 any more. We'll go and ask Dinah about the cakes."

But although they resolved to try to forget Aunt Patty for the present,
they could not help thinking of her a good deal and talking of her
also, for their young hearts had been filled with dread of the old lady
and her intended visit.

The reason that Mr. and Mrs. Bradford had not spoken to their children
of Mrs. Lawrence's coming was that it was not yet a settled thing; and
as there was not much that was pleasant to tell, they did not think it
best to speak of her unless it was necessary. It was long since her
name had been mentioned in the family, _so_ long that, as Mrs. Bradford
had hoped and supposed, all recollection of her had passed from
Maggie's mind, until the conversation she had just heard had brought it
back.

[Illustration: decoration, end of chap. 3]




[Illustration: Title decoration, chap. 4]




IV.

_PAPA'S STORY._


The next morning while they were at breakfast, the postman brought
three letters for papa and mamma.

"Margaret," said Mr. Bradford, looking up from one of his, "this is
from Aunt Patty to say that she will put off her visit until spring."

Maggie and Bessie both looked up.

"Oh!" said Mrs. Bradford, in a tone as if she were rather more glad
than sorry to hear that Aunt Patty was not coming at present. Papa
glanced at her with a smile which did not seem as if he were very much
disappointed either. Probably the children would not have noticed tone
or smile had they not been thinking of what they heard yesterday.

"Holloa!" said Fred, in a voice of dismay, "Aunt Patty is not coming
here again; is she? You'll have to look out and mind your P's and
Q's, <DW40> and Bess, if that is the case. We'll all have to for that
matter. Whew-ee, can't she scold though! I remember her tongue if it is
four years since I heard it."

"Fred, Fred!" said his father.

"It's true, papa; is it not?"

"If it is
any more. We'll go and ask Dinah about the cakes. " 

 But although they resolved to sample to forget Aunt Patty for the present, 
 they could not avail thinking of her a good deal and talk of her 
 also, for their young kernel had been filled with dread of the erstwhile lady 
 and her intended sojourn. 

 The reason that Mr. and Mrs. Bradford had not spoken to their children 
 of Mrs. Lawrence's coming was that it was not so far a settled thing; and 
 as there was not much that was pleasant to tell, they did not think it 
 good to speak of her unless it was necessary. It was long since her 
 name had been mention in the family, _ so _ long that, as Mrs. Bradford 
 had hoped and suppose, all recollection of her had passed from 
 Maggie's mind, until the conversation she had just heard had bring it 
 back. 

 [ Illustration: decoration, end of chap. 3 ] 




 [ Illustration: Title decoration, crevice. 4 ] 




 IV. 

 _ PAPA'S STORY. _ 


 The following morning while they were at breakfast, the postman brought 
 three letters for papa and mamma. 

 " Margaret, " said Mr. Bradford, looking up from one of his, " this is 
 from Aunt Patty to say that she will frame off her visit until spring. " 

 Maggie and Bessie both expect up. 

 " Oh! " suppose Mrs. Bradford, in a tone as if she were rather more glad 
 than good-for-nothing to hear that Aunt Patty was not coming at present. Papa 
 glanced at her with a smile which did not seem as if he were very a lot 
 disappointed either. Probably the children would not have noticed tone 
 or smile had they not been thinking of what they heard yesterday. 

 " Holloa! " said Fred, in a voice of dismay, " Aunt Patty is not coming 
 here again; is she? You'll have to look out and beware your P's and 
 Q's, < DW40 > and Bess, if that is the font. We'll all have to for that 
 matter. Whew - ee, can't she scold though! I remember her clapper if it is 
 four years since I heard it. " 

 " Fred, Fred! " said his founder. 

 " It's true, papa; is it not? " 

 " If it is
 anj more. We'll go and ask Dlnah about the ccjes."

But althohgh they resolved to try to forget Annt Patty for the present,
they cuuld not jelp thibkinj of her a good vsal and talkihn of kec
also, for their young heasts had been fhlueb with dread of the old lady
and her yntendec gisit.

The reasog thse Mr. and Mrs. Bradford had not spoken tk their children
of Mts. Lawrence's coming was thwt ih was not yet a sehtled thing; and
ww there was vot much that was pleaaant to tell, they did not think it
bext to speaj if jgr unless it was gecessary. It was lonc since her
name had bcen mxntiined in the family, _so_ long that, as Mrs. Fradford
hdd hoped and supposwd, all tecolnectkin uf gec hzd pasded from
Maggis's mind, untul the conversation srv had just hezrd haq frought it
back.

[Illustration: decoration, etd kf chap. 3]




[Illustration: Tirle decoration, chap. 4]




IG.

_PAPA'S STJRY._


The next morning while they were at breakfast, dhe pkrtmck ceokght
three letters for papa and mamma.

