The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-12-31

think she did remember the Brewers.
Away back, before Patty's brown eyes
or Nannie's blue ones had opened upon
this world, when Aunt Patty's angles
and wrinkles had been curves and dim
pies, and the gray Of her hair had been
golden, Mamie Brewers father had
been Aunt Patience's lover.
Handsome and gentle, but always
unstable, or, as Aunt Patty called it
now, ''shiftless," he had strayed away
from his allegiance at sight of tho first
pretty face that came in his way; and
Aunt Patty shook him off with sharp
and bitter words, and never looked up
on his face again.
Not even when he lay dying and sent !
for her would she go near him.
So he said, as he had said so mary
times in his life, " It is just as wen,'
and, with gentle smile, turned his face |
to the wall and died.
Since then there had been hard strug
ales for Mamie and her mother. To
be sure, there had been struggles be-
fore, but they were together. But Miss
Patience had never so much as spoken
to either of them.
But now Patty's simple story had
stirred Miss Patience's wrinkled heart
strangely.
Dick Brewers child starving!
She sat before the fire till the log
broke in two and the Goals scattered
over the bricks. Then she arose, put
out her candle, and lay down by Patty's
side.
New Yeas morning was clear and
bright; and Patty walked to find the sun
streaming through the frosty panes on
her bed and the place by her side va
cant.
"Oh, dear!" she said, springing out
of bed and hurrying on her clothes.
I'm late again, and Aunt Patty will be
so provoked"
| 49, But Aunt Patty seemed unusually
gentle as she babe her good-morning;
and that and the sunshine made Patty
feel very ight-hearted. as she danced
around setting the table.
But when she went into the cellar to
skim the cream for breakfast, and saw
the two great turkeys, with their wings
folded on their breasts; and the tiny
pig, with the ear of corn in his mouth,
all ready for the oven; tho hanging
shelves loaded with flaky pies; and 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 PattyIs face !;
but she didn't ask any questions or
make any illusions to the conversation
of the day before, until after the break
fast had been cleared away and Patty
was putting on her cloak and hat to 60
to church.
Then she put her hand on her shout
der, and said:
hapPy?"
Patty, choking q sob down in he1
throat.
"Weu," said Aunt Patty, "you stop
there on your way home from church
and perhaps you'll feel better"
!. "Ohl Aunt Patty" she shouted
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 gentl.
push toward the door.
Patty ran off, feeling exhilarated ant
! expectant. She could hardly sit still
through the sermon, although she triet
very hard to be attentive; and evel
, the beautiful anthems made very it'll
impression upon her. And, when tn
service was all over, and the uncle
and aunts and cousins we're exchangin,
: greetings in the vestibule, she raj
! away from them all, down the road t.
+ Nannie's.
: When she knocked at the door, an
r Mamie called "Come in" Patty kne,
}. by the change in her voice that some
thing very pleasant had happened. Sti
q she was not quite prepared for the re,
q Citations which were made when sh
t opened the door.
q There Mamie sat, dressed in blu
,, flannel wrapper which Aunt Patienc
a had intended to make over for Patt,
;; Aunt Patience's own gray worste
d shawl around her shoulders, and war
?. homemade rug under her feet.
q There was grand fire in the stow
.. and most delicious smell came fro
70 the oven and the kissing and bubbin
It stew-pans.
" Mrs. Brewer was flying around, wit
II clean white apron around her wal
9. and bright flush on her cheeks,
l The table was set for dinner, wit
y some of Aunt Patience's crisp white &C
81 cry in the center, and saucer of Aul
p Patiences green pickles on one corne
1T and tumbler of Aunt Patience cra7
st apple jelly on another.
RS Patty saw it all in one glance, al
lie then turned to Mamie. who had caug
hold of her hand and was thanking b
ed and laughing and crying all at once.