The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1910-03-17

open, in the name Of God, and give
me a fare Of your cake, Grandam.
am nearly persisted for the want OF
food and a fire to warm me" replied
q voice without.
Grandam stopped to light her can
die and snuffed it until it burned its
brightest, for she was wary of strang-
ers, and she would see what kind OK
wanderer this was before she un-
barred the door. She had a stout
bar arranged so that she could slip
ii notch and open the door crack
without unfastenng IT,
Grandam fared her candle in the
face of her visitor. There stood an
old man in tatters which fiuttered all
ways when the blast struck him, and
set him to shaking. Bless mel"
cried Grandam, setting down the can
die and pushing back the wooden bolt.
She opened the door gingerly, just
enough to let the beggar in, and shut
1t quickly to keep the cold out. Poor
folk should be under cover this time
Of day The cold spell is nearing and
the nights are getting searching.
There's a storm brewing, l feel 1t In
my bones--they have been crealSing
all day."
The old man walked feebly to the
bench beside the fire, and sat down
and closed his eyes. Now am going
TO tell you a secret. The old man was
no other than good old Saint Peter,
who, as you all know, goes about see-
ing what folks are doing; II they are
being good, and kind, giving them his
blessing; IL they are doing i'll, teach
ing them a lesson. And nobody
knows when he comes, for he is al.
ways in disguise.
So Grandam never mistrusted; she
looked at the old man with his eyes
closed, and he seemed so weary, she
said, muttering as she was used to do,
since she had no one but herself to
talk to, 81 must bake him a cake;
nice little cake"
She put the pan over the fire and
dropped in a spoonful of batter, just
NhbhtAl W bluhN q NNlg llNllb NuhNI
which she thought was big enough to
give away.
But the batter swelled and spreao,
and swelled and spread. "0h, OH"
muttered Grandam under her breath,
but this is as big as that one on the
hearth which l baked for myself.
can't think Of giving away such a big
cake. | must bake another"
SO Grandam dropped into the pan
another spoonful good deal smaller
than the first, but it spread and swell.
ed, and swelled and spread, until it
was almost as big as the other one.
"Oh, OH" sighed Grandam, this is
much too big to give away"
She looked again at the old man,
whose eyes were closed. She had
half a mind not to give him any cake,
but his head had dropped on his
breast, and he looked so feeble, she
decided to try again. This time she
took only half spoonful of batter and
dropped it in the pan. And 1t spread
and swelled and swelled and spread,
until It was two-thirds the size of the
last.
Dear, dear!" cried Grandam, Il
shall waste all my meal, and have to
eat cold cakes a week, Just for being
so generous TO strange old man
who, for aught know, may
Grandam Pecker reached for her
bowl of batter, but dropped it in af-
fright. 1t fell on the hearth and
cracked into two pieces, and the bat
ter ran out into the ashes.
And this is what frightened her;
the old man had suddenly opened his
eyes and leaped to his feet very
straight and tall, and the tatters dis.
appeared, and there stood Saint Peter.
the fire flashing from his eyes, and
his finger pointed at her. Grandam
quaked with fear and stood trembling
before him.
His voice was very sorrowful when
he spoke. "Your heart has grown so
small and black" he said, that when
I look l see only a dark hole where
It ought to be- You are not fit to
dwell among men. have sent my
messengers to soften your heart, but
still it has kept growing smaller. To-
night, If you had fed me, you would
have had another chance. Now I am
going to give you body small enough
to fit your poor little heart. You have
pecked around for yourself all your
life and have cared for no other; now
will give you a chance to peck for
yourself so long as you will. You can