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Patty Fairfield

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"Now give me the baby," he said, and Gilbert, equally wrapped up, was put
into his arms.

"Help your mother and grandma in, Frank," he said, "and then, my son, you
must look after your guests, and see that the stages are filled and started
off. We will drive home quickly and I think our Patty and Gilbert will
suffer no harm from their bath. You and Marian must explain all this, and
say good-bye to our guests. It has been a terrible experience, but we are
all safe now, and I don't want the young people to feel saddened."

"Yes, father," said Frank, "I'll take charge here, and look after Marian
and Edith, and attend to getting everything and everybody home safely."

Then the driver took up his whip, and Mr. Elliott's horses flew over the
ground at a mad pace.

Although the sudden fright had shocked Mrs. Elliott terribly, she was
beginning to recover herself, and by the time the carriage reached home,
she was all ready to take charge of affairs in her usual capable way. Uncle
Charlie deposited the bundle of baby on the sofa, and then went back and
carried in what he called his "mummy niece."

"Grandma," said Mrs. Elliott, "I'll give our darling Patty into your
charge, for the present. Will you see that she has a hot bath, and a
steaming hot drink made after one of your good old recipes? And then tuck
her into her bed in double-quick time. After I treat baby in a similar
fashion, and get him to sleep, I will interview my niece myself."

And when that interview took place, Patty was made to know how deep a
mother's gratitude can be, and the bond sealed that night between Aunt
Alice and her niece was one of lifelong endurance and deep, true love.

Next day, the Water Babies, as Uncle Charlie called Patty and Gilbert, were
as well as ever, and suffered no ill effects from their dip in the lake.

Many of the Vernondale boys and girls came to see Patty, and Frank and
Marian exhibited her with pride, as if she were an Imperial treasure.

Patty bore her honors modestly, for it didn't seem to her that she had done
anything specially meritorious. She was glad Bob and Uncle Ted had taught
her to swim so well, and even greater than her joy at saving Gilbert's life
was the thought that she had saved the boy for her dear Aunt Alice whom she
loved so much.

When Uncle Charlie came home from New York that night, he brought Patty a
beautiful gold brooch set with pearls and with a sparkling diamond in the
centre.

"This isn't a reward, Patty dear," he said, "for no amount of jewels could
represent the value of our baby's life. But I want you to wear it sometimes
as heroes wear the Victoria Cross, or as men at the life-saving stations
wear their medals."

Patty's heart was touched at this expression of Uncle Charlie's gratitude,
and she was delighted, too, with the beautiful gift.

"I don't want any reward, uncle," she said, "but I shall keep this lovely
brooch all my life as one of my choicest treasures."




CHAPTER XXI


A READING-CLUB

With October came school-days.

There was a fine school for young ladies in Vernondale, which Marian
attended, and Aunt Alice thought it best for Patty to go too.

The cousins, who had become inseparable companions, enjoyed their
school-life together, and the added duties which lessons brought, caused
Aunt Alice to make Patty's household tasks rather fewer.

That lady was by no means an advocate of "all work and no play," and though
some domestic duties were imposed and a cake or a dessert was taught every
Saturday, yet Patty had plenty of time for amusements and plenty of
amusements for her time.

One October day, Patty and Marian and two of their schoolgirl friends sat
on Patty's balcony drinking afternoon tea.

It was getting late in the season to use the pretty balcony, but it chanced
to be a bright, sunny autumn day, and the girls had their wraps on.

Besides, they were talking so busily, that I think they would scarcely have
noticed it, had the mercury suddenly fallen to zero.

"Yes," Elsie Morris was saying, "we'll have a real literary club, and we'll
have a president and constitution and everything. But don't let's have too
many members. About twelve girls, I should say."

"Only girls?" said Marian, "aren't we going to have any boys? I know Frank
would like to join."

"Oh, boys don't like to read," said Polly Stevens, "they're nice at parties
and picnics, but we want this club to be really literary, and not just
fooling."

"I know it," said Marian, "but we thought we'd have little plays and
tableaux, and things like that. And how can we manage those without boys?
What do you say, Patty?"

"I think it's nice to have the boys," said Patty, "but they won't come much
in the afternoons. If we have them, it'll have to be an evening affair.
Let's ask Aunt Alice."

"Yes," said Elsie, "Mrs. Elliott always knows just what to do."

"I'll go after her," said Patty, and away she ran, and returned in triumph
with her aunt.

"Now, my blessed auntie," she said, as she gave her a seat, and wrapped a
fleecy shawl about her shoulders, "let me offer you a cup of tea, for we
are going to give you a weighty question to decide, and you'll need a
stimulant."

"Very well," said Aunt Alice, laughing, "but you'd better ask the question
quickly, for this tea doesn't look very strong and its effects will soon
wear off."

