CHAPTER II
AN ADVANCE CHRISTMAS GIFT
The ten days before Christmas flew by like Bandersnatches. Patty had along list of friends to whom she wanted to give presents, and though shehad brought home a lot of what Kenneth called "foreign junk," she had nonotion of giving it all away.
Of course, the lovely fans, beads, and scarves she brought made lovelygifts for the girls, and the little curios and souvenirs were all rightfor the boys, but there were so many friends, and her relatives beside,that she soon realised she would have little left for herself. And,though unselfish, she did want to retain some mementos of her foreigntrip.
So shopping was necessary, and nearly every day she went with Nan orElise to buy the Christmas wares that the city shops displayed.
"And I do think," she said, "that things are just as pretty and just ascheap here as over there."
"Some things," agreed Nan.
"Yes; I mean just the regular wares. Of course, for Roman silks andFlorentine mosaics it's better to shop where they grow. What's fathergoing to give me, Nan?"
"Inquisitive creature! I shouldn't tell you if I knew, but as I don'tknow, and he doesn't either, I may as well tell you that he'd be glad ofa hint. What would you like?"
"Honestly, I don't know of a thing! Isn't it awful to have everything youwant?"
"You're a contented little girl, Patty. And that's a noble trait, Iadmit. But just at Christmas time it's trying. Now, if you only wanted awatch, or a diamond ring, or some trifle like that, I'd be glad to giveyour father a hint."
"Thank you, stepmamma," said Patty, smiling; "but I have a watch, and I'mtoo young for diamonds. I can't help it if I'm amply supplied with thisworld's goods. And think of the lots of gifts I'll get, anyway! Perhapsfather'd better just give me the money and let me put it in the bankagainst a rainy day."
"Why, Patty, you're not getting mercenary, I hope! What do you want ofmoney in the bank?"
Patty looked earnest.
"No, I don't think I'm mercenary," she said, slowly, "but, Nan, you neverknow what may happen. Suppose father should lose all his money."
"Nonsense! he can't do that. It's most carefully invested, and you know,Patty, he thinks of retiring from business in a year or two more."
"I know it," said Patty, with a little sigh. "I know we're rich. Notwealthy, like the Farringtons, but plenty rich enough. Only, you oftenhear of rich men losing their money, and sometimes I think I ought tosave up some."
"Goosie!" said Nan, smiling fondly at her; "don't bother your curly headabout such things before it's necessary."
"All right, then, I won't," said Patty, shaking the curly head andsmiling back.
That afternoon she went to see Clementine Morse. Clementine had calledone day when Patty was not at home, so this was the first time the girlshad met since Patty's return.
The maid asked Patty to go right up to Clementine's own room, and therePatty found her friend surrounded by what looked like a whirlwind ofrainbow-coloured rags.
On tables, chairs, and even on the floor, were scraps and bits of silks,satins, ribbons, and laces, and in a low chair sat Clementine, sewingrapidly, as if for dear life.
But at sight of Patty, she jumped up, upsetting her work-basket, and flewto greet her guest.
"You dear thing!" she cried, as she embraced her; "I was so sorry not tosee you when I called. I should have come again, but I'm so rushed withChristmas work, that I can't go anywhere until Christmas is over. Do takeoff your things and sit down, and don't mind if I go on sewing, will you?I can talk just as well, you know."
"Apparently you can!" said Patty, laughing, for as she chatted,Clementine had already resumed her work, and her fingers flew nimblyalong the satin seams. "What _are_ you doing?"
"Dressing dolls," said Clementine, as she threaded her needle; "and I'veforty-five still to do,--but their underclothing is done, so it's only amatter of frocks, and some hats. Did you have a good time in Europe?"
Clementine talked very fast, apparently to keep time with her flyingfingers, and as Patty picked up a lot of dry goods in order that shemight occupy the chair they were in, her hostess rattled on.
"How did you like Venice? Was it lovely by moonlight? Oh, would you putthis scarlet velvet on the spangled lace,--or save it for this whitechiffon?"
"Clementine! do keep still a minute!" cried Patty; "you'll drive mefrantic! What _are_ you doing with all these dolls?"
"Dressing them. How did you like Paris? Was it very gay? And was Londonsmoky,--foggy, I mean?"
