The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-05-01
The Euening Story
Bread and Butter.
(By Hope Ainslee:)

|
of So each week for her work in the
circulation department of a magazine
office. The magazine publishers were
also publishers of subscription books,
and Mary James work was the ad-
dressing of envelopes and other SIM
| pie, unskilled clerical tasks.
| She lived at home with her mother
and three smaller children on a tiny
farm on the outskirts of the city. Her
carfare was twenty cents day, so
that in the six days of the week she
spent large percentage of her wages
to get to and from the office. She
brought her lunch with her and as she
sat alone during the noon hour eating
her homemade meal she was always
trying to conceive of a plan by which
she could add to her weeks earnings.
One rainy day she offered to share
her lunch with one of the girls who
had a cold and did not want to go out
of doors
"Oh, Mary Jane Martin, who makes
that bread?" the girl asked when she
had tasted one of the bread and but
ter sandwiches.
Sometimes my mother makes it..
sometimes 1 do" replied Mary Jane,
modestly. She had never known any
other bread herself.
II think I'd bring my lunch, too, if
could have bread like that" the girl
went on.
I'VE make the butter. too" Mary
Jane said. I'VE have two cows, and
mother makes butter for two rich
neighbors, who call for 1t. We sell a
little milk, and in summer we have
garden green's. so we manage to make
the place almost pay for itself with
the help of my money" Mary Jane
confided to her companion.
why couldn't you bring me a
lunch every day, with this heavenly
bread and butter, and I'd give you my
fifteen cents instead of to the restau-
rant cashier?" asked the girl. IT new
er tasted anything so good.
Mary Jane began to think. why
not?" she asked. Perhaps l could,
and it would help to pay my carfare,
wouldn't it?"
Sure it would Is it a go?" asked
the girl, beginning on another piece of
bread and butter.
I'll try it and see how you like it.
1 always enjoy my lunches. myself"
smiled Mary Jane. Mothers cook
ing is fine
Thereafter Mary Jane brought two
lunches, and it was not many weeks
until she was bringing a large wicker
suitcase full of lunch boxes from her
home every day. One by one the
girls had been given tastes of the
home made food, and one by one they
had Joined Mary James lunch club.
Once a week they had a piece of
chicken; once week some home
made crullers, homemade cake,
cookies, pie made from the home
grown fruits, and often deviled eggs
from the home poultry yard. Mary
Jane would sit up after supper and
arrange as much as she could of the
lunches for the following morning,
and in the morning she and her
mother would spread the bread and
pack the boxes.
The $3.50 each day that she col
lected from the girls made enough
profit to pay her carfare, and Mary
Jane was happy.
Mary Jane. couldn't you bring one
extra box for me every day." asked
a little girl who had been a member
of the lunch club for a couple of
weeks.
Mary Jane laughed. But you can't
eat another" she protested. I'll make
yours bigger if you like
"Oh, no, no, no." laughed the girl
in turn. Il want it for my brother,
who works on the next street. I've
told him of mine. and once in a while
I've carried home a little. He's crazy
about that homemade bread. and
says he'll call for it every day If you'll
make one for him.
"Of course Mary Jane replied.
I'D love to-"
John Henderson called at the office
where his sister and Mary Jane
worked every DAY at nVe minutes past
twelve. And every day when he took
the, box from his sister he tried to
get glimpse of Mary Jane. He had
met her on the first day, but since
then the girl had never thrust herself
into his presence as had so many of
the girls whom his sister knew.
One day he asked his sister for Mary
Jane. ''Why-she's always here, of
course, John. Shall 1 call herr"
John nodded. 81 like that girl, but
she's shy. 1 won't bite her. Tell her
that for me, Cora" he said. as he left
'tAll right. I'll see that she gives
you your box tomorrow. So long. You
should worry, john his sister laugh
ed as he pushed the elevator button
Mary Jane, at the earnest insistence
of Cora Henderson, handed John his
lunch on the following day.
Whats the reason you can't come
soda ?" he asked.
your lunch,'' Mary Jane protested.
Plenty of time. I can't talk to you
with all of those girls rubbering and
kidding u.s. he said.
wouldn't it be better If you and
Cora would come out to our house
on Saturday afternoon and meet
John made a move as if TO faint.
ooh, say. that would be the best, but
it WASH. up to me to suggest that,
was t?''
Maybe not" Mary Jane admitted.
The following Saturday John and
Cora Henderson took the trip to the