Newport daily independent., 1904-04-06
THE INDEPENDENT
 PERCY H. VANDYkE,
 Publisher and Editor. NEWPORT, ARKANSAS
MOTHERS FRUIT CAKE.
It Was . Big Oney But the Express Charges Were n Little
 Bit Bigger.


 The woman who was telling the story was the best gowned of all the women in the cafe. It seemed to amuse the company around her table and some at nearby seats couldn't help listening to it, relates the New York Sun.
 s'I never see a piece of fruit or pound cake that don't think of my poor dear mother out in Kansas" she was saying. ssDid ever tell you about the cake she sent me? Well, it was the first Christ mas was in New York.
 From my chill little bedroom in rooming house half way up town used to write to her the rosiest letters of my progress and expectations. It used to cheer my gloomiest hours to see what lies could put down on paper for the qualification and comfort of the little old lady. One night when hadn't had any dinner, I remember sending her long letter about plans l was making to bring my little sister east and give her the education she ought to have.
 "A few days before Christmas got a letter in mothers own labored writing. She said she knew I hankered for taste of the fruit cake we always had at home at Christmas time and she had made whole big one for me and had shipped it by express.
 T promised myself that with one of mothers nourishing fruit cakes at hand l would be able to sustain myself on the off days, and sat in expectancy next day when the bell rang and the maid came toiling up the two flights to tell me that there was package for me.
 "The expressman climbed up with round parcel almost as big as a wash tub. He held up the book for me to sign and remarked, incidentally, charges are $6.45 ma'am. Mother had sent 1t collect, all the way from the It. tie Kansas town.
 "Six forty-fiye! The fruit cake was as far beyond my reach as Tiffany tiara. So the congressman bore 1t away while l muttered something about dropping into his office with the money as soon as had been to the bank. Then l wrote a strictly private note to my little sis ter telling her to tear up any notice that might be sent to mother by the company telling her the parcel was un- delivered. I have an idea they have some such system Haven't they?
 "Then sat down and wrote fresh letter to mother telling her how much l had enjoyed the cake, and describing all the fictitious persons who had shared 1t with me, and who sent their con- gratuIations to her on her skill as a cakemaker. I ran out and mailed the letter and went back and cried myself to sleep"
 And that was the end of the cake?" asked one of the women at the table.
 "Oh, mo-" continued the narrator. 'aThree months later I went to the auc- tion sale of unclaimed express packages and bid it in for 45 cents. Mothers fruit cake is so wholesome and solid that 1t will keep for year. If you'll all come up to the house now, each of you shall have small piece"
 What" exclaimed one of the men. "Was this event as recent as that?'
 The story-teller smiled bewitchingly. 'sYou know" she said, turning her look to the fat and apoplectic person who was presumptively the husband, Tt was a case of love at first sight with MT. K and me-"
 "Yes," assented the fat one, "and we've just shipped to mother a fruit 1 cake that's so crammed with $20 gold pieces that there's no room for raisins."