The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-01-01

Piles, and che 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 the first
pretty face that came in his way. and
Aunt Patty shook him of 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 neal him.
So he said, as he had said 80 many
times in his life, st is just as WELL"
and, with a gentle smile, turned his face
to the wall and died.
Since then there had been hard strug-
giles 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. starvingi
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. airs
Thanksgiving morning was clear and
bright and Patty walked to find the SUN
streaming Though The frosty pants On
her bed and the place by her side va
can't. es5a .ut5
f"Oh, deari" she said, springing out
of bed and hurrying on her clothes.
@Pm late again, and Aunt Patty viii be
so provoked" IS
But Aunt Patty seemed unusually
gentle rs she bads her good-inorningj
and that and the sunshine made Patty
feel very light-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, ,withithe ear of corn in his mouth
all ready fjf the l6Fen; the hanging
shelves loaded with faky 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 a 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 go
to church. ! 10 its;tr 49,
Then she put her hand on her shout
der, and said:
aPatty; what taakss got look 30 TN
happy .-
Patty, choking a sob down in her
throat. 2 efj3sa
"Well," 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 Heck,
"what have you been doing?"
"There, go along, child. You've
crushed my clean collar and knocked
your hat sideways"
And Miss Patience sase her a gentle
push toward thek5oor.
Petty raR Of, feeling exhilarated and
~expeeIant, She could hardly sit still
Through the sermon, although she tried
very hard to be attentive; and ever
the beautiful anthems made very little
impression upon her. And, when the
service was all over, and the uncles
and aunts and cousins were exchanging
greetings in the vestibule, she ran
away from them all, down the foad to
Nannie's.
When she knocked at the door, and
Mamie called Come in" Patty knew
by the change in her voice that some.
thing very pleasant had happened. Still
she was not quite prepared for the rev.
Citations which were made when she
opened the door. :
There Mamie sat, dressed in o blue
flannel wrapper which Admit. Patience
had intended to make over for Patty
Aunt Patience's own gray worsted
shawl around her shoulders, and a warm
homemade rug under her feet.
There was a grand fire in the stove
and a most delicious smell came from
the oven and the kissing and bubbline
stew-pans.
Mrs. Brewer was flying around, with
a clean white apron around her waist
and a bright flush on her cheeks,
The table was set for dinner. will
somesof Aunt Patiences crisp white Gel
cry in the center, and a saucer of Aunr
Patience's green pickles on one corner
and a tumbler of Aunt Patience s crab.
apple jelly on another.
Patty saw it all in one glance, an6
then turned to Mamie, who had catghr
hold of her hand and was thanking hel
and laughing and crying all at CO..
9"Don't thank me-" said Patty. SIN
,awfully glad, but I haven't done any
thing" -d4a4
Eyes, you have" Mamie insisted
sThe man said they came from you
and it isn't all here either. There
wood in the ~wood-house, and flour ant
tea in the pantry, and potatoes ani
apples and pork anda lovely little crocl
of butter in the cellar"
@I want you to, tell your Aunt PATTY
that Ihope she Will have q great many
Thanksgiving days as happy as the on
she has given us" q .-Tf-a a,f,s,e
And Mrs. Brewer wiped a tear from
her cheek as she opened the oven doc
and basted her browning chickens.
@An right said Patty, "IM tell her
though Aunt Patty can't bear to b.
thanked. Good-by. Mamie. I'll hav,
a jolly time, % you're going to hay'
one, too"
Miss Patience wouldn't give Patty
chance to speak to her alone until afte
the grand dinner was over and cleared
away, and b children, worn out witt
blind-man's buff and puss in the corne,
had been tucked snugly away in thei
beds. V@ t D.
When, the other grown-up peopl
were talking about Aud Lang Syne,
and Aunt Patience sat in front Of tn,
fire alone, Patty drew up her stool. pu
her head on her knee, and told he.
Mrs. Brewers message.
Aunt Patty looked pleased, but sh
couldn't help saying:
Cooked everythingt they had for on
meal, I s'pose. Shiftlessl"