Middletown transcript., 1893-02-04
NY SISTER PATTY.
Ella THOMAS.

alE clump of hardy roses by thu
roadside marks the place where the ole
house stood.
In those far away days l firmly be
lieved that in all the wide world there
was not another spot 30 pleasant as thu
kitchen of that old house. And | think
John Harman, from over the hill, mus
have shared my opinion, from the way
he had of dropping in of an evening.
Next to my own home-folk / liked John
best of anybody. He used to bring me
peppermint drops and tell me stories
and whatever l said or did he never
called me tease or torment, as my
own big brothers did sometim es.
Then, too, he used sometimes to give
me ride behind his handsome black
horses, and in the ! epths of my small
heart how | wished was grown up
and could wear silk dress, and go
away with him to singing schools ; nd
parties, as Patty often did. But as
that could not be was well-content
that be should take Patty; for | ad-
mired her 50 much myself that |
thought the more highly of John for
admiriDg her too.
Patty was not like Hannah, my old
est sister, who, since / could remem-
ber, had been mother and sister both
to me; Hannah with her sweet, plain
face, her goodness, her patience, who
was never cross or fretful. No, Patty
had temper, as Tom used to say, ''as
quick as fire and tow" she WASH y
always rs patient as she might have
been, either, aud nearly every day she
told me that / was ''the naughtiest
little girl in the world.n But Patty's
bits of temper were quickly over, and
she was SO loving and generous and
helpful, that no matter how vexed |
might be with her | straightway for
got it and loved her as dearly as ever.
Then, too, her mouth was so dimpled,
cheeks 50 rosy, and FER eyes, with the
hair above them always gathering into
little rings, 50 bright that was sure
no picture could be prettier than our
Patty.
/ remember well one summer even
ing she had on new dress, soft pink
muslin, and her arms aud neck were so
round and dimped, and she was 80
pink and white herself, and as JOIN.
Harmon looked at her something IL
his eyes made me speak out the thought
that was III my mind, did you ever
see any one look as pretty as Patty
does in her new dress?"
at that Patty blashed pinker than
her gown, brother Ben laughed ou
loud, father smiled behind his news
paper, and Hannah said, ABBY, little
girls should be seen and not heard.'
But John looked at Patty moment
and then at me, and | knew from his
face that he didn't think had done
anything very bad; and after little he
asked Patty to 60 out in the garden
and see how fine the evening primroses
were. / wanted to go with them, but
Hannah said my knitting stent was
not done, and by the time | had knit
FIVE times around to the middle Of the
seam needle, it was my bed time. They
did not come in till was in bed, and
when Patty came up and kissed me |
half wakened up and said: "Why,
Patty, how your eyes shine; you look
pretlIer than ever, ''and then she kissed
me again and said | was'sa silly child. !"
After that John came more than
ever, only now they often sat by them
selves in the parlor, when would take
my little chair and sit with them till
Hannah called me at half-past seven
o'clock, my bedtime. | thought this
hardly polite Of Hannah to do when !
Was helping Patty entertain John.
Patty and Hannah were ever 81 busy,
loo; they quilted quilts, and got a
piece of linen iii the loom in the looul-
room. | used To sit on the loom beams
and watch Patty's hands fly as she
threw the shuttle, and sometimes |
wound the shuttles for her.
But there were other young men be-
sides John who sometimes came to our
house, and one of them was Levi
jerome, who kept the store at the vii
lage. John didn't like Levi, | knew,
for once l heard him tell Patty that he
was perfect fop, and he didn't see
how any girl Of sense could abiie him.
At that Patty laughed provoking lit
tie laugh and said for her part she
thought Levi was very nice young
man indeed. Then John said something
didn't hear and she answered that SHE
thought that she was capable of choos-
ing her own friends. Then John looked
hurt, and knew Patty was sorry, and
she smiled her prettiest smile and saif,
how could he be 50 foolishp
Not SO very long after that, as ! was
out at play one recess, Levi jerome
drove by in his new carriage, and with
him Patty. As they came opposite
the school house v ho should they mee
but John Harmon. john bowed le
Patty as though lie hadn't seen her FOL
year, and she bowed to him as stlH
and they never saw me at all. Wnei
l went home at night I found Fatty
there, aud cousin Patty Lester, wh'
lived in Hammond, twelve miles away
And Patty Lester had caught hel
high-heeled shoe on the stairs and tWist
ed her ankle, 50 that Hannah had to az
it UP in wormwood and vinegar. Ihe
next afternoon, as | was picking
beelarkspur seed, saw John Harmon
coming. But before he got to I'M