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

said Allie, tasting, with gusto.
Yes cogitated Patty, the cake
will answer if the rest is only
matched
I've got favor % ask said
Allie, growing grave all at once.
You're not either Of you used to
Dorcas Meetings. Now | know
just the modas operandi. Aunt Mary
is i'll and wants to see you both ev.
er so much. Now you go there in
the morning and don't get back
here until the afternoon, just about
dusk, say; the people do not come
before then. and il / don't have
everything in beautiful order, my
names not Alice Sarbright'
At first we declared this to be
impossible; but Allie coaxed and
then Patty gave in. followed suit
for | began to see there was some
thing beneath il all. When she had
attained her object, Allie ran away
but / noticed before she went that
she nestled close up to Patty and
kissed her many. many times
The next morning found US on
on our way to Aunt Mary's. Pat
ty, who was never more at home
than when she was going to sick
room, carried little brown bas-
ket on her arm. How many pill
grimages that little brown basket
bad made in the course of the year !
and what comfort it always held for
iuvalids
The day slipped away, Patty as
busy as a bee setting things to
rights and making Amt Mary com.
Portable in every direction until the
shadows began to fall and grow
deeper Then we trudgod home
again, in a queer mood, both of ue.
What a sweet face it was that
met us at the door-that let US in
and to such Transformation
Wonder of wonders | what did it
all mean? In the oid.fashioned
CRATES, leaping, dancing fires crack.
ed and sparkled. and before them
glowed crimson rugs of softest vel
vet. In the windows swung moss
baskets of trailing creepers and
bright-hued blossoms On the
oaken sideboard cleaned, most
wonderful Of all, our mothers siverl
Patty knew it at once. She ran
to it, she kissed each separate piece
and gave it little hug of delight.
Then / knew how much it had cost
her to part with it, how proud and
pure the honor that would let no
stain be left upon our fathers men,
ory.
Alice drew us to the fire. and,
one hand in each of ours, said:-
Dear friends, YOU will not refuse
me the comfort of pleasing you?
How dear you both are, l can
not tell; how dear one of you must
ever be to me, l can only show in
deeds. Before my father died, he
told me the story. How dear Pat
ty had been to him; how she was
to have been my mother. l think
he loved her through all these
years, He told me, too, that be
had bought the silver, but dare
not offer it in his life time; he knew
Patty too we'll for that; when he
was dead and gone, she would
take it from his daughter and keep
ii for the fathers sake
BY this time Allie and l were
both crying. Patty shed no tears,
but smiled softly, sweetly, brightly.
as the angels may, then held out
her arms to Allie Starbright. Allie
nestled in them. She had lost her
mother years ago, and now that
her father had gone, there was no
room for empty gossip--Patty could
be her mother ia very deed and
truth.
Perhaps you may ask why Pat
ty and Joseph Starbright, Allies
father, had never got married.
cannot tell you; it seems to me
that hearts that are dearest in this
world are for ever held apart.
God help US all how we drift
away from those we prize the
fondest. Hush! there is no loss
even here. Remember, we are
only children, the best of us, and |
what we would soil or mar, God |
puts out Of reach for the present.
Trustful hearts, we shall have it all |
back again by.and by.
The meeting came and enjoyed |
itself wonderfully, and stayed later
than it had ever stayed at any.
body's before. The fires warmed |
the sitting.rooms, the young PEG
Pile played their old fashioned games
with the best grace imaginable,
and the dreaded Mrs. Rawlins
stayed at home.
So, after all the worriment, the
cogitations, the tears, the end of
Patty's Mistake was unmitigated
delight, From henceforward |
never mean to worry any more.
It's wicked, and waste of time
besides. For there's best to
every worst, and where the shad-
ows fall the thickest, it's a. sure
sign that there the light is bright
,at 7