The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-12-21
PATTY'S DULL CHRISTMAS.


every few minutes, for the last
few days. she had remembered how
soon she should see her. Then the
most contented, happy feeling would
come, and Patty would smile joyfully.
The postman rang, and Mr.. Redington,
who happened to be in the hall just
then, took the letters and brought Pat.
TVS to her, Il think this is from your
Aunt Janet said he. Il wonder why
she has written YOU
The letter was in very old-fashion.
ed handwriting and written in pre-
else fashion, with wide, even mar.
gin on the left side Of the page. This is
what Patty read
"MY DEAR GRAND-NErcE PATTY:
"Your Aunt Katherine and I would like
very much to have you pass Christmas day
with us, and stay as long as You are able, il
your parents have no objection. You must not
look for gay visit, for we are dull old women
who have fallen sadly behind the fashions. Il
is a long time since we have seen you-more
than year, and though we hope you will not
this invitation, can assure you that your ac-
ceptance would afford us much pleasure
With kind remembrances from us, both to
your father and mother, as well as yourself,
believe me your
'Affectionate Grand Aunt,
''JANET REDINGTON."
''Oh dear me!'' said Patty; and
she looked up at her father with her
eyes full of tears and she gave him
the letter. ''Aunt Annie is coming,
you know, Papa, and only for one lit
tie week and it is vacation, and /
meant to co so many little things here
at home, and we girls have planned
half dozen good times. Now they
are spoiled. 1t so poky there, and |
never have been without your or
Mamma, any way
'.But girl fifteen years odd must
begin to make visits by herself said
Papa, kindly, However you needn't
go, my dear. wish you to do just as
you please, and always like you to be
happy on Christmas Day. Perhaps
the aunts will: like it just us we'll if
you write nice letter and ask if you
may come a little later, since your
Aunt Annie is to be here and you do
not like to break some plans you have
made. But don't forget, little girl.
that, whether you 60 or stay, the
surest way to make the day pleasant
for yourself is to try and make other
people happy. should send my let
ter this afternoon, for your aunt will
wish to know. Mind, wish you to do
just as you please, and l shall not
blame you ii you stay here. shall
like it, for my own sake
Then Mr.. Redington went into the
library, and Patty knew he was not to
be disturbed unless somebody had a
| very good reason.
Quarter past two said Patty to
herself, looking up at the clock. 81
must make up my mind soon. Oh,
dear what made them ask me = And
then she thought of the reasons why
she should stay at home. She had
never been away in her life at this
time, and Papa and Mamma would
miss her. And then, wouldn't it be
impolite to leave Aunt Annie during
so much of her visit. And then she
thought OF the contrast between the
day in Boston and with her Aunt
Janet. Patty had been homeslck there
when she was child /; and she had
not entirely forgotten it. They would
like it just AS we'll if she went by and
by, us Papa had suggested. She took
up the hood and crocheted energeti-
cally. while she thought what she
should say to Aunt Janet. Presently
she took up the letter again and read
it over. She had been SO grieved at
first that she had not noticed how
kind it was and that Aunt Janet hand
trembled good deal. She wondered
if they would be much disappointed.
Wouldn't it be kinder to go! They
lived such quiet life now, though
they used to 60 about great deal
when they were young. They must
have cared to see her to have taken
this trouble. She had had a great
many jolly times at Christmas. And
she would have walks and frolics with
her cronies nearly all the year round.
And, after all, wouldn't dear Aunt
Annie and Mamma and Papa be glad if
she were unselfish about it, even if
they missed her. 1t wasn't 50 very
much matter if she did have one dull
Christmas Day.
And Patty ran upstairs and wrote
this note, though she had taken longer
to decide than | have taken to tell
you:
"DEAR AUNT JANET:
81 think YOU and Aunt katharine are very
kind TO ask me to spend Christmas with you
l should like it very much.''
She hesitated a minute after she
had written this. for perhaps it was
not quite true. Then she said: Il do
wish to go, and am going to try to be
just as nice as possibly can
II will be there Wednesday afternoon
Please don't mind if this letter is very short,
fer am in hurry to finish something l am
making. Thank You both for wishing I
would come.
"iour loving PATTY
Patty directed the letter and put on
the stamp and then took it herself to
the box on the lamp-post at the corner
of the street. When it was fairly in.
she longed with all her heart to take
it out again but that wish went away
directly.
Mr.. Redington opened the library
door earlier than ns1nl, m2 Patty
went in to have . tallrvifh hin 4 IT,
twilight, IS she oftel fxT1rn