For the benefit of those who are not acquainted with Patty Fairfield and her relatives, it may be well to say that Mrs. Elliott was Patty's Aunt Alice, at whose home Patty and her father were now visiting.

Of the other members of the Elliott family, Uncle Charley, grandma, Marian, and Frank were present, and these with Mr. Fairfield and Patty were debating a no less important subject than the location of Patty's future home.

" The Tea Club was holding a Saturday afternoon meeting at Polly Stevens's house, and the conversation, as yet, had not strayed far from the all-engrossing subject of Patty's future plans.

" "Oh, won't it be fun to have the Tea Club at Patty's house!"

"Who in the world are you?" For inside the arbour sat a strange-looking girl of about Patty's own age.

"I'm Pansy," she said, clasping her hands in front of her, and looking straight into Patty's face.

" "Laws, honey, can't you see no diffunce 'tween plain bread and butter and a lot of pernicketty gimcracks that never turns out right nohow?" A haunting doubt regarding the proportion between her elaborate plans and the simple Tea Club hovered round Patty's mind, but she resolutely put it aside, thinking to herself, "I don't care, it's my first function, and I'm going to have it just as nice as I can.

"There are some of the girls coming in at the front gate now," said Marian as she tied the big white bow on Patty's pretty, fluffy hair.

" "Stop your nonsense, girls," said Marian, who had noticed Patty's rising colour, "and take your places.

The cheers were given with a will, and Patty's equanimity being restored, she was her own merry self again, and they all laughed and chatted as only a lot of happy girls can.

Patty's part in the play was that of Diana, and her costume was to be a beautiful one of hunter's green cloth with russet leather leggings and a jaunty cap.

" But a careful verification of the figures proved that they were added right, and Patty's heart began to sink as she looked at the enormous sum-totals.

"Oh, yes, you'll have them all right," said Uncle Charley, in his gay, cheery way, having no idea, of course, what was in Patty's mind.

Mr. Fairfield bought a pair of fine carriage horses and a pony and cart for Patty's own use.

Bob soon made friends with the "Tea Club Annex," as the boys of Patty's set chose to call themselves.

When Patty's opinion was asked, she said she would be delighted to go away for a vacation, and that she had the place all picked out.

So the plans were made according to Patty's wish, and a few days after the Barlow twins returned to their home, a merry party left Vernondale for Spring Lake.

The first Saturday night after their arrival at Marlborough House, a large dance was to be held, and this was really Patty's first experience at what might be termed a ball.

Though Patty's manner took on a shade more of dignity in addressing the older man, it lost nothing in cordiality, and he responded with words of glad greeting.

Patty's absolute lack of self-consciousness and her ready friendliness made her popular at once.

Patty's eyes lighted up.

Patty's face took on a comical smile of amusement at these two requests, but she answered both at once by merrily saying: "Then it all adjusts itself.

But Martha Washington was a fond and doting mother and, as Patty's death occurred almost immediately, Jack's absence in distant New York was more than she could bear.

AUNT PATTY'S THANKSGIVING.

[Transcriber's note: The original text titled this poem here as "Aunt Patty's Thanksgiving" and in the table of contents as "Aunt Betty's Thanksgiving."