Wichita eagle., 1888-10-31
PATTY'S MUSIC BOX


had been to the farm house, Patty had
been having a very dull time. Right after
breakfast she had helped mamma do the
dishes, had made her bed for she was an
Industrious little girl) and then she had
dressed and undressed Arabilla until she
was tired even of her. Now, however,
she was very much excited, for when DR..
Gray came in front of her house on his
way to see poor, sick Mrs. James, he saw
Patty in the window and called to her:
Ask your mamma if you can go down
and spend the day with Amy, for she has
sore throat, and if you can, I'll stop for
you when l come back, said. Mamma
was willing, and now Patty was getting
ready to 60
While Mrs. Hendrick was trying to see
Ii Patty's face was clean, that damsel was
dressing Arabella and talking as fast as
her tongue would run:
Mamma, do you suppose Mrs. Gray
will let Amy have the lovely little puppy
In tho house? Do you believe we'll have
jam tarts for support Have / got to come
homo before dark2"
Finally mamma said: "Why, Patty
Hendrick, you must stop, or you will
drive me crazy, and can't get you ready
to go at all A"
All this happened a good many years
ago, and little girls nowadays would think
that Patty looked funny if they Lad seen
her when she was ready to start. She
had on bright red stockings and a red
and brown plaid dress. Her hair had been
done up on corn cobs the night before to
mako it curl, and her face was almost as
rosy as her stockings. Then she put on a
thick brown coat, white fur cape and
hood ard red nittens, and she was all
fixed when the doctor came.
On the way down to the village Patty
and the doctor met a gray haired, cross
looking gentleman riding on black
horse Patty nodded happily. and the
gentleman nodded back, while DR.. Gray
said:
How did You happen to know Mr..
Simms? | didn't suppose that he liked
little girls very much"
81 don't believe he does, for he always
looks so cross. One day last summer
went to the postofice with papa, and Mr..
Simms came out with lot of papers in
his hands. After he got upon his horses
back he dropped some and looked very
cross about it. went and picked them
up and gave them to him, and now he
always says, How'd do. Pattyf' to me-"
After she had finished, Patty blushed,
for that was long speech for a little girl
who had been taught that children
should be seen and not heard" but the
doctor was so kind that no one was afraid
of him.
Soon they reached the house, and Amy
was in the window watching for them,
and oh! how glad she was to sec Patty,
for a sore throat is not very good company
on stormy day.
The little girls went upstairs into Mrs.
Gray's room, and there was the puppy
doing away in front Of the fire, and on
one of the chairs was A1ny's doll, Violet.
Now Violet had wax head and Arabella
had china one, but they were as good
friends as their mammas for all that
First the girls had rompwith the puppy,
and then they put Violet and Arabella to
bed, and then Amy said:
why the very ideal forgot to show
you what Uncle Charlie sent me on my
birthday" and off she trotted. In min
ute she came back with little round blue
box with handle on top. She turned
the handle and the box played a lively
tune. Patty was so astonished that she
could hardly speak, for she had never seen
music box before. Amy played tune
after tune and then she let Patty play
They had their supper up in Mrs. Gray's
RON On q dolls table and from dolls
dishes, but although they had the cutest
little jam tarts you ever sew, still Patty
was SO taken up with tho music box that
the tarts didn't taste as good as she had
expected.
Whilo Sam was hitching up the horse
10 take Patty home she played a fast tune,
and such was her excitement that she
almost forgot to put Arabella's cloak on.
When she got home Patty told her papa
and mamma all about it, and said that she
die wish she could have one, and that
night she dreamed that she saw little an
gels, all playing on music boxes instead
of on harps.
Weeks went by, but Patty did not for
get, and ] am afraid that she teased her
Der mamma a great deal. Finally Mrs.
Hendrick told her that for every stocking
she darned nicely she should have a
penny, and also a penny for every six eggs
she found.
When the first of summer came Patty
had nearly enough to buy the longed for
music box. One bright, warm Sunday
Patty went to Sunday school and the les
son was about giving. After it was over
the teacher, Miss Lucy Sessions, told the
little girls how the minister had told the
people in church that morning about the
prairie fires out in Michigan, and how a
great many people were left without home
Or clothes or money.
"Just think of it, children" Miss Lucy
said, there are little boys and girls who
haven't any clothes or anything TO eat
and no place to go, and some of them
have lost their papas and mammals.
Aren't you sorry for them?' Tho children
oil said they were Then Miss Lucy said:
You still have your homes and parents,
and don't you think that you could give
them soE2e of the pennies that you have
to buy candy with? You think Of it, and
if you decide that you can, bring them
next Sunday"
Al the way home Patty was very quiet.
and it seemed as if there was a lump in
her throat. She was very sorry for those
children out in Michigan, and she thought
1t must be dreadful not TO havo any shoes,
or supper, or anything; but the only
money she had was that she had been
saving for the music box, and OH she
couldn't give that up, it had taken SO
long to get it.
Thoughts of those poor children il
Michigan tortured her all the week. and
when she started for the Sunday school
the next time there was something heavy
In her pocket, and something heavier in
her little heart
She waited until the lesson was over,
and then she put her hand in her pocket
and took out two or three handfuls of
pennies and small change. These she lard
in Miss Lucy's lap. Only little over So
in all. but as much to her as $500 TO some