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Patty and Azalea By: Carolyn Wells (1862-1942) |
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BY CAROLYN WELLS Author of The Patty Books, The Marjorie Books, etc. 1919
THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED WITH LOVING GOOD WISHES TO PRISCILLA KERLEY
CONTENTS CHAPTER I WISTARIA PORCH
II GUESTS ARRIVE
III BETTY GALE
IV A NEW RELATIVE
V THAT AWFUL AZALEA
VI TABLE MANNERS
VII MYSTERIOUS CALLERS
VIII MISSING
IX VANITY FAIR
X INQUIRIES
XI THE SAMPLER
XII AZALEA'S CHANCE
XIII "STAR OF THE WEST"
XIV AT THE PICTURE PLAY
XV SOME RECORDS
XVI AZALEA'S STORY
XVII PHILIP'S REQUEST
XVIII PHILIP'S BROWNIE
PATTY AND AZALEA
CHAPTER I WISTARIA PORCH
"Oh, Little Billee! Come quick, for goodness' sake! The baby's choking!" Patty was in the sun parlour, her arms full of a fluttering bundle
of lace and linen, and her blue eyes wide with dismay at her small
daughter's facial contortions. "Only with laughter," Bill reassured her after a quick glance at the
restless infant. "Give her to me." The baby nestled comfortably in his big, powerful arms, and Patty sat
back in her chair and watched them both. "What a pleasure," she said, complacently, "to be wife and mother to two
such fine specimens of humanity! She grows more and more like you every
day, Little Billee." "Well, if this yellow fuzz of a head and this pinky peach of a face
is like anybody in the world except Patty Farnsworth, I'll give up!
Why, she's the image of you, except when she makes these grotesque
grimaces, like a Chinese Joss." "Stop it! You shan't call my baby names! She's a booful poofle! She's a
hunny bunny! She's her mudder's pressus girly wirly, so she wuz!" "Oh, Patty, that I should live to hear you talk such lingo! I thought you
were going to be sensible." "How can anybody be sensible with a baby like that! Isn't she the very
wonderfullest ever! Oh, Billee, look at her angel smile!" "Angel smile? More like a mountebank's grin! But I'm sure she means well.
And I'll agree she is the most wonderful thing in the world." Bill tossed the child up and down, and chuckled at her evident
appreciation of his efforts for her amusement. "Be careful of my baby, if you please," and Patty eyed the performance
dubiously. "Suppose you drop my child?" "I hardly think I shall, ma'am. And, incidentally, I suppose she is my
child?" "No; a girl baby is always her mudder's own only just her very own
mudder's own. Give her to me! Let me has my baby, my ownty donty baby!" Farnsworth obediently handed Patty her property, and put another pillow
behind her as she sat in the low willow chair. Then he seated himself
near, and adoringly watched his two treasures. It was mid April and the Farnsworths had been married more than a year.
On their return from France, they had looked about for a home, and had at
last found a fortunate chance to buy at a bargain a beautiful place up in
Westchester County. It was near enough to New York for a quick trip and
yet it was almost country. The small settlement of Arden was largely composed of fine estates and
attractive homes. This one which they had taken was broad and extensive,
with hundreds of acres in lawns, gardens and woodland. It was called
Wistaria Porch, because of an old wistaria vine which had achieved
astounding dimensions and whose blooms in the spring and foliage later
were the admiration of the whole countryside. The house itself was modern and of the best Colonial design. Indeed,
it was copied in nearly every detail from the finest type of Colonial
mansion. Though really too large for such a small family, both Patty and
Bill liked spacious rooms and lots of them, so they decided to take it,
and shut off such parts as they didn't need. But no rooms were shut off,
and they revelled in a great library beside their living room and
drawing room. They had a cosy breakfast room beside the big dining room
and there were a music room and a billiard room and a den and great hall
with a spreading staircase; and the second story was a maze of bedrooms,
guest rooms and bathrooms... Continue reading book >>
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