Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1870-09-29
SsIeft sioyu.
Aunt Patty at Home-A Story
that will Please Every Body.
BY ANN S. STEPHENS.

snug aunt Patty's house looked in the
Writer the cellar windows were all bank
ed up, the barn-yafd evelied down with
styaw, and the barn SO completely cram
med that tufts of hay and unthrashad rye
protruded through the crevices of the
great folding doors, and in some places
seemed almost forcing the clapboards from
their fastenings. It would have done your
heart good to see the great golden and
crimson ears of corn cleaning through
the lattice works of the grain house =
Then the fat and lazy COWS, basking in
the sun and chewing their cuds so quietly
aud c5ntentcd it was picture Of com
forS and thrift that you would have gone
ten miles to see, provided you have love
for these thipgs-which you have, of
course, or you would fling aunt Patty aside
after the first sentence.
Half a dozen of US village girls made a
kind of extemporaneous home with aunt
Patty. We spent almost every winter
evening at her freside, and it sometimes
happened-I beg the reader to suppose it
was pure accident alVays-that some three
or four of tie other sex would drop in
and make themselves quite at nome also,
Of course we were Nah astonished at
this coincidence of taste and t..."''n-
stance, and when these strange things
began to happen frequently, We became a
little supcrstitious, aud went again and
again to be certain if there really was
destiny in it or not, a question that has
not been thoroughly settled in my mind
to this day.
One evening it was freezing cold, and
lust after we had assembled in the long
kitchen which aunt Patty used in winter
as sitting-room, form came up that
precluded all hopes of masculine society
that evening. The wind howled around
the house like an animal eager for his
prev: hail and snow ratified against the
windows, while the fretful and half moan
ings of the poplars as they complained to
the rough elements, came distinctly to our
cars.
But what cared we for the storm =
There was a blazing pile of hickory
cracking cheerfulIv in the great kitchen
chimney and japan tray filled with lu-
cious red apples stood oh the hearth, the
fruit mellowing in tho warm freight.
Our Joyous company sat around the
huge chair, completely filled by the goad-
natured old maid that little of the oaken
back alone could be seen rising like
half snread fan. above her broad shout
ders. We all had our knitting work, but
only one or two very busy with it. Two
of the girls were counting apple seeds and
naming them for each Other: One was
standing up in front II the fire with a
foot On the lower round of her chair,
winding sEein of stocking-yarn which
she had placed on the back, after firing
out sweet tempered girl who bad been
holding it till her arms ached. Another
Lizzy Parks, the most mischievous, talka-
tive, insinuating creature that you ever
saw, sat on the dye-tub caressiug aunt
Patty's cat, who erected her ears at every
touch of that slender hand. and gave out
a sleepy pur. which would have made a
less excitable party drowsy to hear
Now and then Lizzy would steal a sly
glance at us from under her long eyelash-
es, and then fall TO caressing the cat again
as demurely as the animal herself. We
knew what was coming and waited the
event, for when Lizzy Parks took to con-
ciliating the old maids favorite, it was a
sure preliminary to some request, which
was very likely to be refused, unless great
tact and discretion were exercised in max
ing it.
Aunt Patty had been watching these
movements with pleasant CLEAN Of the
eye, and slight, eager curve Of hel
plump lips that bespoke her interest in the
object.
!. sThere girls, exclaimed Lizzy, as aaHi
Patty drew deep breath pass round
the apples once more. and then aunt Patty
will tell US about MIR. Smith down in
New York. This is just the night for
it. Every thing snug and comfortable
and no danger of the young men dropping
in 10 interrupt u.s.
Aunt Patty shook her head No, no,
not tonight !; the storm is enough to make
one melancholy without talking of old
times she muttered.
Dear aunt Patty. there could not be a
better time,' we all exclaimed. the storm
T is just the thing 1t makes US enjoy the
bright warm fire thousand times more