The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1908-04-02
THE STORY OF
A BREAD BASKET.


England. the time that of Queen Eliza
BETH The story is true. and the virgin
queen is one of the characters.
Among the cOurtiers was Lord Comp
ton, Il good looking young man imbued
with the spirit Of adventure of that
time. He did not. like some Of his fell
low courtiers-Raleigh. for instance
interest himself in the settlement of
new countries He worked in more
are prone to admire the pioneer. surely
''all the world loves Il lover"
Sir John Spencer was a merchant
prince of London. So wealthy was he
that he was called the rich Spencer"
indeed, he was worth q sum equal to
the income of 81 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 Il case of a 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 q subject that has had
first place in stories ever since they
began to be written. but if the motif
is commonplace the variety of it's rami-
fcations is infinite In this case the
special ratlification is unique.
There is no need to concern ourselves
over the unhappiness of a 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 young man,
a girl and a cruel parent the problem
is how the young man can get the girl
away from the cruel parent There
are a 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 4 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 It
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 q 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
toll 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
J The baker pulled his fOrelock, peck
eted the sixpence and hurried on and
out Not far from the house 'chair"
waited. 1'ic bread basket was put in
it: it was lifted by two bearers ana
carried away.
When girls are carried off by their
lovers onn Of two things happens
; either they are forgiven or they are
, I'm l,fc fho CriT1 yvels
not forgiven. at least not yet. Indeed,
she was disinlerited Having thus
Jumped the commonplace again, we
will proceed to the denouement, which
| i; rs unique us the elopement and far
more tony.
About a year after all this happened
. the virgin queen .honored Sir John
spencer by inviting him to stand Spon-
sor with her for Il child. Furthermore,
It 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 trumped up
. charge of treason and to have his head
dropped by the fall Of an ak into a
basket. There had been one basket
t too many already in the family affairs,
and Sir John signifed his assent.
/ The day of the christening came
round, and 4 boy baby dressed in fine
linen and French laces was carried into
her majesty's private chapel. A good
, IL assembly of courtiers were present,
among them Lord Compton and his
. wife, though they stood back where
, they were not noticeable. When the
t 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