So the girls all talked at once, or at least, two at a time, and explained
that they wanted a literary club, and while they all liked the boys and
would be glad of their assistance in plays and tableaux, yet they knew that
if boys came to the meetings, there'd be little or no serious reading done.

"It may be the effects of your tea," said Mrs. Elliott, "but the solution
of your problem seems to me so easy that I wonder you didn't think it out
for yourselves."

"Oh, what is it?" said Elsie and Marian together.

"Why, have your club of girls only, and have your meetings on Saturday
afternoons, as you proposed, and then occasionally,--say, once a
month,--have an evening meeting and invite the boys and have your dramatic
or musical entertainments then."

"I knew you'd fix it, Aunt Alice," said Patty, beaming, "won't that be just
right, girls?"

They all agreed to this wise plan, and immediately made out a list of
twelve girls, who, if they accepted the invitation, were to attend the
first club meeting at Elsie Morris's house on the following Saturday.

Every one did accept, and the club was formed, and the twelve members went
to work with a will to make rules and plans.

Patty was unanimously elected president.

She hesitated about undertaking to fill such a responsible office, but the
girls, one and all, insisted upon it in a determined if not very
parliamentary way; and so she accepted the position, feeling sure that Aunt
Alice would assist and advise her in any difficulties that might arise.

The Literary Club proved a great success. Patty made a very capable and
graceful little president, and when at a meeting in November, the girls
began to discuss an evening entertainment to be held in December, and Patty
remarked that perhaps she wouldn't be in Vernondale then, a general outcry
was raised.

"What do you mean?"

"Why not?"

"Why, Patty Fairfield, where are you going?"

"I don't know where I'm going," said Patty, "but my visit at Marian's will
be over the first of December, and then I'm going to have a new home, and I
don't know where it will be. But oh, girls, I wish it could be in
Vernondale."

"Why can't it?" said Marian eagerly, "why can't Uncle Fred buy a house
here, and then you can live here all your life. Oh, Patty, wouldn't that be
just fine?"

"Oh, Patty, do!" chorused all the girls, and Patty resolved that if she had
any voice in the matter, Vernondale should be her future home.




CHAPTER XXII


A WELCOME GUEST

"Oh, Aunt Alice," cried Patty, flying into her aunt's room one morning in
the latter part of November, "I've just had a letter from papa, and he'll
be here for Thanksgiving-day! Isn't that grand?" and catching her aunt
round the waist, Patty waltzed her up and down the room until the good lady
was nearly breathless.

"I'm as glad as you are, Patty girl," she said, when her niece finally
allowed her to come to a standstill, "for I haven't seen brother Fred for
many long years. But I can tell you that his coming doesn't by any means
bring your visit to an end; I'm going to keep you both here with me until
after the holidays, and longer too, if I can."

"Well, I'll be only too glad to stay as long as papa is willing, and I do
hope I can persuade him to settle in Vernondale. _Do_ you believe he will,
Aunt Alice?"

"I don't know. I think he is inclined to make his home in New York city.
But Vernondale is a pleasant place and so near New York, as to be a sort of
suburb."

"Well, I'm going to coax him, anyhow,--and now Aunt Alice, I'm going to ask
you a big, big favor, may I?"

"Yes, you may ask, but I won't make any rash promises to grant it, until I
hear what it is."

"Well,--I'm afraid you'll think I won't make them good enough,--but--I do
want to make the pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving-day. Papa would be so
surprised and pleased."

"Why, of course you may, child; I'll be very glad to be relieved of that
duty, and cook will have all she can attend to."

"When is Uncle Fred coming?" said Frank, as they all sat at dinner that
evening.

"The night before Thanksgiving," said Patty; "he'll arrive at about nine
o'clock."

"Well, we'll give him a rousing welcome," said Frank, "a sort of 'Harvest
Home,' you know."

"All right," said his father, who was ever ready for a frolic, "what can we
do out of the ordinary?"

"We could decorate the veranda with jack-o'-lanterns," said Marian, "and
he'll see them as he drives up."

"Just the thing," said Frank, "and, oh,--I have a fine plan, but we won't
tell Patty,--at least, not yet."

The day before Thanksgiving, the children were all allowed to stay home
from school to make the final preparations for Uncle Fred's reception.

While Patty was in the kitchen making her pumpkin pies, (and surely, such
beautiful pies never were made, before or since!) there was much rushing in
and out of the parlor; and sounds of hammering and of moving furniture
reached Patty's ears, but she was told that she would not be allowed even
to peep into the room until evening.

So after the pies were made, Patty ran up to put the finishing touches to
her father's bedroom.

She filled the vases with fresh flowers, laid out a new book which she had
bought as a welcoming gift for him, and on his dressing-table she placed
the cherished portrait of her mother; and talking to the picture as she
often did, she said:

"I'm going to lend you to him, motherdy, for a few days; I shall miss you,
of course, but we want to give him the very best welcome possible."

