The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-05-10
Patty Hempstead's,
Wedding Jockey.
A STORY OF REVOLUTIONARY
DAYS.
BY Fred Myron Colby.


v, -
86'-s66s-.SHs-s+eAs-seAs-.@S.-s,SS
The rows of polished pewter dishes
shone on the shelves of the high buffpt
the fire blazed in the huge fireplace. the
sunshine fell in waves upon the white
sandcd floor and the tall oak cased cIocl,
in the corner licked with its accustomed
regularity as pretty Patty Icmp,tead
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 dimitv
short gown and the caIamanco petticoat.
and her long golden curls tossing with ey
cry movement of the fairy. springy feet
and white arms.
rs the great wheel rim revolved at ev-
Cy stroke of the ashcn pin given carcloss.
lE by the fair hands, the young spinner
Kept time by singing in clear, sweet
voice, whose every echo was music. n
quaint refrain which seemed to accord
with something that was on her mind
that morning:
Ire mermaid rose from her coral sea bed;
And what shah wear today? she said
oh, will 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 spherical bunch of warn
White enough to be used in knitting pair
q stockings for Pattys own slender feet:
tAen suddenly the whirrng and the sing
mg ceased simultaneously, and the girl
She was only lS-eXcaimed:
Mother what shall / wear? Do fell
me; and only think, it's tomorrow night"
AaHH a woman has asked the same
question before and since Patty Hemp
stead day, but certainly none ever felt
greater solicitude and anxiety regard
luG the "Wherewithal she should be
clothed than Patty did on this particu-
lar morning of that long ago fall of 1880.
1he occasion she referred to was n ball
ami reception that was to be given the
oitcers of the French fleet at the Assem-
bly, rooms by the citizens of New London.
Lafayette, ROchambeau and the rest of
lhat brilliant coterie We're 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.
lie would be there, and Patty was
emlnently desirous of looking "becom-
IN, so that Lieutenant Saltonstall
should not be ashamed of her Then, too,
Il she should be asked to dance with La.
iayette or Rochambeau she was sure she
did not wish to ''look like a dowdy," as
she expressed it, for Patty was quite as
proud and vain as a young and beautiful
woman is apt to be-
Inc question perpleyed 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 Hcmpstead
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
ship from Europe laden with quantity
OF shawls, muslins, silks and laces as
Wei as more material necessities. hut
they waited in vain, for either unpropi-
nous 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
100 late to manufacture any of its cargo
INTO ballroom dress
'Oh, dear, what shah | wear?" cried
Patty, tapping her red heeed shoes upon
lhe floor impaticntly. Il am worse off
han the mermaid, for she did have a
moss gown, and | have none that's fit to
wear"
There's your old india muslin" SUE.
goslcd Mrs. Hampstead. "It might be-
Don't speak of it. | wouldn't be seen
II mat dress again for the world" said
FATTY almost with tears in her eyes. u
would sooner stay away from the BALI
no you remember the white satin pet.
ue'at made with the long train that !
was married IMP asked Mrs. Hampstead
thoughtfully.
Why, that is the very thing Why
haven't we thought Of it before? The
Nlin can be festoOned so that il will not
eaharrass me when dancing, and other
tJ5pgeS can bc made if desired" And
ta'ty's face frightened
Now, if you only had jacket or
snort gown to wear over it ! don't see
4 WY you wouldn't be fixed" observed
ler mother rs she pulled out drawer Of
sao bls chest and proceeded to unfold the
4 satin petticoat that had not been worn
Tor years and was quite as good as new.
y have il! | have it," shouted Patty,
q tpnnging away with such a whirlwind of
rush as to startle quiet Mrs. Hemp
n stead.
She returned in a short time carrying
u ner hands a sky blue satin waistcoat
heavlly embroidered with silver thread
What in the world are You going TO 90
with that. Patty HcmpsteadY exclaimed
her mother. ut is your grandsire's waist
coat child-the very one he wore at lhe
court ot George II when he was present
ed to Queen Caroline"
And |, Colonel Hempstead's grand.
laughter will wear il at the reception OF
me Marquis de Lafayette" said the
beautiful girl, her face all aglow. See.
II hts me as well as though it was made
lor me. a few snins of the shears VIII