The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1904-01-01
MOTHERS FRUIT CAKE.
AZ Was a Big One, But the Express
Charges Were Little
hit Bigger.


The woman who was telling the story
was the best gowned Of all the women
in the cafe 1t seemed to amuse the
company around her table and some at
nearby seats couldn't help listening to
it, relates the New York Sun.
Il never see a piece Of fruit or pound
cake that don't think Of my poor dear
mother out in Kansas, she was saying
Did ever tell you about the cake she
sent me? Well. ii was the first Christ
mas was In New York.
From my chill little bedroom in a
roomiEs 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. remember sending her a
long letter about plans was making
to bring my little sister east and give
her the education she ought to have.
"A few days before Christmas got
letter In mothers own labored writing.
She said she knew 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 1t by express,
4 promised myself that with one Of
mothers nourishlng fruit cakes at hand
would be able to sustain myself on the
OF days. and l 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 a
round parcel almost as big as a wash
tub. He held up the book for me TO
sign and remarked, incidentally,
charges are s64E maam Mother had
sent 1t collect. all the way from the lit
tie Kansas town.
''Six forty-fvei The fruit cake was as
far beyond my reach as a Tiffany tiara.
so the expressman bore it away while
muttered something about dropping
into his office with the money as soon as
| had been to the bank. Then ! 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. have an idea they have
some such system. Haven't they2
Then | sat down and wrote fresf
letter to mother telling her how much
I daunrfhfnr
all the fictitious persons who had shared
it with me, and who sent their COD.
gratulations to her on her skill as
cakemaker. ran out and mailed ths
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. no." continued the narrator
Three months later went to the auc'
ton sale Of unclaimed express packages |
and bid II in for As cents. Mothers
fruit cake is SO wholesome and solid that
it win keep for year. If you'n all |
come up to the house now, each Of you
shall have a small piece"
what" exclaimed one Of the men.
Was this event as recent as that?'
The story-teller smiled bewitchingly.
i'You know" she said. turning her look /
10 the fat and aDoplectic person whr
was presumptively the husband. 1T was
a case Of love at first sight with Mr.
e and me-"
YES" assented the fat one. 'and
we've just shipped to mother a fruit
cake that's so crammed with $50 gold
pieces that there's no room for raisins.'
"sir. don't think quite catch the
drift Of your remarks saidthe naughty
maid who seemed TO have suddenly de-
yeloped d case Of refrigerator heart
well, L seem to catch your drift, all
right, all right. rejoined the young man
who had been trying to frame up pro-
posal. 1T seems to be something on the
order OF snowdrift, Chicago Daily