The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-17
EOening Story
Mary EIIen's Easter Fortune.
BY BARBARA KERR.


Her sewing lay neglected in her lap.
She was leaning eargerly forward,
carefully pushing aside the white ruff
fled curtains lips parted. eye alert for
a glimpse of the first thrush that was
singing as if his little life depended
upon carrying the news of spring to
every living thing.
Mary Ellen drank in his rhapsody
obviously. She did so want to be
happy and carefree, even for a little
while But she could not, for death
had laid a heavy burden upon her
conscientious heart. She must be
head of the house since her fathers
death, fo= her mother was frail, and
the two little sister were a great re-
sponsibility
She hurriedly gathered up her work
to make up for lost time in listening
to the thrush; the little ones must
have their dainty white dresses for
Easter. "Oh. if I could only make
some money-just little would help"
she sighed. She was thinking of the
Easter eggs she must buy at 80 cents
a dozen, eggs to color. to eat and to
hide in the nests.
Mary Ellen had a secret. She had
been saving the eggshells, carefully
emptied and was painting them for
table decorations. She sighed again as
she reflected that at present prices her
family was not eating eggs. A thought
inspired her. She would take some
OF her prettiest shells, show them to
the baker and ask him to save shells
for her.
She put on her hat, slipped out
quietly SO as not to disturb her mother
and fastened TO the bakery where she
did her modest buying.
Mr.. Bower was not busy. He ad-
mired the grotesque faces and was
vastly amused at the brownies whose
thin legs were made of felt and~glued
70 the SIDES OF the egg, which was sur
mounted by cunning paper cap.
Bless my soul! Miss Lane yoI,'ve
solved problem that was yexing- me
my Easter window" he declared,
drawing Mary E1len's box to him.
NOW, look here, suppose you help me.
You furnish enough of these, and I'll
pay you for them, besides putting in
some OF my stuff for the kiddies."
Oh. Mr.. Bower, IDS love it," and
sne turned enthusiastically to the
window Why, 1 know already what
we could DO. had intended to roast
a nice chicken. make a lot of these lit
tie brownie figures climbing around
over the platter, and have maple sugar
cups out of the Shells
You're genius, girl! Why couldn't
I roast a turkey
ION, and I'd get out grandmother's
old well-an'-tree@''
Whats that? %
why, those Sheffield silver meat
platters with the gravy well in the
end; they called them well-and-trees
I'll polish it up, and that will be the
sure they'd be safe, I'll bring over
some other old things and we'll make
la gorgeous window. III color the
eggs and fix everythingN
My window usually costs me from
500 to 800. Now, you look around.
f1gure on what you want to do and
ask my help when you need it. I'll
give you $25 for yourself if you can
Keep the expenses down to about $50"
Mary Ellen was in the seventh
heaven of delight She asked for
m measurements of the window. went
outside to get perspective, walked up
and down on each side of the street
to get effect, roughly sketched the
window on a card, noting her findings,
oblivious to the admiring gaze of Mr..
Bower, who was chuckling to him
self: "A sure find-she's a natural
window trimmer
She came back. her blue eyes dane
ing with enthusiasm. 'Oh, I know
it's going to be the very incest work
ever did. OF course, I'll have to have
help
Fine! Clinton, my son, is, coming
home
Mary ElIen's face fell. "I thought
you'd better help me; you're SO good
to understand, and
Mr.. Bower smiled Now, You
go ahead and get your plans up. If
the young man won't do, then L will
Mary Ellen grasped her box of
precious shells and hurried home. 1t
could remain a secret no longer:
mother must be told, for it would
take time and work to do all she
meant to do.
Mrs. Lane listened, at first YEARLY;
then she caught the infection of her
daughters happiness She forgot her
misery in seeing the cunning figures
take shape. She cut and fluted paper
frills, insisted on polishing the silver
and doing all she could to save the
time of Mary Ellen.
When all was ready Mary Ellen |
asked Mr.. Bower to come and inspect |
the work. They had it staged in their |
little parlor. She was disappointed !