 "if Aunt Patty comes to us by and by,
and is not always as gentle as she might be, will my little children
remember how much she has had to try her, and how much there is in her
which is really good and unselfish?"

The boys promised readily enough, and Bessie said doubtfully that
she would try, but when papa turned to Maggie, she looked as shy and
frightened as if Aunt Patty herself had asked the question.

"What is my rosebud afraid of?" said Mr. Bradford.

"Papa," said Maggie, "I'm so sorry for that pretty lady, but I can't
be sorry for Aunt Patty,--and oh, papa, I--I--do wish--Aunt Patty
wasn't"--and poor Maggie broke down in a desperate fit of crying.

Mr. Bradford feared that his story had been almost in vain so far as
his little girls were concerned, and indeed it was so. They could
not make the pretty lady in the picture, the poor young wife whose
husband and father had been drowned before her very eyes, or the brave,
generous woman who had saved little Aleck, one and the same with the
dreaded Aunt Patty. The mischief which words had done words could not
so easily undo.

[Illustration: decoration, end of chap. 4]




[Illustration: Title decoration, chap. 5]




V.

_LIGHT THROUGH THE CLOUDS._


Christmas with all its pleasures had come and gone, enjoyed perhaps
as much by the policeman's children as it was by the little Bradfords
in their wealthier home. For though the former had not the means of
the latter with which to make merry, they had contented spirits and
grateful hearts, and these go far to make people happy. Their tall
Christmas-tree and beautiful greens were not more splendid in the eyes
of Maggie and Bessie than were the scanty wreath and two foot high
cedar branch, which a good-natured market-woman had given Mrs. Granby,
were in those of little Jennie Richards. To be sure, the apology for a
tree was not dressed with glittering balls, rich bonbons, or rows of
tapers; its branches bore no expensive toys, rare books,
" if Aunt Patty comes to us by and by, 
 and is not always equally easy as she might be, will my little children 
 commend how a lot she has had to try her, and how much there be in her 
 which is really good and unselfish? " 

 The male child promised readily enough, and Bessie suppose doubtfully that 
 she would try, but when papa turned to Maggie, she looked as shy and 
 frighten as if Aunt Patty herself had asked the question. 

 " What is my rosebud afraid of? " said Mr. Bradford. 

 " Papa, " read Maggie, " I'm so sorry for that pretty lady, but I can't 
 be sorry for Aunt Patty,--and oh, papa, I -- I -- do wish -- Aunt Patty 
 wasn't"--and hapless Maggie broke down in a desperate fit of crying. 

 Mr. Bradford feared that his floor had been almost in vain so far as 
 his little girls were concerned, and indeed it was therefore. They could 
 not make the pretty lady in the picture, the poor young wife whose 
 husband and father had been drowned before her very eyes, or the brave, 
 generous woman who had save little Aleck, one and the same with the 
 fear Aunt Patty. The maleficence which words had done words could not 
 so well undo. 

 [ Illustration: decoration, goal of chap. 4 ] 




 [ Illustration: claim decoration, chap. 5 ] 




 V. 

 _ LIGHT THROUGH THE CLOUDS. _ 


 Christmas with all its pleasures had come and gone, enjoyed possibly 
 as much by the policeman's children as it was by the little Bradfords 
 in their wealthier home. For though the former had not the means of 
 the latter with which to reach merry, they had contented spirits and 
 grateful hearts, and these go far to make citizenry happy. Their tall 
 Christmas - tree and beautiful greens were not more brilliant in the eyes 
 of Maggie and Bessie than were the scanty wreath and two foot high 
 cedar arm, which a good - natured marketplace - woman had given Mrs. Granby, 
 were in those of small Jennie Richards. To be sure, the apology for a 
 tree was not dress with glittering ball, rich bonbon, or rows of 
 tapers; its branches bore no expensive toys, rare koran,
 "if Aunt Patty comes to us ny and by,
and is uit alweys as fentle ar she might be, will my littlx chuldreb
remember how much she has had no try hee, anv how much there is in hcx
whicg is xeelly good and ukselfish?"

The boys promised rdabily enough, and Bessie said doubtfuljy that
xhf would try, buj whem papz turned to Maggie, she looked as sgy and
fgightened as if Aint Patty herself had askef thf question.

"What is ly rosebud qfraye of?" said Mr. Bradford.

"Papa," said Magfie, "I'm so sorry for that pretty lady, but I can'j
yw sltry for Aunt Pattj,--and oh, papa, L--P--do wisv--Aunt Pstty
wasn't"--and ppor Matgie broke down in a vesperate fit of cryyng.

Mr. Bragfkrd feared that hus stori had beev aloosu ii vzin so fac as
his litfle girls wwre concerned, and imdqvc it was so. Fhey cjujd
not make the pretty lady in the pictuge, tge poor young wife whosw
husband and father hwd been dwowned before her very eyes, or the brave,
generous foman dho hwa swved little Aleck, one and the same with the
drqzdtd Sunt Patty. The mischief wnifh rords had dong words cohld not
so easily ujdo.

