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

.While Shepherds watched their
flock by Night
1--WE always used to sing that ON
Christmas Eve. Do you remember.
Janet!" said Miss Katharine.
Eyes; 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.
ssSing something else, my dear,
said Aunt Janet. ssAnother hymn, if
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 l can be,
Aunty,' said Patty, without thought
of the Christmas party to which she
had been invited in Boston. And then
she sang ssAbide 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
its 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
was to be open into the hall, and she
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.
sDeal little soul,'' said the old lady,
with a 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 f; but they were meaning
to let her sleep until the last minute.
81 don't know when l have felt 80
we'll as do to-day, dearie," said Aunt
Katharine. II 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 a
minute. There was soft, pretty
shawl for Aunt Katharine TO throw
round her shoulders, which was exactly
what she had been wishing for /; and
for Aunt Janet, who scOrned a shawl,
there were two caps, or head-dresseS,
as she preferred to call them. She had
a fancy for caps, and was very critical
but these were exactly what she want
ed. Then there were some little things
I
BILE 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 needle-bOOk, and Hannah had
baked nice round Christmas cake.
|Such q plum.cake, with such frOsting
l-one Of her very best, which our
friend felt to be great honor. Jacob
|offered 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 y
merry Christmas morning. Beside
Patty's plate, at the breakfast table,
was little box, and in it a 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. 'It was your
Aunt Patty's, too. She gave it to me.
II am going to give you money for
my present, said Aunt Janet; land
you can choose something for yourself,
when you 60 home, to remind you Of
your old aunt" And Patty said ''Oh!
not all this for me!' 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 a shame it would have been il
Patty had stayed at home!