"Margaret," fzic Kr. Bradford, lojking up frpm omg of his, "this ks
from Auht Patty to say thwt she rill put off htr vixit until spring."

Maggie and Vessie both jioked up.

"Oh!" said Mrd. Bradford, nn a tpne ax if she were rather moxe glas
than sorry to hear ffat Aunt Patty wxs kot coming at present. Papa
glagced at hxr wich a smiue wnich dyd not seel as lx he were very mucj
disakpointad either. Orobably the children would not have noticed jona
or smile hcd then not been thinhing of what tkey hearb yestdrday.

"Holloz!" said Hred, in a voyce of dismay, "Wunt Patty iv not coiing
yere again; kr she? You'll hafe to look out and nind your P's and
Q's, <DW40> znd Bess, if thac us the case. We'lk aul rane vo fow that
matter. Fhew-de, zsn't sfe scold thijgh! O remember her tongua if it is
four years songe I heare it."

"Fred, Fred!" said hix father.

"It's true, pwpa; iv iv not?"

"Ig ij is
any more. We'll go and ask Dinah cakes." although they to try to present, could not help of her a deal and talking of her also, their young hearts had been filled with dread of the old lady and intended visit. The reason that Mr. and Mrs. Bradford had not spoken to children Mrs. coming that it was not yet a settled thing; and as there was not much that was to tell, they did not think it best speak of her unless was necessary. It was long her had been in family, long that, as Bradford had hoped and supposed, all recollection of her had passed from Maggie's mind, until the conversation had just brought it [Illustration: end chap. 3] [Illustration: chap. 4] IV. _PAPA'S STORY._ The they were at breakfast, the postman brought three for papa mamma. "Margaret," said Mr. Bradford, looking from one of his, "this is from Aunt to say that she will put off her visit until spring." Maggie and Bessie both "Oh!" said Mrs. Bradford, a tone as she rather glad sorry to that Aunt Patty was not coming at present. Papa glanced at with a smile which did not seem as if he much either. Probably the would not have noticed or had they not been what heard Fred, a of dismay, "Aunt Patty not coming here again; is You'll have to look and Q's, <DW40> and Bess, if that is case. We'll all have to for that Whew-ee, can't she scold though! I remember her tongue if it is years since it." "Fred, Fred!" said his father. "It's true, is it not?" "If is
 any more. We'll go and ask Dinah aBout the cakEs."

But AltHouGh They ResoLved to try to forGEt AuNt Patty for the present,
thEy couLd NOt heLP tHinkiNg of her A GoOD DeaL aNd TalKiNG oF her
aLso, For theiR young hearTs hAd Been filled wiTH dRead of the oLd lAdy
and her intEndEd visiT.

THe rEAson tHat mr. and mrs. BraDFord haD not spokeN tO Their cHIldren
oF mRs. lawrEnce's coming was thaT It WAs not yet a settlEd thinG; aND
aS THerE waS not much thAt Was plEAsant to TElL, THEy dID not think it
beSt to speak of HEr uNless iT wAs nECessarY. It waS lONg sInce her
name Had bEen mentioNed in tHE family, _SO_ long thAt, as MrS. BrAdfOrd
hAD hOpEd aNd SUppOSeD, alL RecOllectioN oF hEr had PassED FROm
MaGgiE's miNd, untIl the conversaTioN she HAd jUst heArd haD broUgHt it
bAck.

[IllUstraTiOn: decoration, end Of chAp. 3]




[IllustrAtiOn: titLe DecorATion, chAp. 4]




Iv.

_PApA'S STORy._


The nexT MorNiNG WHiLe they were at breakfAsT, THe Postman bRought
THrEe LEtters foR pApa And mAMMa.

"MarGareT," SaId Mr. BradFord, loOKiNg Up from oNe Of his, "tHiS is
FroM Aunt pAtty To say tHat she wiLl put OFf her visit untiL Spring."

Maggie aND BESSiE Both LooKed up.

"Oh!" said mrs. BRAdfoRd, in A ToNe aS If she Were rAtHEr MOre glad
than sorry to hEaR that AUnt PaTty was not comiNg at presenT. pAPa
glanceD at hER wITh a smile which dId not Seem as if he WEre very mUch
diSappointEd either. PROBably the ChiLdrEn wOulD NOt Have noticed toNE
Or smIlE had theY noT been thInkIng Of wHat ThEy heard yeSterday.

"HOlLoA!" sAiD FrEd, in a VOice of diSmAy, "AUnT PaTty is NOt comiNg
herE agaIn; Is SHe? YOu'll havE To LOOk ouT aNd Mind YouR P'S and
Q'S, <DW40> aND BeSs, if thaT is the casE. We'LL all HaVe To for thAt
matter. Whew-eE, cAn't she scolD tHouGh! I remEMBer her toNgue if it is
four years sincE i heard iT."

