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 . Patty laughed also , and looked pleased as she stroked Mother Bunch , while she said thoughtfully -- ' I see what you mean now . I am making two kinds of patchwork at the same time ; and this that I see is to remind me of the other kind that I do n't see . ' ` Every task , no matter how small or homely , that gets well and cheerfully done , is a fine thing ; and the sooner we learn to use up the dark and bright bits -LRB- the pleasures and pains , the cares and duties -RRB- into a cheerful , useful life , the sooner we become real comforters , and every one likes to cuddle about us . Do n't you see , deary ? ' ` That 's what you are , Aunt Pen ; ' and Patty put up her hand to hold fast by that other strong , kind , helpful hand that did so much , yet never was tired , cold , or empty . Aunt Pen took the chubby little one in both her own , and said , smiling , yet with meaning in her eyes , as she tapped the small fore-finger , rough with impatient and unskilful sewing -- ` Shall we try and see what a nice little comforter we can make this month , while you wait to be called home to see mamma and the dear new baby ? ' ` Yes , I 'd like to try ; ' and Patty gave Aunt Pen 's hand a hearty shake , for she wanted to be good , and rather thought the new fancy would lend a charm to the task which we all find rather tiresome and hard . So the bargain was made , and the patch Patty sewed that day was beautiful to behold ; for she was in a delightfully moral state of mind , and felt quite sure that she was going to become a model for all children to follow , if they could . The next day her ardour had cooled a little , and being in a hurry to go out to play , she slighted her work , thinking no one would know . But the third day she got so angry with her patch that she tore it in two , and declared it was all nonsense to fuss about being good and thorough and all the rest of it . Aunt Pen did not say much , but made her mend and finish her patch and add it to the pile . After she went to bed that night Patty thought of it , and wished she could do it over , it looked so badly . But as it could not be , she had a penitent fit , and resolved to keep her temper while she sewed , at any rate , for mamma was to see the little quilt when it was done , and would want to know all about it . Of course she did not devote herself to being good all the time , but spent her days in lessons , play , mischief , and fun , like any other lively , ten-year-older . But somehow , whenever the sewing-hour came , she remembered that talk ; and as she worked she fell into the way of wondering whether Aunt Pen could guess from the patches what sort of days she had passed . She wanted to try and see , but Aunt Pen refused to read any more calico till the quilt was done : then , she said in a queer , solemn way , she should make the good and bad days appear in a remarkable manner .
This puzzled XXXXX very much , and she quite ached to know what the joke would be ; meantime the pile grew steadily , and every day , good or bad , added to that other work called Patty 's life .
Patty Pen comforter day days fore-finger minute needlework quilt ten-year-older