Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-12-25

no p While the old woman mpttorod r,ao.
| Who knows ?" Uo SOine sood'
Ohce Joshua always stood in the doorwav
uuiihS ms dialogue, with a great sbov, ~
iiPauence and reluctance to be bothered T"
house," he would remark. a. be tocL ~
liked il 'Ou' ho" ne
And soon there was not nook or GRANNY in
i sle stable and barn that had not caught the
/ night OF Patiy's v How head aud bosrd ~
tender cadence # her voice. Wv
One day Aunt Sally accompanied them IN
lhe pen where the great Christmas turkey was
confined. While she was wondering M NJ siSs
ahu promise, Mr.. Andrews said. suddenly.
- ra'ty' does your Uncle Amasy talk much
| ABOUT me, dye kuOWY with a malicions
tWnkl' under his bushy eyebrows.
~, Noihe tmes Patty hung her head.
~ On az ne o; does, docs he What does he call
An OF Duffer," said Patty, With her finger
Uncle Joshua turned and strobe AWAY fling.
| ing, There, now, Sally !" over his shonlder al
hih dismayed sister as he went.
., mat night he sat before the open Frank
lih IN ms great rocking chair. while Aunt
SSally knitted IN the corner, and Patty on the
| up stairs. ~ Sung
'Ye like us he e don't ye, Patty 2u asked
her uncle, finally, after a long silence
les, sur, o cJurse 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 10 live with US ?r he
asked again. A'
AN not go home ever?"
here" A'o
Patty raised her head to stare at him "No
l couldn't, Uncle Joshua; not TO live. Won
Know. think lot o You an Aunt Sally
/ Bot there's all the rest o. the folks-IJncle
Amasy AID Aunt Polly and George; George ID
/ my brother %
Uncle Joshua drew away his hand, and
Aunt sally, In her corner, frowned over her
! knitting.
Innocent Patty went on, presently, in a
musing tone: "lhis place Is awful nice, but
like Uncle Amasy's just ez well, guess. il it
wasn't fer-fer the moggage"
'The what r.
''rhe moggage we've got on our farm at
/ home. Mike said 80, an George an me we've
! hunted for It lots o times Tie child's voice
| had grown low and fearful. and she knitted
] her brows as she spoke. I'm scat Of il. TOO;
its somethln' awful. George thought twas
bear, mebby; but Mike said twas more like a
/ wolf. Did you ever see one, Uncle Joshua Z"
| The old man did not answer but he began
raking down the fire with a great deal Of
| noise.
Joshua - called his sister, winding the
clock.
well ~ he snarled.
"Amasy Andrews ez good mans ever
trod sole leather. l declare fer it. It's a
shame :"
'shet up, Sally Will yeY" Mr.. Andrews
| turned upon her. "Amasy Andrews a shift
less creature. amt no use for i'm"
Patty sprang TO her feet, with her shoes in
her hand. You didn', oughter talk so - she
/ cried, Indignantly. "Unclo Amasy's so good
10 Inc 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 agn, darlin'. Promise us We will q"
While Uncle Joshua snapped in his crossest
| tones:
90 course she'll come ag'in. Don't bo a
! fool. Here, Patty. cone TO me- That's some
thin to remember me by" thrusting a gold
| piece into her hand can this" holding up
little package. rye tell yer Aunt Polly to put
in your stockin' Christmas"
And then lie took her to the stage.
When Patty showed her gifts ~ 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.
a. sure's ye live Who'd s. thought tn OF
mand acted so like folks ~
element, did not forget to say. Il like Uncle
Joshua fustrata. Oh, but Aunt Polly won't
/ that buy my new shoes 2"
/ The man and woman exchanged glancos,
aud then Mrs. Andrews stopped aud 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 next morn
ing, in the dark and cold, two little night
I gowned figures crept down the back stairs,
shivering and sleepy, but happy beyond words
| 10 describe.
Don't We look Don't We dass to look til I
| get tn fire agoin' ~ commanded George, as
/ he lighted the lamp.
Honest, won't Georgy !" his sister prem.
I ised, covering her eyes with her hands.
There; it's a gon I'm glad l fiX't ii lasl
/ night. Now look Petty, oh, ook. quiet T.
/ "Mttensm cried the boy, diving into his
stocking
'Leggins !" cried the girl
"oh, Patty look ere, won't YEP A sled a
| true an honest sled "
ION, GeOrgy a doll A lovely, great big
doll Oh, amt glad y
THAT'S good news" said Uncle Amasa,
chesrfully, as he and his wife appeared at the
door. "Air We satisfied, children
But Patty had, at last, come to Uncle
| Joshuas box. I'm cut the string, with my
new knife" George c..ed "Now, less look;
mebby it's gold watch and chain, Patty"
"'Taint nothin' but writin', " said the child,
bewildered.
Unclo Amasa took the sheet with trembling
fingers. "Heaven an earth y he calculated,
letting il fall the next moment. ITS that
moggage made ont 10 Patty. Listen here:
II send you what would please you most,
child Tel your Uncle Amasa a man is pretty
good that raises such little girl. So
Merry Christmas to you all From
"THE OLD DuFFER."
''Bless the Lord r. whispered Aunt Polly.
And ''Bless the I.ordr piped her small niece.
And think our Patty was the only child in
New England who fonud, that day, house
and lands in the toe Of her Christmas stock
ing.