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

: more interested in Patty that ever be.
fore. Perhaps it was because she had
grown older, and could understand and
appreciate them better. She wonder.
ed why Aunt Janet should ever have
been a terror to her and why Aunt
Katharine should have seemed tire
some. She told them the messages her
father and mother had sent, and the
bits of news, and what she had been
doing for Christmas, and what presents
she had had before she came away,
besides some that were yet unopened
in her trunk. Before anybody had an
idea of such a thing, Statira came to
say that tea was ready, and to push
Miss Katharine's chair out to the din.
ing-room. 1t was such good supper,
and the aunts were SO amused and
pleased with their hungry niece, with
her bright eyes and red cheeks. They
were so interested in everything she
had to say, and sat long time at the
table, and felt hungrier than usual
themselves, because Patty thought
everything was delicious. When they
went back to the parlor, and Miss
Katharine began to read the paper aloud
to Miss Janet, Patty went out into the
kitchen, to have a talk with Hannah
and Statira, while they washed the
china.
Haven't you new dress! Why,
it's just the color of mine." And Han.
nah said: "There! to think of you
noticing that! Yes, l 'spose it is
new" and she pulled aside her great
apron The dressmaker tried all
ways to make me have an overskirt /;
but wouldn't. I'm too old to foller
the fashions. I tell 'em: Statiry,
she's younger. She didn't get time to
dress up tonight; but her dress is
trimmed considerable. Miss Janet
gave them to us Thanksgiving time .
Then Patty asked about Statira's new
= gown, and heard the particulars with
great interest.
"There y said Hannah, when Patty
said she must so back to the p:rlor,
I'm real pleased to see you, dear my.
; self. And your growing to be just
such dear woman as your mother. !
do know but you will blame me when
l tell you that perhaps was the means
of fetching you down to spend Christ.
mas. l thought perhaps you'd rather
be with your mates, when l thought
about it afterward but I heard your
aunts speaking about you kind of visit
full spell ago, and how you didn't
come along O your mother in the sum.
mer. and sayin' it WASH t natural you
should care about coming to stay with
two old women. And l spoke right
out. Perhaps you would like it better
if they asked you special. And l says,
says l, why don't you ask her to come
here and keep Christmas with We 2"
II am ever so glad came. am
truly. l didn't know you cared sc
; much about seeing me. l could have
come with Papa any time, but never
thought of it,
Patty was enjoying the visit more
and more. When she went back tl
the parlor. the tall carcel lamp was
lighted and the newspaper was lying
on the table. Everything in that
room locked just as it did when Patty
was child. Even the dull-colored ole
Turkey rugs were no nearer wearing
out than when she could first remem
Der. She looked up at the portraits
and especially at her Grand-aunt Pat.
tvs, who had been a beautiful CIR
and had died long ago. The eyes in
the picture looked down with a smile
at her nalnesake. and Patty smiled
back again.
Miss Katharine was pleased because
she could hear Patty speak SO easily
and she did not scream at her, as most
people did, either. They had Ions
talk, and after while they spoke Of il
being Christmas Eve and Aunt Katha
rine how pleasant it was to think how
many happy people there were in thu
world that night.
"Ask her if she will not read tn,
Christmas hymn now" said Aun
Janet. THAT is, if you like to heal
it. We have read it great man,
years on Christmas Eve"
And Patty said she would like tx
hear it. Papa had read it to her, ant
she thought some of the verses wer,
beautiful. Papa said she would Xix,
it more and more. So Miss Jane
brought the book, and Miss Katharine
who had not lost her gift Of reading
aloud finely, began
1T was the winter Wild;
and by the time she had heard
'No war, nor battle-sound''
. Patty found she cid like it better thar
before, and it was 50 grand to hear il
on Christmas Eve. It made her think
of the great organ in church and the
soleman, sweet notes that make ont
shiver little.
The wind had risen out-of-doors anl
it walled a little in the chimny. Thu
cinnamon rose-bushes cliked against
the windows, and one could hear thu
noise Of the great elms blowing about
but indoors the freight fickerel
round the room, the old pussy ha(
come in and sat on the rug close x
the fender, and it was not in the leas
, lonely or even "pOky."
After the reading, and when they
had all been quiet little while, Patty
happened to see the piano, and asked
her aunts il she might play for them
She had learned some new tunes lately
do not think Patty had offered II
play for any one before. She was shy