[Illuftratuon: decorwtiom, end of chap. 4]




[Illustration: Ritle decoranion, chap. 5]




V.

_LIGHT THROUYH THE CLOUDR._


Chrostmax with all its pleasurer has come and hone, enjogdd perhaps
as mucf bj tha policeman's children as ie was by vhe lnttle Brxdfotds
in treir wealtjier mmme. For though the formgr had not the mfans of
the latter with which to make merry, thgy vad contentzd spivits and
gratefuj hearts, and tkese go yar to make peopme happb. Their tall
Shristmas-tree wnd beautifun greens werw nor more rolendid in the eyes
of Mcygie and Vessie than were tme scxhty wreath and cco foot high
cedar brxncr, ahmch a cood-natured karkdt-wukan hxd given Mrw. Gramby,
were in those of nittme Jennie Richards. Tj be surg, the apojogy for a
trer was not dressed aith jlittecing bsllf, rich bonbons, or rows of
tapera; its brajchcs bore no ex[enslve joys, rare bpoks,
"if Aunt Patty comes to us by and not always gentle as she children how much she had to try and how much there is in which is really good and unselfish?" The boys promised readily enough, and Bessie doubtfully that she would try, but when papa turned to Maggie, she looked shy frightened if Patty herself had asked the question. "What is my rosebud afraid of?" said Mr. Bradford. "Papa," Maggie, "I'm so sorry for that pretty lady, I can't be sorry Aunt Patty,--and oh, papa, I--I--do Patty poor Maggie down a fit of crying. Bradford feared that his story had been almost in vain so far as his little girls were and indeed so. They not the lady in the poor young wife whose husband and drowned before her very eyes, or the brave, woman who saved little Aleck, one and the with the dreaded Aunt Patty. The mischief which had done words could not so easily undo. [Illustration: decoration, end of chap. 4] [Illustration: chap. 5] V. _LIGHT THE CLOUDS._ Christmas all pleasures come gone, enjoyed as much by the policeman's children as it was by the Bradfords in their wealthier home. For though the former had means the latter with to make merry, they contented and grateful hearts, and far make tall and greens were not more in the eyes of Maggie Bessie than were the high cedar branch, which a good-natured market-woman had Mrs. Granby, were in those of little Richards. To be sure, the apology for a tree was not dressed glittering balls, or rows of tapers; its branches bore no toys, rare books,
 "if Aunt Patty comes to us by and By,
and is not AlwayS as GenTlE as sHe miGht be, will my litTLe chIldren
remember how much sHe has HaD To trY HeR, and hOw much tHErE IS in HeR
wHicH iS ReAlly gOod And unseLfish?"

The boYs pRoMised readily ENoUgh, and BessIe sAid doubtfullY thAt
she wOuLd tRY, but wHen Papa tUrned tO maggie, She looked As SHy and
fRIghteneD AS iF AunT Patty herself had aSKeD The question.

"WhaT is my rOsEBuD AFraId oF?" said Mr. BraDfOrd.

"PaPA," said MaGGiE, "i'M So sORry for that preTty lady, but I CAn't
Be sorrY fOr AUNt PattY,--and oH, pAPa, I--i--do wish--Aunt pattY
wasn't"--and Poor MaGGie brokE Down in a DesperAte Fit Of crYInG.

MR. BrAdFOrd FEaRed THat His story HaD bEen alMost IN VAIn so Far As
hiS littLe girls were coNceRned, ANd iNdeed It was So. ThEy Could
Not makE the pReTty lady in the picTure, The poor yoUng WiFe wHoSe
husBAnd and FatHer Had been Drowned BEfoRe HER VeRy eyes, or the brave,
geNeROUs Woman who Had savED lItTLe Aleck, oNe And The sAME with The
dREaDed Aunt PAtty. ThE MiScHief whiCh Words hAd DonE woRds coULd noT
so easIly undo.

[ILlustRAtion: decoratioN, End of chap. 4]




[IlluSTrATIoN: titlE deCoration, chaP. 5]




V.

_LIghT THrOUGh tHe CLouDS._


ChRistmAs WItH All its pleasures had cOmE and goNe, enjOyed perhaps
as Much by the pOLICeman's chIldrEN aS It was by the littLe BraDfords
in thEIr wealthIer hoMe. For thoUgh the forMER had not tHe mEanS of
The LATtEr with which to MAKe meRrY, they haD coNtented SpiRitS anD
grAtEful heartS, and thesE gO fAr To MakE peopLE happy. ThEiR taLl
chrIstmaS-Tree anD beauTifuL gReENs wEre not mORe SPLendId In The eYes
Of maggiE and bEssIe than wEre the scaNty WReatH aNd Two foot High
cedar branCh, Which a good-NaTurEd markET-Woman had Given Mrs. Granby,
were in thoSE of littLe JEnnie richArds. To be sUre, The apoLogY For a
trEe was nOt dreSsEd wITH glitTERiNg bAlLs, rich bonbONS, or Rows oF
tAperS; its braNches bore no expensiVE toYs, rare books,
 "if Aunt Patty comes to u s by and b y,
an d i s n ot  alw aysas gentle as s h e mi ght be, will my little  chil dr e n
re m em ber h ow much sh e has  h ad  to  t r yher,and  how mu ch there i s i nher
which is re ally goodand  unselfish?" 

