I. An Early Call
“Good morning, children,” said Mrs. Duwell, with a bright smile—so bright that it seemed as if the oatmeal she was stirring smiled too.
“Good morning, mother,” said Ruth. “My, but we are early this morning; it is only seven o’clock.”
“Good morning, mother,” said Wallace, sleepily. “May I go back to bed again?”
“Yes—after supper to-night,” replied his mother. “But I am glad you are up, for I am expecting a caller to knock at the door any moment.”
“Who is it?” asked Ruth.
“Oh, he is a very important man,” said her mother. “The strange part of it is that he never rings the front door bell, but always comes to the kitchen door and knocks.”
“Please tell us who he is!” cried both the children.
Tell a story about this picture
The next time a loaf of bread comes to your house, will you look into it and see if you can find pictures like the ones in the loaf on this page?
Here you will find pictures of harvesting, grain elevator, bakers at work, and baker wagon.
“Yes,” went on Mrs. Duwell, “he is going to bring us the most useful and wonderful article sold in any store in this city.”
“Oh, mother, tell us what it is,” begged the children.
Just then there came a heavy knock at the kitchen door.
“There he comes with it now, I believe,” whispered Mrs. Duwell. “Wallace, you may open the door.”
Wallace ran quickly to the door and opened it, and there stood—the bread man.
“Oh, mother,” exclaimed Wallace, “it’s only the bread man!”
“Wallace,” said his mother, “speak more politely. Say ‘good morning,’ and take a loaf of bread and a dozen rolls.”
“Now, mother, tell us who it is you expect, and what he is going to bring,” coaxed Ruth as soon as the door was closed.
“Sit down and eat your breakfast, children, and I will tell you all about it.”
When the children had been served, she went on: “The man I spoke about has just gone—he is the bread man. Isn’t a loaf of bread the most useful and wonderful article sold in any store in the city?”
“Why, mother, you are joking!” exclaimed Wallace.
“No, indeed, I am not. Tell me, children, what must you have in order to live?”
“Food,” replied Ruth.
“Correct; and what article of food do we most need?”
“Bread,” replied Ruth.
“I believe that is so,” said Wallace, after thinking a moment. “I am going to talk with father about it when he comes home to-night.”
“That is right; I think he will tell you something about wheat fields and bake ovens,” said Mrs. Duwell. “Now run along to school or you will be late.”