ogether would not possibly be more than ten dollars,
and you see the housewife has saved five dollars. It is true it is
extra work for the housewife, but good, wholesome bread is such an
important item, especially in a large family, I should advise the
thrifty housekeeper to bake her own bread and bake less pie and cake,
or eliminate less important duties, to be able to find time to bake
bread. From the bread sponge may be made such a number of good, plain
cakes by the addition of currants or raisins, which are more wholesome
and cheaper than richer cakes."

"I think what you say is true, Aunt Sarah," said Mary.

"Frau Schmidt always bakes her own bread, and she tells me she sets a
sponge or batter for white bread, and by the addition of Graham
flour, cornmeal or oatmeal, always has a variety on her table with a
small expenditure of time and money."

[Illustration: A "BROD CORVEL" OR BREAD BASKET]

CHAPTER XXVIII.

FAITHFUL SERVICE.

The home-making instinct was so strongly developed in Mary that her
share in the labor of cooking and baking became a pleasure.
Occasionally she had failures--what inexperienced cook has not?--yet
they served only to spur her on to fresh efforts. She had several
small scars on her wrist caused by her arm coming in contact with the
hot oven when baking. She laughingly explained: "One bar on my arm
represents that delicious 'Brod Torte' which Frau Schmidt taught me to
bake; the other one I acquired when removing the sponge cake from the
oven which Uncle John said 'equaled Aunt Sarah's' (which I consider
highest praise), and the third bar I received when taking from the
oven the 'Lemon Meringue,' Ralph's favorite pie, which he pronounced
'fine, almost too good to eat.'" Mary was as proud of her scars as a
young, non-commissioned officer of the chevron on his sleeve, won by
deeds of valor.

The lessons Mary learned that summer on the farm while filling her
hope chest and preparing her mind for wifehood were of inestimable
value to her in later years. She learned not only to bake, brew and
keep house, but from constant association with her Aunt she acquired a
self-poise, a calm, serene manner, the value of which is beyond price
in this swift, restless age.

One day, while having a little heart-to-heart talk with Mary, her Aunt
said: "My dear, never allow an opportunity to pass for doing a kind
act. If ever so small, it may cheer some sad, lonely heart. Don't wait
to do _big th