Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1915-05-27
BREAD and BUTTER
Copyright, 1915. by the Mcclure N,
per Syndicate.)
BY HOPE AlNsLEE.

Mary Jane Martin received the sum
of So each week for her work in the
circulation department of magazine
office. Mary James work was the adj
dressing of envelopes and other sim
pie, unskilled clerical tasks.
She lived at home with her mother
and three smaller children on q tiny
farm on the outskirts Of the city. 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 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 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 l do" replied Mary Jane,
modestly. She had never known any
other bread herself.
"Why couldn't you bring me a
lunch every day, with this heavenly
bread and butter, and I'll give you
my fifteen cents instead of to the
restaurant cashier?" asked the girl.
Il never tasted anything so good"
Mary Jane began to think. why
not?" she asked. Perhaps could,
and it would help to pay my car fare,
wouldn't it,"
Thereafter Mary Jane brought two
lunches, and it was not many weeks
until she was bringing large wicker
suitcase full of lunch boxes from her
home every day. One by one the
girls had been given tastes of the
homemade food, and one by one they
had Joined Mary James lunch club.
The $3.50 each day that she col
lected from the girls made enough
profit to pay her car fare, and Mary
Jane was happy.
Mary Jane, couldn't you bring one
extra box for me every day." asked
little girl who had been a member
of the lunch club for a couple Of
weeks. 81 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 1t every day If you'll
make one for him"
"Of course" Mary Jane replied.
'Pd love to-"
John Henderson called at the office
where his sister and Mary Jane
worked every day at five minutes
past twelve. And every day when he
took the box from his sister he tried
to get a 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. II like that girl, but
she's shy. won't bite her. Tell her
that for me, Cora" he said, as he
left.
"All right. I'll see that she gives
you your box tomorrow So long.
You should worry, John" his sister
laughed as he pushed the elevator
| button.
Mary Jane, at the earnest insist
ence of Cora Henderson, handed John
his lunch on the following day.
What's the reason you can't come
out with me and have an ice cream
soda?" he asked
"Oh-there isn't time after you eat
your lunch" Mary Jane protested.
PLENTY of time. can't talk to
you with all of those girls rubbering
and kidding US" he said.
Wouldn't it be better II you and
Cora would come out to our house On
Saturday afternoon and meet moth
err"
John made a move as If to faint.
ooh, say, that would be the best, but
it wasn't up to me to suggest that,
was it?"
Maybe not" Mary Jane admitted.
The following Saturday John and
Cora Henderson took the trip to the
| Martin farm and spent such an after
noon and evening as they had seldom
spent before in all their tenement
housed existence.
Cora, having no mother of her own,
fell in love with Mary James mother
and Immediately made herself at
home with the children and the work.
She helped to churn, she helped to
set the sponge that night for the Sun
day morning rolls. she enjoyed every
minute of the visit
And John could see nothing but
Mary Jane. He had learned to be-
lieve that she was the only girl for
him, and was looking forward to the
time when he could support her and
ask her to marry him.
"Are you sure it wasn't my bread
and butter that you loved first?"
asked Mary Jane when he told her of
| hEo hopoS onTaa xuaaka lafnv