Carolyn Wells

Patty Fairfield Carolyn Wells

As a result of many letters back and forth between Mr. Fairfield and the Northern aunts, Patty stood one morning on the platform of the railway station, all ready to depart for hernew homes. It was the first week in December, and the little girl shivered as she thought of the arcticcold to which she imagined herself going."Of course they'll meet me in a sleigh, won't they, papa?" she said."Perhaps so, but I doubt it," he replied. "They don't have such snowstorms in Jersey now asthey used to when I was a boy. Last winter they had no sleighing at all. But here comes MissPowers; let us go to greet her." Miss Powers was a sharp-faced lady who came marchingalong the platform with a firm step. Patty was to travel in her care, not because she was an especially desirable travelingcompanion, but because she was the only acquaintance of the Fairfields who chanced to begoing North at that time."Good-morning," she cried, "are you here already? I was certain you'd be late and miss thetrain. Not a very pleasant day, is it? I wish we had planned to go to-morrow instead. Why, Patty, you are wearing your best hat! You'll spoil it, I'm sure. Have you your trunk check?Give it to me, you'll certainly lose it else.""Here it is, Miss Powers," said Mr. Fairfield, pleasantly, "and I dare say you will prove moreresponsible than my rattle-pated daughter."He squeezed Patty's hand affectionately as he said this, and a great wave of homesicknesscame over the child's heart. She caught her father round the neck, and vainly trying to keepthe tears back, she whispered,"Oh, papa, dear, let me stay with you. I don't want to go to AuntIsabel's, -I know she's horrid, and I just want you, you, yo