty fruit paste; and the last
one was always the best Cream dates,
pink and white, rolled in granulated
sugar; cocoanut 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.
Tn Ana TINA yuara do 10
arranged in an amber glass bowl, and
left at Browns" the one drug store
of the village. 1t was pretty, at
tractive 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
era A little card was fastened to the
bowl of glittering sweets, which read,
Homemade; help YOURSELF" for Louise
had decided that the first two or three
consignments must be given away free
ly, in order to establish q reputation.
Mr.. Brown availed himself of the in
vitation speedily, and, being a great
friend of Fred, spread praises of tho
sweets and drew everyone's attention
to them. In a few days Louise sent
another lot, simply varying favors
somewhat, and by the time that was
gone purchasers became a reality.
There was always to be found in the
showcase bowl of fresh. tempting
candies; but the placard had changed
to: Homemade, so cts. h.; !" and near
by Law little pile of empty boxes
Meanwhile the mending and darning
was not neglected; the mornings were
devoted to the sweets, the afternoons
to the needle. Carefully tended by Effle,
and by Fred after school hours, the
flower and vegetable seeds were doing
finely; and for recreation, there were
occasional moonlight walks or q pleas
ant row on the lake.
Two weeks before Christmas the or
ders for confectionery poured in so
thick and fast that Louise was obliged
to announce: mo patching and darn
ing till after the holidays" and work
early and late to meet all require
ments. This was her harvest; but
though she coined money rapidly she
used it sparingly, knowing that after
a time dull days would come