The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-12-21
ssWhile Shepherds watched their

Janet!' said Miss katharine.
s.Yes; and all we boys and girls knew
every word of it. Mother and father
took great pride in our singing, said
Miss Janet; and they both thanked
Patty and said it was delightful to
hear her play without notes. She play
ed wonderfully well.
s'Sing something else. my dear,
said Aunt Janet. ''Another hymn, II
you choose; though we like any sweet
music. Then we must send you to
bed, or you will be too tired to enjoy
tomorrow though am afraid there
will be little to enjoy. It's dull enough
for you in this quiet old house,
.'Why, I'm lust as happy as can be,
Aunty,'' said Patty, without thought
of the Christmas party to which she
had been invited in Boston. And then
she sang s'Abide with Me- which
proved to be a great favorite of the
old ladies. Then Miss Janet rang for
Statira to bring the candles, and our
girl said goodnight and went up stairs;
while the aunt said kind things about
her and talked about their Sister Patty
and thought her namesake was grow
ing like her. And this made them
think of Christmas Ewes long before,
when they were young.
Patty fonnd herself sleepy enough
by the time she was undressed and
had mounted into the great bed, with
it's curtained canopy. One OF the
things she had dreaded most was sleep
ing alone in the large guest-chamber :;
but it was not bad after all. The door
%<>1 >o 1v,{n hn hnn oh
could hear the old ladies voices down.
stairs. How pleasant and old-fashion-
ed everything was. And she thought
Of her friend in the cars; and won.
dered what they were doing at home
and if Aunt Annie missed her. But by
the time Statira came in to put out the
lights she was fast asleep. And Aunt
Janet came in softly by and by. Pat
tvs curly hair was shaken out over the
pillow. and she had fallen asleep smil-
ing.
Deal little SOUL said the old lady,
with sudden feeling Of great tender
ness.
Christmas morning was bright and
sun-shiny. When Patty walked, she
heard her aunts talking together SO
she hurried out of bed and ran in to
say merry Christmas. They were
both dressed but they were meaning
to let her sleep until the last minute.
81 don't know when have felt so
we'll as do to-day. dearie, said Aunt
Katharine. Il think it must be your
coming
And then Patty went back to dress
herself and ask God to help her to be
good that day. Soon she followed the
old ladies down to the breakfast-room,
with her arms full of presents, which,
of course. had to be given before any
thing else could be thought OF for {;
minute. There was soft, pretty
shawl for Aunt Katharine 70 throw
round her shoulders, which was exactly
what she had been wishing for /; and
for Aunt Janet, who scOrned shawl,
there were two caps, or head-dresses,
rs she preferred to call them. She had
fancy for caps, and was very critical
but these were exactly what she want
ed. Then there were some little things
some delicious candy III a remarka-
| bic box, and new photograph OF Pat
| ty herself in a Russian frame-theSe
were her own presents to them. The
others were from Mrs. RedingtOn. and
Mr.. Redington has sent some books.
There were some kid mittens, with
fur wristers. for Hannah and Statira
one plain black and one brown, so they
would know them apart-and some
pocket handkerchiefs for Jacob. Every
body was SO pleased, and they brought
Patty their own gifts to her. which
were unexpected. Statira had made
her a needle.bOOk, and Hannah had
baked nice round Christmas cake.
Such plum-cake with such frosting
one Of her very best, which our
friend felt to be great honor. Jacob
offered a basket of superior walnuts and
said she must eat as many as she could
and take the rest home. Patty thank
ed them over and over again, and they
thanked her. The Aunts smiled more
and more and said she was very
thoughtful. So, altogether, it was "A
merry Christmas morning. Beside
Patty's plate, at the breakfast table,
was a little box, and in it beautiful
emerald ring, from Miss Katherine.
Patty had longed for just such ring,
and she hardly knew what to say. She
knew. too, that Aunt Katherine had
worn it many years, and, as she said,
that made it all the dearer. eve Civ
en- up rings Of late years, dear, since
my illness, and cannot think of any
who would rather should wear this,
said the kind old lady. at was your
Aunt Patty's, too. She gave it to me.
II am going to give you money for
my present, said Aunt Janet . and
you can choose something for yourself,
when you 90 home, to remind you OF
your old aunt And Patty said: ''Oh,
not all this for mer' And she kissed
them both two or three times. She
could hear Statira and Hannah laugh
ing in the kitchen, which was unusual.
for they were not apt TO be hilarious.
What shame it would have been II
Patty had stayed at home.
after breakfast she ran down the
garden on the crust, 10 cnt some
branches of evergreen. and came back
with a great arrnfnl Of little boughs.
Mamma had sent down bunch Of real