Smyrna times., 1913-05-14
By Parcel Post.

getically swashing the dishes around
in the pan the young woman was
despondently oblivious TO that wor-
thy's expressive clatter.
Hers had been a hard life. crow
ded with burdens. replete with dis
appointments. shorn of any beautiful
reaiizations from the time a consump-
tive mother had imposed on her the
burdens of the household, to her
death. when prospects becoming
brighter on her promise to marry
impetuOus, ardent wOOing Edward
Mathers, she was soon TO learn that
the gateway of happiness would still
remain closed since her mercurial
lover had yielded TO the potent charms
of a wealthy damsel.
Her musings were growing darker
every minute. in keeping with the
cold, blustery March day, when the
ring of the door bell told her it was
time for the postman. With a buoy
ant step she almost ran towards the
door. not that she expected anything,
but because there is in all Of US the
great joy of expectation when an
swering the summons Of that hope
fully-hailed official.
And then. the unexpected happened.
the postman handed her a square
package and left her to covertly
make her way into the parlor to re-
ally wonder if the package did be-
long to her. Yet, there it was-ad-
dressed to Miss Bertha Gardner, 12
l. street, with new parcel stamp
in one corner, and when she noted
that il was marked fragile. - it did
not matter what zone the pack age was
included within for from the frigid
zone she soon felt sure she was en-
tering the torrid one so quick and fast
did her heart beat in happy anticipa
tiOn of its contents.
There was on her face a look Of
blank amazement however. when she
opened the box to find within, secure
ly nestled in their pasteboard
compartments. ~ good-size eggs.
They are beauties, though, she
thought. as she tried to take cne
of the large ones out from the
center. wondering if it might not
be wonderful golden egg bestowed
By some fairy, but when she had ex-
triaeted the same. she found, TO her
surprise. underneath it, a note which
read as follows:
Dear Miss Having heard
Of your ability as a cook, take the
liberty of forwarding to you these
eggs with the express purpose Of ask.
ing you to compete for a prize, same
70 be offered 70 the one who can make
the daintest cake and send the deli
cacy back by parcel post in the shortest
time, thus exhibiting both ability as
cook and business capacity in the
promptness of dispatch.
Not over four eggs are to be used,
two, il possible, although the frost
ing may be emoellished with what
ever artistic design you may desire.
When same is ready for mailing. if you
will take it to my good friend. Sam
uel Taylor. who keeps the tobacco
and fruit store near you, he will pack
same in box for you. Yours in
haste,
John Howard.
S &. r. F. d. 8.
When Bertha read this novel note.
at once her hOusewifely instincts
were aroused. She so longed to
make that cake, for she knew that she
was an adept in that line, but how
Fortune favored her. however, for after
she had safely concealed the eggs in
the parlor closet in the dining room
she ran in TO her aunt, who was about
to voice the information that as her
father was to be out Of town for the
day, she herself, was going with the
youngest child to the country, leav.
ing her, Bertha. free to find some
work and be Of some use. -
And find some she did, for as soon
as the last child departed for schoo
Bertha sought out a nearby grocery.
man, and without a cent, but Will
promises of good faith, procured tn,
necessary wherewithals to make hei
cake, so that by noon she had turne,
out of the oven the most appetizin,
looking round eoneoction. to late
frost it all over with white, cream,
icing that looked good to be eaten.
Next, by the aid of the pastr,
bag, she evolved a natural-lookinl
hen for the center. which was offse
by a circle Of pink confection, AM
then, with this same confeetion, sh,
marked in the upper left hand corner
by Parcel Post" the opposite on
being marked with To John Howard
while in the lower corners she wrot
the date and the words Prize Cake.