"Yes; everything was gay or smoky or lovely by moonlight, or just what itought to be. Now tell me _why_ you dress four hundred million dolls allat once."
"Oh, they're for the Sunshine Babies. Was Naples very dirty? How did youlike----"
"Clementine, you leave the map of Europe alone. I'm talking now! What areSunshine Babies?"
"Why, the babies that the Sunshine Society gives a Christmas to. Andthere's oceans of babies, and they all want dolls,--I guess the boys mustlike dolls, too, they want so many. And, oh, Patty, they're the dearestlittle things,--the babies, I mean,--and I just _love_ to dress dolls forthem. I'd rather do it than to make presents for my rich friends."
Suddenly Patty felt a great wave of self-compunction. She had planned andprepared gifts for all her friends, and for most of her relatives, butfor the poor she had done nothing! To charity she had given no thought!And at Christmas, when all the world should feel the spirit of good willto men, she had utterly neglected to remember those less fortunate thanherself.
"What's the matter?" said Clementine, dismayed by Patty's expression ofremorse.
"I'm a pig!" said Patty; "there's no other word for such a horrid thingas I am! Why, Clementine, I've made presents for nearly everybody I know,and I haven't done a thing for charity! Did you ever know such anungrateful wretch?"
"Oh, it isn't too late, yet," said Clementine, not quite understandingwhy Patty was so serious about it; "here, help me sew these."
She tossed her some tiny satin sleeves, already cut and basted, andoffered a furnished work-basket.
"'Deed I will!" said Patty, and in a few moments she too was sewing, asdeftly, if not quite so rapidly, as Clementine.
"You see, Clem," she went on, "I've been so busy ever since I came home,that I simply forgot the poor people. And now it's too late."
"It's too late to make things," agreed Clementine, "but not too late tobuy them."
"But I've spent all my Christmas money," said Patty, contritely. "Fathergives me a liberal allowance, and then extra, for Christmas money. Andit's just about all gone, and I hate to ask him for more."
"Well, never mind, Patsy, you can make up for it next year. And if youhelp me dress these dolls, that will square up your conscience."
"No, it won't. But I'll find a way to do something, somehow. Are theseSunshine people all babies?"
"Oh, no; the society helps all sorts of poor people, children andgrown-ups too. Mother is one of the directors, and we do a lot of thisdoll-dressing every year."
"Well, I'll help you a while this afternoon, but I won't have anotherchance. You see just about every moment is taken up from now tillChristmas."
"You're going to the Farringtons', aren't you?"
"Yes, for three or four days, while Nan and father are in Philadelphia atNan's mother's. You're coming to the Christmas Eve dance, of course?"
"Yes, indeed. It's to be a lovely party. The Farringtons always have suchbeautiful entertainments. Now, Patty, do tell me about your trip."
So Patty told many tales of her stay in Paris and in England, and of herpleasure trip through Italy, and as she talked, her fingers flew, and shehad soon completed three doll dresses, that were quite as pretty andwell-made as Clementine's.
"Now, I must go," she said, at last. "I'm glad to have been of a littlehelp, and next year I'll help you a lot. Though, I suppose your SunshineBabies _could_ have dolls when it isn't Christmas."
"Oh, yes; these are for their Tree, you kn
ow."
"Well, Clem, if I should have some money left me unexpectedly, is it toolate to buy some toys for the Tree?"
"I don't know," said Clementine, "but we can ask mother. She'll know."
They found Mrs. Morse in her sitting-room, tying up parcels andaddressing them.
Patty soon discovered that these were all charitable gifts, and notpresents to Mrs. Morse's own friends.
"I'm so glad I came here to-day," she said, after the welcoming greetingswere over, "for it has roused my charitable instincts. I am quite sure,Mrs. Morse, I can send some toys for your society's tree, if you wantthem."
"Want them? Indeed we do! Why, Patty, there are forty little boys whowant drums or trumpets and we can only give them candy and an orange.It's harder than you'd think to get subscriptions to our funds atChristmas time, and though we've dolls enough, we do so want toys for theboys."
"Well, I'll send you some, Mrs. Morse. I'll send them to-morrow. Do youcare what they are?"
