Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-07-29
THE STORY OF
A BREAD BASKET.
[Original.1


beth The story is true, and the virgin
queen is one of the characters.
Among the courtiers was Lord Comp
ton, a good looking young man imbued
with the spirit of adventure of that
time He did not. like some of his fell
low Raleigh, for instance
interest himself in the settlement of
new countries. He worked in a more
circumscribed field But if some of us
are prone to admire the pioneer, surely
"all the world loves lover"
Sir John Spencer was a merchant
prince of London. So wealthy was he
that he was called 1.-The rich Spencer"
Indeed, he was worth a sum equal to
the income of Rockefeller or Car
negie for a whole month. Sir John had
but one child, a daughter She was
the object of Lord Compton's love-
Just here, for novelty. the story
scrapes bottom. No one can infuse
novelty into case of pair of lovers
whose marriage is opposed. Sir John
secuted the idea of his daughter mar
rying Compton. and that is all there is
to be said on subject that has had
first place in stories ever since they
began to be written, but if the motif
fications is infinite. In this case the
special ramification is unique.
There is no need to concern ourselves
over the unhappiness of pair Of low
ers. Lovers-at least unmarried lovers
are usually unhappy, and, as to those
who are kept apart, their condition re-
minds us of what Marshal Won Moltke
said about the roads in wartime, "They
are always bad" Separated lovers are
always unhappy. Given a young man.
a girl and cruel parent, the problem
is how the young man can get the girl
away from the cruel parent There
are great many ways Of doing the
trick, and those used in stories that
are not true are almost always rO-
mantle. There is nothing romantic in
the plan adopted in this case; but, as
have said, this is a true story.
One morning the baker, as usual.
went to Sir John Spencer's house to
deliver the loaves Of bread. He car
ried them on his back In large wicker
basket Such necessaries for break
fast were delivered then, as now, in
the early morning. This morning the
bread was delivered unusually early.
1t was laid on the kitchen table before
even the cook was out of bed. But II
the cook was in bed there was one who
was up and dressed and waiting for
the baker. That was Miss Spencer.
She threw her arms about his neck,
they whispered few hurried words,
she hoped into the basket. the cover
was slapped down, the baker hoisted
it on to his back and started down
stairs.
OF course the baker was Lord Comp
ton disguised.
1t happened that morning that Sir
John was up early himself. Seeing
the baker coming downstairs from hav-
ing delivered the bread, he accosted
him.
up and at work early, my man!
That's the way to get on in the world.
/ got my start by working when other
people were asleep. Here's a sixpence
for you"
The baker pulled his forelock, pock-
eted the sixpence aid hurried on and
out Not far from the house a "chair"
waited. The bread basket was put In
1t; it was lifted by two bearers and
carried away.
When girls are carried Off by their
lovers one of two things happens
either they are forgiven or they are
not forgiven. In this case the girl was
not forgiven, at least not yet. Indeed
she was disinherited. Having thus
jumped the commonplace again, we
will proceed to the denouement which
is as unique as the elopement and far
more tony.
About year after all this happened
the virgin queen honored Sir John
Spencer by inviting him to stand spon-
sor with her for child. Furthermore,
1t was suggested by the queen that,
since the undutiful conduct of his
daughter had deprived him of an heir,
here was an opportunity to adopt one.
Suggestions from sovereigns in those
days were tantamount to commands,
for If they were not acted upon the
person to whom the suggestion was
made was liable to a trumped up
charge of treason and to have his head
dropped by the fall of an ak into
basket. There had been one basket
too many already I'm the family affairs,
and Sir John signified his assent
The day of the christening came
round, and boy baby dressed in fine
linen and French laces was carried into
her niajesty's private chapel. A good
ly assembly of cOurtiers were present.
among them Lord Compton and his
wife, though they stood back where
they were not noticeable. When the
clergyman asked what name should
be given the child the queen answered,
John Spencer"
Sir John started, the ceremony was
performed, and the queen informed
the godfather that his godson was his
grandchild. Then her majesty called
for the mother, who Threw her arms
about her fathers neck and was for
given. Lord Compton advanced, and
thQ rpcOncilia tiOn was concluded