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


PATTY BRIGHT.
Patty Bright sat by the Kitchen
table, her elbows resting upon it and
her chin in her hands. A huge white
bowl of stoned raisins standing by her
showed what she had been doing. But
it could be very plainly seen that Pat
tvs thoughts were resting on something |
very different.
The truth is, "Hard Times was star
ing Patty in the face, and, although he |
looked very ugly, Patty was staring
back at him steadily and unhinchingly.
It was not at all necessary; for, as far
as she was concerned, she had never
known the meaning of poverty. Fort
une had been very kind to Miss Pa
tience Bright, ST., Patty's only friend
and protector, Her barns were over
flowing 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 pos
sible difference to Miss Patience.
So, with q mind calm and serene,
Patty, ST., moved around her kitchen,
grinding 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
basket of the pure white, chocolate
colored and speckled eggs; broke the
whites in q big blue platter and dropped
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," she said, at last,
you've been there long enough. Beat
up those yelks till they foam. There's
enough to do"
Patty took up the bowl and wooden
spoon; but she moved languidly and as
if her heart was somewhere else.
why don't you hurry?" Miss Pa
tience said, sharply. ~There's your
Uncle Eben coming on the 5 O'Clock
train, and Aunt Maria in the morning,
and all this cooking to be got out of the
way"
whats the good of it all, auntie?"
Patty asked. Don't they get enough to
eat at homer"
Miss Patience Redeemed with indig'
nation and dropped her fork in the
midst of the white foam.
"The land sakes!'' she exclaimed. 81
guess there never was Bright yet but
had all he could eat, and more tool"
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, ohild?" she said. "Speak i
out"
EARLY il the morning Patty had gone
out on an Grand and, while she wa.
gone, she had seen something which
had stirred her childish soul as nothing
had ever done before; and ever sine,
she came home she had been trying t,
think of the best way to present peti
ton to Aunt Patty, and, now that tn
opportunity had come of it's own viii
her heart trembled and her spirit failed
But Aunt Patty was waiting, with he
fork in the air and her eyes on Patty.
So, with her cheeks burning and he
voice tremulous from hope and fear, sh
said:
"Aunt Patty, do you remember tn
Brewers?"
"Shiftle4 set she said, setting he
lips very firmly and beating her egg
more fercely than ever.
"They may be sh:ftless, aunt; but
know they're hungry" said Patty, wa,
ing holder.
"Hungry, in this land Of plenty
said Aunt Patty, CONTEMPORARY. IT
like to know what put such nonsense
your head. How did you happen
see them, anyway"
It'll tell you all about il" said Patt.
feeling Drawer every minute. Il WI
going by this morning to tell MAJ
Jane to come up in the morning an
pick the turkeys, when Mamie Brew
knocked on the window and beckone
to me to come in. And, auntie,
you'll believe it, she sat in the rockin
chair, with an old bed-quilt around b
and hardly speck of fire in the stow
WANTED to put some wood in; but 81
looked so nervous and said no. Thu
she asked me to go to the closet al
bring her glass Of water. could1
help looking around, auntie; and the
was only half loaf of bread on a plat
and the least little scrap of butter in
broken tea-cup. I took her the waite
but I felt every minute as If shou
cry, she looked so white and hung
Then she asked me to go down t
cellar and see if her kitten was the
It took me good while to find t
kitten and, Aunt Patty, there was
a thing in that cellar to eat, but fl
potatoes and beans and little piece
pork-not one can of fruit or an app
I couldn't say word to Mamie whe1
came up, I had such big lump in I
throat. So just put her kitten in
lap and ran. And I couldn't hi
A~-l DoIL- kl>l