The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-17
PATTY HEMPSTEAD'S
WEDDING JOCKEY
BY FIRED. MYRoN COLBY.

BY FIRED. MNRON COLBY.
The rows of polished pewter dishes shone
on the shelves of the high buffet, the
fire blazed in the huge fireplace, the sun
shine fell in waves upon the white sanded
floor, and the tall oak-cased clock in the
corner licked with its accustomed regu-
larity as pretty Patty Hampstead paced
to and fro spinning, one September morn
ing. more than one hundred years ago.
The young girls of these days would
doubtless scorn the humble household &C.
cupation in which Miss Patty was engag-
ed, but none of them could have looked
handsomer or more graceful than she did,
her slim, slender figure set off by the
white dimity short gown and the calaman-
co petticoat, and her long golden curls
tossing with every movement of the fairy,
springy feet and white arms.
AS the great wheel rim revolved at ev-
cry stroke of the ashen pin given care
lessly by the fair hands, the young spin
ner kept time by singing in clear, sweet
voice, whose every echo was music,
quaint refrain which seemed to accord
with something that was on her mind
that morning:
THE mermaid rose from her coral seabed,
And what shall l wear to-day? she said
On, l VIII wear dress of sea moss green
And pearls shall flash my locks between"
One after another of the soft rolls of
wool disappeared, until the spindle was
laden with a spherical bunch of yarn white
enough to be used in knitting a pair of
stockings for Pattys own slender feet.
then suddenly the whirr.ng and the sing
ing ceased simultaneously. and the gill,
she was only Is. exclaimed:
Mother. what shall 1 wear? 10 tell
me; and only think it's tomorrow night"
Many a woman has asked the same
question before and since Patty Hemp
steads day. but certainly none ever felt
a greater solicitude and anxiety regarding
the ''wherew!thal she should he clothed"
than Patty did on this particular morning
of that long ago fall of 1880. The occasion
she referred to was bail and reception
that was to be given the officers of the
French fleet at the assembly rooms by the
citizens of New London Lafayette, Roch-
ambeau and the rest of that brilliant CO.
terie were expected to be present; but
Patty thought more about certain .-oung
naval named Reuben Saftonstall than she
did of any of those foreign dig 1itI:r5.
He would be there, and Patty was emil
nently DESTROYS of looking becoming, so
that Lieut.. Saltonstan should not be
ashamed of her. Then, too, if she should
be asked TO dance with Lafayette or ltoch-
ambeau. she was sure she did oot wish 10
look like a dowdy," as she expressed IL,
for Patty was quite IS proud ana vain as
a young and beautiful woman is apt TO be.
The question perpleXed her more than
you can guess. 1t was during the dark
days of the revolution, and money was
scarce in the colonies except among
few of the richest families. In this case,
however, it was not owing to any lack
of means, for Squire Joshua Hampstead
was one of the heavy citizens of the sea-
port town. The trouble was there was
nothing to buy.
For days and days they had been ex-
pecting at Elnathan Popplewait's wharf
a ship from Europe laden with quantity
of shawls, muslins, silks and laces, as
well as more material necessities, but
they waited in vain for either unpropi-
tious winds or some of King Georges
cruisers kept the merchant vessel from
making her destined port. The ball was
now close at hand and if the Mary Ann
should come in that very day it would
be too late to manufacture any of its car
go into a ballroom dress.
"Oh, dear, what shall / wear?' cried
Patty tapping her red-heeIed shoes upon
the floor impatiently. Il am worse off
than the mermaid, for she did have a
moss gown, and L have none that's fit to
wear"
There's your old India muslin" sug-
gested Mrs. Hampstead. 1t might be-
Don't speak OF it; 1 wouldn't be seen
in that dress again for all the world"
said Patty almost with tears in her eyes.
Il would sooner stay away from the ball"
DO you remember the white satin pet
ticoat made with the long train, that I
was married in?" asked Mrs. Hampstead.
thOughtfully.
why that is the very thing. Why
haven't We thought of it before? The
train can be festooned so that it will not
embarrass me when dancing, and other
changes can be made if desired" and
Patty's face frightened.
Nov, if you only had jacket or short
gown to wear over it, 1 don't see why
you wouldn't be fixed" observed her
big chest and proceeded to unfold the
satin petticOat that had not been worn Cor
years, and was quite as good as new
Il have it, l have III" shouted Patty.
springing away with such whr.wnd of
rush as TO startle quiet Mrs. Hemp
stead.
She returned in a short time, carrying in
her hands sky-blue satin waistcoat
heavily embroidered with silver thread.
She returned in a short time, carrying
in her hands a sky-blue satin waistcoat
heavily embroidered with silver thread
What in the world are you going to
do with that Patty Hempstead?" exclaim-
ed her mother. 1T is your grandsire's
wastcoat, child, the only one he wore at
the court of George IL when he was pre-
scented to Queen Caroline"
And l, Col. Hempstead's granddaugh-
ter, will wear it at the reception of the
Marquis de Lafayette" said the beautiful