The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25

no ~ While the old woman muttered. under
ner breath: "Mebbe twill do some good
Who knows?"
Uncle Joshua always stood in the doorway
curing this dialogue, with a great show Of
impatience and reluctance to be "bothered T"
Il sh'd think little gals place was in tn
house." he would remark. as he took her
hand. But hs liked it. Bless you, how he
liked it
And soon there was not nook or GRANNY in
the stable and barn that had not caught the
light OF Patty's yellow head, and heard the
tender cadence Of her voice.
=, One day Aunt Sally accompanied them to
the pen where the great Christmas turkey was
confined. While she was wondering at its size
and promise, Mr.. Andrews said, suddenly:
Patty, does your Uncle Amasy talk much
about me, dye know?" with a malicious
twinkle under his bushy eyebrows.
sometimes" Patty hung her head
me, child2"
,'An OF Duffer," said Patty, with her finger
| in her mouth.
Uncle Joshua turned and strobe away. fling
ing, ''Ihere, now, Sally !" over his shoulder at
his dismayed sister as he went.
:. That night he sat before the open Crank
I'm" in his great rocking chair, while Aunt
sally knitted in the corner, and Patty, on the
moor, unlaced her shoes preparatory to going
| up stairs.
''Ye like us he.e, don't We, Patty ?" asked
her uncle, finally, after long silence.
Eyes, sir, o course l do" laying her pink
cheek against his knee.
Uncle Joshua's hard hand was very light on
the yellow head as he stroked her hair.
AN would ye like to live with us" he
asked again.
San not go home ever ?"
"Why, yes-mebby-for a visit. But live
here"
Patty raised her head to stare at him. "Nc,
l couldn't, Uncle Joshua; not to live YOU
know. think lot O. you an Aunt Sally.
But there's all the rest O. the folks-Uncle
Amasy and Aunt Polly and George; George is
| my brother"
Uncle Joshua drew away his hand, and
Aunt Sally, in her corner, frowned over her
knitting.
Innocent Patty went on, presently, in
musing tone: 'This place is awful nice, but
l like Uncle Amasy's just ez well, guess. if it
wasn't fer-fer the moggage"
| ''The what !"
"Ihe moggage we've got on our farm at
home. Mike said so, an George an me we've
hunted for it lots o times" The child's voice
had grown low and fearful, and she knitted
her brows as she spoke. I'm scat of it, TOO:
| It's somethn' awful. George thought twas a
bear, mebby; but Mike said twas more like
wolf. Did you ever see one, Uncle Joshua ?"
The old man did not answer, but he began
raking down the fire with great deal of
| noise.
Joshua" called his sister, winding the
clock.
'Wel !" he snarled.
"Amasy Andrews's ez good mans ever
trod sole leather. 1 declare fer it, It's a
shame!"
'Shet up, Sally Will YEP" Mr.. Andrews
turned upon her. "Amasy Andrewss shift
less creature. l amt no use for i'm"
Patty sprang to her feet, with her shoes in
her hand, you didn't oughter talk so p she
cried, Indignantly. Uncle Amasy's SO good
to me y and then she broke down and cried
''Sally, take that child to bed ~ commanded
her uncle, and disappeared.
Patty went home soon after this; and when
the stage stopped at the door, Aunt Sally held
her fast, saying between her tears: "Ye mus
come ag'n, darlin. Promise us We will"
While Uncle Joshua snapped in his crossest
tones
90 course she'll come ag'in Don't be
fool. Here, Patty, come to me. That's some
thin to remember me by" thrusting a gold
piece into her hand. SAN this" holding IN
a little package, ''ye tell yer Aunt Polly to put
in your stockin' Christmas"
And then he took her to the stage
When Patty showed her gifts to Aunt Polly,
at night, that worthy woman took the money
between her thumb and finger
LANDS sake ~ she cried. ''ef that don't beat
all It's a five-dollar piece Amasy Andrews.
as sure's ye live Who'd a thought tn oil
man'd acted so like folks ~
"kles real good - loyal Patty, in all her ex-
citement, did not forget to say. Il like Uncle
Joshua fustratc. Oh, but Aunt Polly won't
that buy my new shoes ?"
The man and woman exchanged glances,
and then Mrs. Andrews stopped and kissed her
niece.
The short winter days passed quickly. One
night at dusk, the two excited children hung
their stockings in the chimney corner before
they went upstairs to bed. The hext morn
ing, i'll the dark and cold two little night
Gowned figures crept down the back stairs,
shivering and sleepy, but happy beyond words
to describe.
"Don'tye look Don't We dass to look til
get tn fire agoin' !" commanded George, as
he lighted the lamp.
Honest, l won't, Georgy!" his sister prom
lsed, covering her eyes with her hands.
There; it's goln' I'm glad tix't it last
night. Now look. Patty, oh, look quick -
"Mittens !" cried the boy, diving into his
stocking
'Leggins ~ cried the girl.
"Oh, Patty look ere, won't ye? A sled, a
true an honest sled ~
, noh, oGeorgy! doll l. A lovely, great big
doll Oh, amt glad ~
''That's good news" said Uncle Amasa.
cheerfully, as he and his wife appeared at the
door. ''Air We satisfied, children?'
But Patty had, at last, come to Uncle
Joshuas box. 'I'll cut the string with my
new knife" George cried. "Now, less look;
mebby it's gold watch and chain, Patty"
"'Tain't nothin' but writin'," said the child,
bewildered.
Uncle Amasa took the sheet with trembling
fingers Heaven an earth ~ he calculated,
letting it fall the next moment. 'It's that
moggage made out to Patty. Listen here:
II send you what would please you most,
child Tell your Uncle Amasa a man is pretty
good that raises such little girl. So, a
Merry Christmas to you all From
1.-THE OLD DUFFER"
''Bless the Lord I" whispered Aunt Polly.
And Bless the I.ordF' piped her small niece.
And | think our Patty was the only child in
New England who found, that day, house
and lands in the toe of her Christmas stock