and Patty opened her eyes in great astonishment at this new idea . ` Our lives are patchwork , and it depends on us a good deal how the bright and dark bits get put together so that the whole is neat , pretty , and useful when it is done , ' said Aunt Pen soberly . ` Deary me , now she is going to preach , ' thought Patty ; but she rather liked Aunt Pen 's preachments , for a good deal of fun got mixed up with the moralising ; and she was so good herself that children could never say in their naughty little minds , ` You are just as bad as we , so you need n't talk to us , ma'am . ' ' I gave you that patchwork to see what you would make of it , and it is as good as a diary to me , for I can tell by the different squares how you felt when you made them , ' continued Aunt Pen , with a twinkle in her eye as she glanced at the many-coloured bits on the carpet . ` Can you truly ? just try and see , ' and Patty looked interested at once . Pointing with the yard-measure , Aunt Pen said , tapping a certain dingy , puckered , brown and purple square -- ` That is a bad day ; do n't it look so ? ' ` Well , it was , I do declare ! for that was the Monday piece , when everything went wrong and I did n't care how my work looked , ' cried Patty , surprised at Aunt Pen 's skill in reading the calico diary . ` This pretty pink and white one so neatly sewed is a good day ; this funny mixture of red , blue , and yellow with the big stitches is a merry day ; that one with spots on it is one that got cried over ; this with the gay flowers is a day full of good little plans and resolutions ; and that one made of dainty bits , all stars and dots and tiny leaves , is the one you made when you were thinking about the dear new baby there at home . ' ` Why , Aunt Pen , you are a fairy ! How did you know ? they truly are just as you say , as near as I can remember . I rather like that sort of patchwork , ' and Patty sat down upon the floor to collect , examine , and arrange her discarded work with a new interest in it . ' I see what is going on , and I have queer plays in my mind just as you little folks do . Suppose you make this a moral bed-quilt , as some people make album quilts . See how much patience , perseverance , good nature , and industry you can put into it . Every bit will have a lesson or a story , and when you lie under it you will find it a real comforter , ' said Aunt Pen , who wanted to amuse the child and teach her something better even than the good old-fashioned accomplishment of needlework . ' I do n't see how I can put that sort of thing into it , ' answered Patty , as she gently lifted puss into her lap , instead of twitching the red bit roughly from under her . ` There goes a nice little piece of kindness this very minute , ' laughed Aunt Pen , pointing to the cat and the red square .
XXXXX laughed also , and looked pleased as she stroked Mother Bunch , while she said thoughtfully -- ' I see what you mean now .
Deary Patty Pen comforter day minute moralising needlework preachments puss