After dinner Lilian went to work , enveloped in a big apron , and whipped eggs , stoned raisins , stirred , concocted , and baked until dark . When bedtime came she was so tired that she could hardly crawl upstairs ; but she felt happy too , for the day had been a successful one . And so also were the days and weeks and months that followed . It was hard and constant work , but it brought its reward . Lilian had not promised more than she could perform , and her customers were satisfied . In a short time she found herself with a regular and growing business on her hands , for new customers were gradually added and always came to stay . People who gave parties found it very convenient to follow Mrs. Saunders 's example and order their supplies from Lilian . She had a very busy winter and , of course , it was not all plain sailing . She had many difficulties to contend with . Sometimes days came on which everything seemed to go wrong -- when the stove smoked or the oven would n't heat properly , when cakes fell flat and bread was sour and pies behaved as only totally depraved pies can , when she burned her fingers and felt like giving up in despair . Then , again , she found herself cut by several of her old acquaintances . But she was too sensible to worry much over this . The friends really worth having were still hers , her mother 's face had lost its look of care , and her business was prospering . She was hopeful and wide awake , kept her wits about her and looked out for hints , and learned to laugh over her failures . During the winter she and her mother had managed to do most of the work themselves , hiring little Mary Robinson next door on especially busy days , and now and then calling in the assistance of Jimmy Bowen and his hand sled to carry orders to customers . But when spring came Lilian prepared to open up her summer campaign on a much larger scale . Mary Robinson was hired for the season , and John Perkins was engaged to act as carrier with his express wagon . A summer kitchen was boarded in in the backyard , and a new range bought ; Lilian began operations with a striking advertisement in the Willington News and an attractive circular sent around to all her patrons . Picnics and summer weddings were frequent . In bread and rolls her trade was brisk and constant .
She also took orders XXXXX pickles , preserves , and jellies , and this became such a flourishing branch that a second assistant had to be hired .
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