Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-11-28


pies AMI the huge stone crooks full
Of pound cake and fruit cake, she
thought again Of Mamie Brewers
empty shelves and barren cellar, and
she drew long sigh, as she came
back where her Aunt Patty was.
She saw the change in Patty's face I;
but she didn't ask any qaeAtions or
make any allusions to the conversation
of the day before, until aterthe break
fast had been cleared away and Patty
was putting on her cloak and hat to go
to church.
Then she put her hand on her shoul-
der, and said.
"Pally, what makes you look so
unhappy ?"
Il feel 50 sorry about Mamie,
said Patty, choking goo down in her
throat.
"Well," said Aunt Patty, ''you stop
there, on your way home from church,
and perhaps you'll feel better"
"Oh Aunt Patty" she shoated,
throwing her arms around her neck,
"what have you been doing?'
"There, go along, child. You've
crushed my clean collar and knocked
your hat sideways,
And Miss Patience gave her gen
tie push toward the door.
Patty rah of, feeling exhilarated
and expectant. She couli hardly sit
still through the sermon, although
she tried very hard 10 be attentive ;
and even the beautiful anthems made
very little impression upon her. And
when the service was ali over, and the
uncles and aunts aud cousins were ex.
changing greetings in the vestlbule,
she ran away from them all, down the
road to Nanuie's.
When she knocked at the door, and
Mamie called "Come in, Patty hls~
by the change in her voice that some.
thing very pleasant had happened.
Still she was not quite prepared Tor
the revelations which were made
when she opened the door
There Mamie sat, dressed in a blue
flannel wrapper which Aunt Patience
had intended to make over for Patty,
Aunt Pitience's own gray worsted
shawl around her shoulders, and a
warm home made rug under her feet.
There was grand fire in the stove,
aud q most delic Gus smell came from
the oven and the Kissing and bubbllng
stcw-pans.
Mrs. Brewer was flying around,
with clean white apron around her
waist and a bright flush on her checks.
The table was set for dinner, with
some of Aunt Patience's crisp whlte
celery in the center, aud a saucer OF
Aunt Patience green pickles on one
corner, and tumbler Of Aunt Pa
tience's crab-apple jelly on another
Patty saw it all in one glance, and
then turned to Mamie, who had
caught hold OF her hand and was
thanking her and laughing and crying
all at once.
"Dont' thank mel" said Patty.
"Im awiulIy glad, but | haven't done
anything"
Yes, you have Mamie insisted
Tue man said they came from you !;
and it isn't all here either. There's
wood in the wood-house, and -four and
tea in the pantry, and potatoes and
apples and pork and q lovely little
~ a.,
81 want you to tell your Aunt Patty
that | hope she will have a great many
Thanksgiving Days as happy as the
one size has given us.
And Mrs. Brewer wiped q tear
from her cheek as she opened the
oven-door and basled her browning
chickens.
"AIl right said Patty. "lll tell
her, though Aunt Patty can't bear to
be thanked. Goodbye, Mamie. I'll
have a jolly time, now you're going TO
have one, too.
Miss Patience wouldn't give Patty
chance TO speak to her alone until
after the grand dinner was over ane
cleared away, and the children, worn
out with "Blind mans Buff. and
" Puss in the Corner" had been
tucked snugly away in their little cosy
beds.