The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-12-06
PATTY BRIGHT.
A Thanksgiving story.


in her hands. A huge white bowl of
stoned raisins standing by her showed
what she had been doing. But 1t could
be very plainly seen that Patty's thoughts
were resting on something very differ
emit.
The truth is "Hard Tines was star
ing Patty in the face, and, although he
looked very ugly, Patty was staring
back at him steadily and unflinchingly.
1t was not at all necessary; for, as far
as she was concerned, she had never
known the meaning of poverty. Fortune
had been very kind to Miss Patience
Bright, Sr., Patty's only friend and pro
tector. Her barns were overhowing
with plenty; her cellars stored with
fruits and vegetables; and, better still,
her money was so carefully put away
that if all of the banks in the country
were broken and if all of the railroads
failed it would make no possible. differ
ence to Miss Patience.
So, with mind calm and srrene, Pat
ty, ST., moved around her kitchen, grind
ing her spices and mixing her mince-
meat. But, with mind any thing but
calm and serene, Patty, Jr., sat by the
table, thinking.
Miss Patience ratified the stove-doors,
poked down the ashes, and banged the
shovel and tongs. Still Patty never
moved
"Bring me the eggs, child" she said.
Still Patty didn't hear. So Miss Pa
tience went to the cellar, brought out q
basket of the pure white, chocolate
colored and speckled eggs; broke the
whites in big blue platter and drop
ped the yelks in bowl; then, sitting
down by the table, began to pile them
up in white masses by her steady
strokes.
Every little while she looked up at
Patty's dreamy face and misty eyes.
"Come, child,n she said, at last,
"you've sat there long enough. Beat
up those yelks till they foam. There's
enougal TO do"
Patty took up the bowl and wooden
spoon; but she moved languidly and as
il her heart were somewhel e. else.
"Why don't you hurryp' Miss Pa
thence said, sharply. There's your
Uncle Eben coming on the five o'clock
train, and Aunt Maria in the morning,
and all this cooking to be got out of the
way"
"What's the good of it all, Auntiep''
Patty asked. "Don't they get enough
to eat at home?''
Miss Patience Redeemed with indigna-
ton and dropped her fork in the midst
of the white foam.
"The lands sakes!'' she exclaimed.
81 guess there never was a Bright yet
but had all he could eat, and more too!'
"What do they do with the more
too?' Give it away?" Patty asked.
Miss Patience looked at her suspi-
ciously. "What are you thinking about,
childP" she said. "Speak it OUT
Early in the morning Patty had gone
out on an errand, and while she was
gone she had seen something which had
stirred her childish soul as nothing had
ever done before; and ever since she
came home she had been trying to think
of the best way to present petition to
Aunt Patty, and, now that the opportu-
nifty had come of its own will, her heart
trembled and her spirit failed.
But Aunt Patty was waiting, with he1
fork in the air and her eyes on Patty
So, with her cheeks burning and hel
, voice tremulous from hope and fear, she
} said:
"Aunt Patty, do you remember the
Brewersp''
"Shiftless set!" she said, setting he1
lips very firmly and beating her eggs
more fiercely than ever.
s'They may be shiftless, aunt; but
know they're hungry" said Patty, wax
!, ing holder.
"Hungry, in this land of plenty!'
said Aunt Patty, contemptuoasly & I'G
like to know what put such nonsense ii
: your head. How did you happen to SEE
them, any way?"
o "I'll tell you all about it," said Pat
ty, feeling Drawer every minute. $
: was going by this morning to tell Mary
: Jane to come up in the morning ant
+ pick the turkeys, when Mamie Brewe
. knocked on the windows and beekonet
to me to come in. And, Auntie, if yousl
believe it, she sat in the rocking chair
with an old bed-quilt around her AM
hardly speck of fire in ihe stove.
e wanted to put some wool in; but sh
n looked so nervous and said no. kThel
9 she. asked me to. 60 to the closet aln,
n get her glass of water. / couldn 'thel
9 looking around, Auntie; and there wa
! only halt loaf of bread on q plate, an
e the least little scrap of butter in
y broken tea-cup. l took her the water
]. but [ felt every minute as if | shoul'
:, cry, she looked so white and hungry
Then she asked me to go down the eel
e lar and see if her kitten was there. /
o took me good while to find the kitten
:. and, Aunt Patty, there wasn't thing il
e that. cellar to eat, but few potatoe
n and a little piece of pork--not one ca