Patty was allowed to help with all the preparations except those in the
parlor, and she was extremely curious to know what was going on in there.
But she found plenty to occupy her time, for the whole house was to be
decorated.

On the veranda railing were many "jack-o'-lanterns," which when their
candles were lighted would flash a welcome from their wide, funny mouths
and round eyes.

The hall was decorated with boughs of evergreen, among which were tiny
yellow squashes and gourds, also cut like jack-o'-lanterns and holding
small candles.

The sitting-room was decorated with bunches of grain, and red peppers,
"for," said Frank, "it won't be a Harvest Home, unless we have grain and
winter vegetables."

After all was ready, Patty went to don the pretty dress which Aunt Alice
and she had bought for the great occasion.

It was a dainty little blue and white striped silk, with ruffles edged with
narrow black velvet. The yoke and sleeves were of fine white embroidered
muslin, and very fair and sweet Patty looked as she clasped her "Victoria
Cross" at her throat.

"Now can I go in the parlor, Frank?" she said, as she met her cousin on the
stairs.

"Yes, Patsy, come along," and the boy threw open the parlor doors with a
flourish. The room was elaborately trimmed with palms and chrysanthemums,
and at one end was a raised platform, like a throne, on which stood a large
armchair draped with a red velvet portière. Above this was a semicircular
canopy cleverly made of cornstalks and bunches of grain and up on the very
top was the biggest pumpkin you ever saw cut like a jack-o'-lantern.

More tall cornstalks formed a background to the throne and at each side
stood a noble sheaf of wheat. Thickly scattered over the whole affair were
gourds or mock-oranges, which had been hollowed out and held lighted
tapers, while across the top was "welcome" in large letters made of gilt
paper.

"Oh," said Patty, quite awestruck at this bright and novel scene, "what is
it all for?"

"Tell her, mother," said Frank to Aunt Alice, who had just come in, "I must
go and listen for the carriage."

"It's for you, Patty," said her aunt; "you are to sit there and welcome
your father when he comes, and you'd better jump into the chair now, for he
may be here at any minute."

"Oh, how kind you all are," said Patty. "Did Frank do all this for me?
Won't papa be pleased?"

Patty flew up the steps and settled herself in the great chair with
delight.

"That's all right," said Marian, who had just come in and who gave a
critical glance at the whole picture. "Now _stay_ there, Patty; don't jump
down when you hear us greet Uncle Fred in the hall."

"I won't," said Patty, "I'll stay," and in another minute the carriage
drove up, and Patty heard her father's voice greeting Aunt Alice and her
cousins, and then saying, "But where's Patty? Where's my girl?"

"Here, papa," cried Patty, mindful of her promise to sit still, but unable
to resist calling to him, and then Mr. Fairfield hurried into the parlor
and saw his pretty daughter enthroned to welcome him.

But at sight of his dear face, Patty _couldn't_ sit still, and she flew out
of her chair and was in her father's arms before he was half-way across the
room.

Nobody minded, however, for there was such a chattering and laughing and
frolicking as you never saw, and all the time Mr. Fairfield kept his arm
around his little daughter as if he would never let her leave him again.

"But don't think your beautiful work isn't appreciated, my boy," he said to
Frank, as Patty called his attention to the cleverly constructed throne,
"indeed, I think now is the time to put it to use," and Mr. Fairfield
seated himself in the big chair and drew Patty down upon his knee.

Then Frank led off in three hearty cheers for Uncle Fred and Patty, and the
Elliott family joined in with a will.

And what a merry, happy Thanksgiving-day they had on the morrow!

Patty's pies were praised until the little maid blushed at the compliments
she received.

It was late in the afternoon before father and daughter found an
opportunity for a little talk by themselves; and then Patty told of her
love and admiration for Aunt Alice, and her great desire to spend the rest
of her life in Vernondale.

"For you see, papa," she said, "Aunt Alice is the only one of my aunts who
has a sense of proportion, and she certainly has. She is rich, but she
doesn't talk about it like Aunt Isabel's people; she reads, and knows a lot
about books, but she doesn't seem to think there's nothing else in the
world _but_ books, as Aunt Hester's family does; and as for the Hurly-Burly
people, they're lovely in some ways,--but, after living with Aunt Alice, I
couldn't stand their forgetfulness and carelessness. And then, Aunt Alice
has everything in her life, and not too much of anything either. We
children have lots of fun and good times, but we have to work some, too.
And Aunt Alice teaches us to be kind and polite without making any fuss
about it. And she does beautiful charity work, and she's so happy and sweet
that everybody loves her. And papa, dear, I do want to continue to live
near Aunt Alice, and let her keep on advising me and teaching me, and
so,--don't you think it would be nice for you to buy a house in Vernondale
and live here?"

"Well, my girl, you've made out a pretty strong case, haven't you?" said
her father, "and as my principal object in life is to make you happy, I
think, Patty, dear, that I'll let you decide where our home shall be, and
how it shall be conducted."

THE END

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