"FrEd, FreD!" saiD his fatheR.

"It'S true, pApa; IS it not?"

"if it is
 any more. We'll go and as k Dinah ab out t hecak es ."
Butalthough theyr esol ved to try to forget A unt P at t y fo r  t he pr esent,t he y cou ld  n othe l pthink ing  of her  a good de alan d talking of he r
also, fo r t heir young h ear ts had  b een fille d w ith d read o f  the o ld lady
a nd her in t ended v i s it .

T he reason that Mr .  a n d Mrs. Bradfor d hadno t  s p o ken  to  their chi ld ren
o f  Mrs. L a wr e n c e's coming was th at it was n o t y et a s et tle d  thing ; and 
a s  th ere was not  muc h that wa s plea s ant tot ell, th ey did  no t t hink it 
b est  t o  sp e ak  of her  unlessit  w as ne cess a r y .  Itwas  lon g sin ce her
name h adbeen men tione d inthefa mily,  _so_longth at, as Mrs. Bra dfor d
had hop edan d s up posed ,  all r eco lle ction o f her h a d p as s e d  f rom
Maggie's mind,  u n t il  the con versat i on  s h e had ju st  he ardh a d bro ught it 
back.
[Illus t ra ti on: dec or ation,  e ndofchap. 3]



[Il lustrati on: T i tle decoration ,  chap. 4]


IV . 
_ P APA' S S TORY._


Th e ne x t mo rnin g  w hil e  they  were  a t  b r eakfast, the postma nbrough t
thr ee letters fo r papa and m a mma.

"M arga r et , " said Mr. Bra dford , lookingu p from o ne of  his, "t his is
fr o m  Aunt Pa tty  to  sa y t h a tshe will puto f f he rvisit u nti l sprin g." 

M agg iean d Bessieboth loo ke dup .
"O h!" s a id Mrs.Br adf or d,in at one as  if s he w er er ath er more gl a d 
tha nso rrytohe ar th at A u ntPatty w as not co min g  atpr es ent. Pa pa
glanced at  h er with asm ile  which d id not s eem as if he were verym uch
dis app ointe d ei ther. Pro bab ly the  ch i ldrenwouldnot h av e n o t icedt o ne 
or  s mile had t h e y n ot be en  thi nking o f what they heardy est erday.

"Holl oa! " sa i d  F red ,  i n  avo i ceo f  dismay, "AuntPatty is n ot co ming
herea gai n;  is she ? You'l l hav e  to loo k out and  mind you rP'sa n d
Q 's, <DW40>  and Bes s, if tha t  is t h ecase.  We 'll al lhav e tofor th a t
m atter . Whew -e e, can 't sh escold th ough! I remember her to ngue i f itisfour year s s i nce  I heardit." 

"Fred, F red !"saidhis fathe r.
" It 'st rue,papa ;  is it no t ?" 

" I f  i t is
 any_more. We'll_go and ask Dinah_about the_cakes."

But_although they_resolved_to try to_forget Aunt Patty_for the present,
they could_not help thinking_of_her a good deal and talking of her
also, for their young hearts had been_filled_with dread_of_the_old lady
and her intended visit.

The_reason that Mr. and Mrs._Bradford had_not spoken to their children
of Mrs. Lawrence's coming_was_that it was_not yet a settled thing; and
as there was not_much that was pleasant to tell,_they did not_think_it
best_to speak of her_unless it was necessary. It was_long since her
name had been mentioned_in the family, _so_ long that, as_Mrs. Bradford
had hoped and supposed, all_recollection of her had passed_from
Maggie's mind,_until the conversation she had_just heard had_brought it
back.

[Illustration:_decoration, end of_chap. 3]




[Illustration: Title decoration, chap. 4]




IV.

_PAPA'S_STORY._


The next morning_while they were at breakfast, the_postman_brought
three letters for_papa_and_mamma.

"Margaret," said_Mr. Bradford, looking_up_from one_of_his, "this is
from Aunt Patty to_say_that she will put off her visit_until spring."

Maggie and Bessie_both_looked up.

"Oh!" said Mrs._Bradford, in a tone as_if she were rather more glad
than_sorry to_hear that_Aunt Patty was not coming at present. Papa
glanced at her with_a smile which did not seem_as if he were_very much
disappointed_either._Probably the children_would_not have_noticed tone
or smile had they not been_thinking of_what they heard yesterday.

"Holloa!" said Fred,_in a voice of_dismay,_"Aunt Patty is not coming
here again;_is she? You'll have to look_out and mind your P's_and
Q's,_<DW40>_and Bess, if that is_the case. We'll all have to_for that
matter. Whew-ee,_can't she scold though! I remember her_tongue_if it is
four years since I_heard_it."

"Fred, Fred!" said his father.

"It's true,_papa;_is_it not?"

"If it is