Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-04-24
THE HERALD.
PATTYS MISTAKE

ter Patty was really one of the
most impulsive persons have ever
met She was always plunging
headlong into some scheme that
seized upon her fancy, orinto which
some designing person, knowing
her weakness, bad inveigled her.
ltinerant imposters with eyeless
needles, pins as pointless as The
Jokes OF a would.be wit, shoe-laces
from which the tags departed upon
the first trial-sll these seemed to
land at our door and victimize
Patty.
You will perhaps smile as you
read this; go may ! (; but true tears
shine in my eyes as we'll. | glance
at this sister of mine as she sits
with the freight glinting on her
busy needle, darning with consum.
mate patience the most trying orr.
fees in the stockings OF the writer.
Who but she could make those gap
ing holes neat and presen table
You would hardly imagine, from
her face, what sort of person she
might be; for the lines ere very
clear and quiet, the eyes tender,
gray, the whole expression that of
peace rather than repose-tbe peace
that passeth all UNDERSTANDING"
But then the mouth Ifyou would
read character with any degree of
accuracy, always observe the mouth.
My sisters is as sensitive as that
of child-just as eager, just as
credulous, as full of faith. But
never, never around any child's
mouth is such an expression of
pathos, of yearning. Alb ! never
such a record of deep suffering pa
tiently borne as stands written in
lines of untold loveliness about the
sweet mouth of this, my elder sister.
You will understand, then, why
it was that the little urchiDs in the
street asked her tor pennies" and
put out their hands, frosty, red as
winter apples with the cold, sure
that the penny would be forthcom-
ing. You will understand why it
was that people who were sick or
in trouble always sent for Patty.
She knew as we'll as anybody
that people imposed upon her; but
then she liked them none tho worse
for it: the main idea that animated
her life was that of helping other
people along" Let her help you
in some way, and che was the
obliged party, and felt grateful to
you for the privilege. Perhaps
there bad been q time when her
life had held other hopes besides
these beautiful season, when it
was early spring-time with her
heart, when the birds sang, and The
violets doomed in sunlight. The
birds had stopped their singing.
may DO, and if the violets hloomed,
one guessed it was above q grave :;
but since she said nothing of all this,
neither shall |, except as must tell
the story of what befell us in our
quiet home.
1t was q very quiet home, in
little country town, whore we had
always lived. Our house was
rambling, old fashioned affair. built
by my father years ago. There
had been plenty OF birdlings in the
nest, but they were all gone now.
only Patty and myself left, SO we
lived in tho old rookery still !; poor
as church mice we were, but we
to be happy after a fash
ION of our own. We made roaring
fires in the old fashioned CRATES, but
what became of tho heat it was
hard to say i; suppose it all went
up the chimney, just whereit wasn't
SO Patty and | wrapped
shawls around ourselves, and made
light of the matter. The doors,
too, wanted to be re hung of a cold
winters day how the draughts
came in, biting ones feet and if it
showed, what white fakes would
drift in through the cracks, and
lodge in the great, barn like en-
tries Well, well; this was all
very healthy, laughed we; plenty
of fresh air, at all events
This philosophy answered the
purpose until one afternoon--I shan't
say one ,1alucky afternoon, because
that's . bad expression, and, Decides
the sequel proved otherwise. One
afternoon. then. let Patty proceed
alone to the one scene of dissipation
in which we permitted ourselves to
that useful branch
of festivitv known as the "Dorcas
Meeting" l saw her depart with
it was an uncommon
thing for us to be separated at any
time, especially on these occasions
but how could l help myself? Ma.
rian, our plump little maid. of-aIl-
work-a misnomer in this instance,
as Patty and myself did all the
work worth speaking of-had been
sent for-wantcd at home. There
were various odds and ends to be
attended to, so, as l was the young
est, | got the reticule, put in Thin
BILE, scissors, &C., always attended
to these small items-and despatch
ed Patty to the field of action. If
| had dreamed for moment what
the result would bel
Patty came home from the meet
ing trifle earlier than usual. and
with her bonnet edged a little bit
to one side, as if it had been put on
in a fit of desperation just as q
man. under similar circumstanc es,
claps his hat down over his eyes.
Elizabeth, I've done is2' was
her exc smstion as she entered.
Done what, Patty p
Il expect you'll be amazed
Patty, you haven't gone and in
vited that Dorcss Society to meet
here | can't wont believe tha;r
Elizabeth, that's exactly what
have done; and now, all that's left
to US, is to make the best of it,
| was simply confounded. For
space silence reigned; then | opened
a solemn battery, as follows:
Patty have you considered that
we want new stair carpet, that
we haven't chairs enough, or plates
enou Ih, or cups enough Have
you considered that the back room