Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-06-20
CHAPTER NxuI

ure. >
Each day Uncle Jud went about b,s
chores and his orop-gatherinz and
watched the leaves grow scarlet then
brown and finally go eddying up and
down the valley. or heap themselves
INTO every nook and Granny for final
sleep.
Existence had become something
Ike this 20 him, but he could 10 longer
anticipate vernal budding forth as
the leaves came. But only the scar and
tutumn for himself, with the small
and sadly neglected churchyard AT the
Corners for its ending.
Snow came and piled itself into fan
tastic drifts. The streams summer
chatter was hushed. The cows
chickens, and his horse, with wood.
cutting, became his sole care. Once
week he journeyed to the Corners
Tor his weekly paper and Mandy's
errands, always hoping for a message
from Chip. Now and then one came a
little missive IN angular chirographv
telling how she longed 10 return to
them. which they read and reread bv
candlelight-
Somehow this strange wanderer. this
unaccountedfor waif. had crept into
his life and love as a flower would
and "Pattycake." as no had named
her with her appealing eyes and odd
ways, was never out OF his thoughts.
And so the winter dragged fits slow
chill course. Spring finally unlocked
the brook once more, the apple and
chorry blossoms came. the robins be-
gan nest-building. and one day Uncle
Jud returned from the corner with n
glad smile on his face.
"Pattycake's schools goin' to close
In couple o. weeks more, n then
she's comm home" he announced.
and Aunt Mandy. her face beaminS.
made haste 20 wipe her "specs'' and
read the Joyous tdinEs.
For few days Uncle Jud acted as
II he had forgotten something and
knew not where TO look for Il. He
fingered about the house when be
would naturally be az work. He peer.
ed into one room and then another. I'm
an abstracted way. and finally Aunt
Mandy caught him IN the keeping.
room. with one curtain raised-a
thing unheard of.-seated IN one OF
the haircloth chairs and looking
around
Mandy" he said as she entered
do you know, think them picturs
we've had hangin' hero nigh on 70 40
year Is hcmely nun 20 stop n horse.
n they make me feel like I'd been 70
a funeral. Thar's that Death Bed o.
Danl Webster an Death O. Mont
calm specially. Jest cant stand
EN- no longer. an The Father o. His
Country I'm gittin' tired o. that n
the smirk he's got on hts face. I feel
Jest as though I'd like 20 throw a stun
at him this minute. You may feel sot
on them picturs. but I'd like 20 chuck
the hull kit n Doodle into the COW
shed. An them winder curtains" he
continued. looking around. things so
blue they make me SILVER, an this car
pet with the fggers O. green and val
Ter birds. II sorter stuns me.
Now Pattycakes comm purity
soon. She must "a seen more cheer.
ful keepin' roomsn ourn, n I'm cal.
latin we'd best rip this 'un all up an
nx II new. Then thar's the front
chamber-in fact both on 'em-with
the yaller spindle beds n blue cur
tains, an only square OF rag carpet
mont o the dressers. Say. Mandy" he
continued. looking around once more.
how'd we ever happen TO git so many
blue curtaius?"
His discomfort with their home now
took shape In vigorous action. and
Aunt Mandy came 70 share II. Trim
after trip 20 the Riggsville store was
made. Two new chamber sets and
rolls OF carpeting arrived at the sta
ton six miles away, and came up the
valley. A paperhanger was engaged
and kept busy for ten days. The
death-bed pictures were literally kick.
ed into the COW shed, and IN three
weeks four rooms had been so recon-
structed end fitted anew that no one
would recognize them.
Meanwhile Uncle Jud had utterly
neglected his craps" while he worked
around the house. The wide lawn had
been clipped close. A new picket
renee painted white, replaced the
leaning, ztgzag one around the garden.
Weeds and brush disappeared. and only
Aunt Mandy's protest saved the pic
turesQue brown house from a coat Of |
paint Il
And then ~Pattycake" arrived.
Nearly a year before sEe had been
Drought here, a weary. bedraggled. |
dusty, half-starved waif. Now Uncle
Jud met her At the station, his face
shining; Aunt Mandy clasped her
close TO her portly person; and as |
CHIP looked around and saw what had |
- l.. 4.
her welcome, her eyes filled.
L never thought anybody would |
care for me like this" she exclaimed.
and then glancing at Uncle Jud. her
eyes alight. she threw her arms about /
his neck and, for the first time. kissed |
him.
And never in all his life had he felt |
more amply paid for anything he had
done.
Then and there. Chip resolved TO do