T he boy spro m isedrea dilyenough ,  and B essie sai dd oubtfu l ly that s he  wou ld try, but whenp ap a  turned to Mag gie, s he lo o k edasshy and
fr ig htene d  as ifA un t P att y  herself hadasked the q u est ion.
"W hat is myroseb ud afr aid of?" sa id M r. Bradfo rd.

" P apa," s a id Magg ie, "I 'msosorr y  f or  th at pre t ty  la d y,but I ca n' tbe so rryf o r Aunt  Pa tty, --and  oh, papa, I- -I- -dow ish --Aun t Pat ty
w as n't"- -and p oor M ag gie broke downin a  desperat e f it  of  c rying . 

Mr.Bra dfo rd fear ed that his  s t o r yhad been almost in  v a i nso far a s
hisl it tl e  girls w er e c once r n ed, a nd i n de ed it wa s so.T he ycould
n ot  maketh e p ret ty la d y in  the p icture,the p o or young wifew hose
husbanda nd f at h er h adbeen drowne d be f oreherv er y e y es, o r the  b r av e ,
generous woman wh ohad sa ved l ittle Aleck,one and th e s ame with  the dr e aded Aunt Patt y. Th e mischief which wo rds h ad donewords cou l d  not
soeas ily  un do. [I llustration:d e cora ti on, end  of  chap.4]


[I llu st ration: T itle dec or at io n,  ch ap. 5 ] 




V.
_ LIG HT  TH ROUGH THE CL OUDS. _

Ch ri s tma s witha ll i ts p le as ures  ha dcomeandg one , enjoy ed perhap s
a s  muc hby  the po liceman's chi ld ren as itwa s b y thel i ttle Bra dfords
in their wealthi e r home.  Fo r tho ughthe forme r h ad not  th e  means  of
th e lat te r w i t h whi c h  t o m ak e merry, t h e y h ad co nt ente d spiri ts and
grateful he a rts , and these g o f ar t o ma kep eo p leha p py. T heir tall
Chris tmas-treean d  b eautiful g r een swere no t moresplen d id in t he eyes
o f Maggiean d Be s s iethan werethe scan ty wreath and t w ofoothig h
ceda rbra nch,whicha  go od-na turedma rket-w omanha d givenMrs. Granby,
were in th ose of  litt leJennie Ri cha r ds.  To be su re,the apolog y f ora
tre e w a s not  dre s se d w i th gl itte r ing balls ,  r ich b on bons, or ro w s oftaper s;i ts bra nche s bore no expensi v e toys, rare b ooks , 
 "if_Aunt Patty_comes to us by_and by,
and_is_not always_as_gentle as she_might be, will_my little children
remember how_much she has_had_to try her, and how much there is in her
which is really good and_unselfish?"

The_boys promised_readily_enough,_and Bessie said doubtfully that
she_would try, but when papa_turned to_Maggie, she looked as shy and
frightened as if_Aunt_Patty herself had_asked the question.

"What is my rosebud afraid of?" said_Mr. Bradford.

"Papa," said Maggie, "I'm so_sorry for that_pretty_lady,_but I can't
be sorry_for Aunt Patty,--and oh, papa, I--I--do_wish--Aunt Patty
wasn't"--and poor Maggie broke down_in a desperate fit of crying.

Mr. Bradford_feared that his story had been_almost in vain so far_as
his little_girls were concerned, and indeed_it was so._They could
not_make the pretty_lady in the picture, the poor_young wife whose
husband_and father had been drowned before_her_very eyes, or_the_brave,
generous_woman who_had saved little_Aleck,_one and_the_same with the
dreaded Aunt Patty. The_mischief_which words had done words could not
so_easily undo.

[Illustration: decoration, end_of_chap. 4]




[Illustration: Title decoration,_chap. 5]




V.

_LIGHT THROUGH THE CLOUDS._


Christmas_with all its pleasures had come_and gone,_enjoyed perhaps
as_much by the policeman's children as it was by the little_Bradfords
in their wealthier home. For though_the former had not_the means_of
the_latter with which_to_make merry,_they had contented spirits and
grateful hearts, and_these go_far to make people happy. Their_tall
Christmas-tree and beautiful greens_were_not more splendid in the eyes
of_Maggie and Bessie than were the_scanty wreath and two foot_high
cedar_branch,_which a good-natured market-woman had_given Mrs. Granby,
were in those of_little Jennie Richards._To be sure, the apology for a
tree_was_not dressed with glittering balls, rich_bonbons,_or rows of
tapers; its branches bore_no_expensive_toys, rare books,