"No, indeed. Drums, or balls, or tin carts,--anything that a boy-childcan play with."
"Well, you may depend on me for the forty," said Patty, smiling, for shehad formed a sudden, secret resolve.
"Why, Patty, dear, how kind of you! I am so glad, for those children wereon my mind, and I've already asked every one I know to give to our fund.You are a generous little girl, and I know it will gladden your own heartas well as the children's."
Patty ran away, and all the way home her heart was full of her project.
"If he will only consent," she thought. "If not, I don't know how I shallkeep my promise. Oh, well, I know I can coax him to say yes."
After dinner that evening, Patty put her plan into action.
"Father Fairfield," she said, "what are you going to give me for aChristmas gift?"
"Well, Pattykins, that's not considered a correct question in politesociety."
"Then let's be impolite, just for this once. Do tell me, daddy."
"You embarrass me exceedingly, young lady," said Mr. Fairfield, smilingat her, "for, to tell you the truth, I haven't bought you anything."
"Oh, I'm so glad!" exclaimed Patty, "for, father, I want to ask you agreat favour. Won't you give me the money instead, and let me spend it asI like?"
"That would be a funny Christmas gift. I thought you liked some prettytrinket, tied up in holly paper and red ribbons and Santa Claus seals,and served to you on a silver salver."
"Well, I do, from other people. But from you, I just want the money thatmy present would cost, and--I want it now!"
"Bless my soul! She wants it now! Why, Patsy, what are you going to do?Buy stock?"
"No, but I do want it, father. Won't you give it to me, and I'll tell youafterward what I'm going to do with it."
"I'll tell you now," said Nan, smiling at the pair. "She's going to putit in the bank, because she's afraid she'll be poor some day."
"I don't wonder you think that, stepmothery," said Patty, her eyestwinkling at Nan, "for I did tell you so. But since then I've changed mymind, and though I want my present from father in cash, I'm going tospend it before Christmas, and not put it in the bank at all."
"Well, you are a weathercock, Patty. But before morning you will havechanged your mind again!"
"No, indeedy! It's made up to stay this time. So give me the money like aduck of a daddy, won't you?"
Patty was very wheedlesome, as she caressed her father's cheek, andsmiled into his eyes.
"Well, as you don't often make a serious request, and as you seem to bein dead earnest this time, I rather think I shall have to say yes."
"Oh, you dear, good, lovely father!" cried Patty, embracing him. "Willyou give it to me now, and how much will it be?"
"Patty," said Nan, laughing, "you're positively sordid! I never saw youso greedy for money before."
Patty laughed outright. Now that she had gained her point she felt in gayspirits.
"Friends," she said, "you see before you a pauper,--a penniless pauper!Therefore, and because of which, and by reason of the fact that I am inimmediate need of money, I stoop to this means of obtaining it, and, asaforesaid, I'd like it now!"
She held out her rosy palm to her father, and stood waiting expectantly.
"Only one hand!" exclaimed Mr. Fairfield, in surprise. "I thought such agrasping young woman would expect both hands filled."
"All right," said Patty, and she promptly extended her other palm, too.
Putting both his hands in his pockets, Mr. Fairfield drew them out again,and then laid a ten-dollar goldpiece on each of Patty's outstretchedpalms.
"Oh, you dear daddy!" she cried, as she clasped the gold in her fingers;"you lovely parent! This is the nicest Christmas gift I ever had, and nowI'll tell you all about it."
So she told them, quite seriously, how she had really forgotten to givethe poor and the suffering any share of her own Christmas cheer, and howthis was the only way she could think of to remedy her neglect.
"And it's so lovely," she concluded; "for there are forty littleboy-children. And with this money I can get them each a fifty-centpresent."
"So you can," said Nan. "I'll go with you to-morrow to select them. Andif we can get some cheaper than fifty cents, and I think we can, you'llhave a little left for extras."
"That's so," agreed Patty. "They often have lovely toys for aboutthirty-nine cents, and I could get some marbles or something to fill up."
"To fill up what?" asked her father.
"Oh, to fill up the tree. Or I'll get some ornaments, or some tinsel todecorate it. Oh, father, you are so good to me! This is a lovelyChristmas present."