The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-07-30
Patty Hempstead's,
Wedding Jockey. |
A STORY OF REVOLUTIONARY =
DAYS.
BY Fred Myron Colby.

= Copyright, 1901, by Fred Myron Colby. (
0e-s-s 0-s-s,00 ts-stD 9-s-s 0O-s-e<n0-s-
The rows of polished pewter dishes
shone on the shelves of the high buffet,
the fire blazed in the huge fireplace, the
sunshine fell in waves upon the white
sanded floor and the tall oak cased clock
in the corner licked with its accustomed
regularity as pretty Patty Hampstead
paced to and fro, spinning, one September
morning more than 100 years ago. The
young girls of these days would doubtless
scorn the humble household occupation in
which Miss Patty was engaged, 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 salamanca petticoat
and her long golden curls tossing with ev-
cry movement of the fairy, springy feet
and white arms.
As the great wheel rim revoIved at ev-
cry stroke Of the ashen pin given careless
ly by the fair hands, the young spinner
kept time by singing in a 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 sea bed;
And what shall wear today? she said
oh, will wear dress Of sea moss green
And pearls shall fash my locks betweeni
One after another of the soft rolls of
wool disappeared, until the spindle was
laden with spherical bunch of yarn
white enough to be used in knitting pair
of stockings for Patty's own slender feet;
then suddenly the whirring and the sing
ing ceased simultaneously, and the girl
she was only 18-exclaimed:
Mother, what shall wear? Do tell
me; and only think. it's tomorrow night"
Many a woman has asked the same
question before and since Patty Hemp
stead's day, but certainly none ever felt
a greater solicitude and anxiety regard
ing the "wherewithal she should be
clothed" than Patty did on this particu-
lar morning of that long ago fall of 1880.
The occasion she referred to was a ball
and reception that was to be given the
officers Of the French fleet at the Assem-
bly, rooms by the citizens of New London
Lafayette, Rochambcau and the rest of
that brilliant coterie were expected to be
present, but Patty thought more about
certain young naval officer named Reu
ben Saltonstall than she did of any of
those foreign dignitaries.
He would be there, and Patty was
eminently DESTROYS of looking "becom
ing" so that Lieutenant Saltonstal
should not be ashamed of her Then, too,
if she should be asked to dance with La
fayette or Rochambeau she was sure she
did not wish to ''look like dowdy," as
she expressed it, for Patty was quite as
proud and vain as a young and beautiful
woman is apt to be.
The question perpexed her more than
you can guess. Ii 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 a 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, md IL the Mary Ann
should come In that very day it would be
too late to manufacture any of its cargo
into ballroom dress.
"Oh, dear, what shall wear?" cried
Patty. tapping her red heeled shoes upon
the floor impatently. 81 am worse off
than the mermaid. for she did have a
moss gown. and have none that's fit to
wear"
'"There's your old india muslin" sug-
gested Mrs Hampstead at might be-
Don't speak of it wouldn't be seen
in that dress again for the world" said
Patty, almost with tears in her eyes. 81
would sooner stay away from the ball."
do you remember the white satin pet
ticoat made with the long train that
was married in" asked Mrs. Hampstead
thoughtfully.
"Why, chat is the very thing. Why
haven't we thought of 1t before? The
train can be festooned so that it will not
embarrass me when dancing, and other
changes can be made IL desired" And
Pattys face frightened.
"Now, If you only had jacket or
rhort gown to wear over 1t ! don't see
Why you wouldn't be fixed" observed
her mother as she pulled out a drawer Of
the big cl est and proceeded to unfold the
satin petticoat that had not been worn
for years and was quite as good as new.
81 have It'll | have itw shouted Patty,
Fpringing away with such a whirlwind OF
a rush as to startle quiet Mrs. Hemp
stead.
She returned In short time carrying
IN her hands sky blue satin waistcoat
hea embroidered with silver thread.
"What in the world are you going to do
with that. Fatty Hempstead9" exclaimed
her mother. at is your grandsire's waist.
coat. child-the very one he wore at the
court of George II when he was present
ed to Queen Caroline"
"And |, Colonel Hempstead's grand
daughter, will wear it at the reception of
the Marquis de Lafayette" said the
beautiful girl, her face all aglow. "See.
1t fits me as we'll as though it was made
for me. A few ships Of the shears will
make it all right"
"And it becomes you marvelously well,
though | would not say aught to increase
your vanity" observed Mrs. Hampstead
as she stood off short distance and con-
templated with motherly pride the strik-
ingly picturesque figure.
81 wish / knew what Polly Shaw is go
ing to wear" said Patty, walking back
and forth and pausing now and then to
give a sly peep into the large mirror on
the wall.
"She cannot wear her grandfather's
waistcoat whatever else she wears, for
he was never at court" answered her
mother.
ssThe mermaid rose from her coral sea bed;
And what shall wear todayf she said,'
hummed Patty as she ran up stairs to her
own room.
1t would be impossible to tell how
many times Patty tried on that satin
waistcoat adapting 1t to the softer out
lines of her graceful form, and how, little
by little. her careful snippings trans
formed the old time relic into jaunty
'siockey" or jacket that might have
graced any lady at the court of his mai
esty George Ill. But you can imagine
Miss Patty when the ball night arrived
dressed in her white satin petticoat and
the sky blue waistcoat, her hair drawn
high over a cushion and allowed to fall in
ringlets behind, where it was confined by
a string of pearls (also an heirioom),
bunch of asters at one side, long kid
gloves on her hands and band Of black
velvet round her white throat.
AS she stood waiting in the hail for
her fathers coach box addressed to her
was left at the door. Patty opened 1t
with eager fingers. for she recognized the
handwriting, and after unfolding wrap