nd served to you on a silver salver."

"Well, I do, from other people. But from you, I just want the money that
my present would cost, and--I want it now!"

"Bless my soul! She wants it now! Why, Patsy, what are you going to do?
Buy stock?"

"No, but I do want it, father. Won't you give it to me, and I'll tell you
afterward what I'm going to do with it."

"I'll tell you now," said Nan, smiling at the pair. "She's going to put
it in the bank, because she's afraid she'll be poor some day."

"I don't wonder you think that, stepmothery," said Patty, her eyes
twinkling at Nan, "for I did tell you so. But since then I've changed my
mind, and though I want my present from father in cash, I'm going to
spend it before Christmas, and not put it in the bank at all."

"Well, you are a weathercock, Patty. But before morning you will have
changed your mind again!"

"No, indeedy! It's made up to stay this time. So give me the money like a
duck of a daddy, won't you?"

Patty was very wheedlesome, as she caressed her father's cheek, and
smiled into his eyes.

"Well, as you don't often make a serious request, and as you seem to be
in dead earnest this time, I rather think I shall have to say yes."

"Oh, you dear, good, lovely father!" cried Patty, embracing him. "Will
you give it to me now, and how much will it be?"

"Patty," said Nan, laughing, "you're positively sordid! I never saw you
so greedy for money before."

Patty laughed outright. Now that she had gained her point she felt in gay
spirits.

"Friends," she said, "you see before you a pauper,--a penniless pauper!
Therefore, and because of which, and by reason of the fact that I am in
immediate need of money, I stoop to this means of obtaining it, and, as
aforesaid, I'd like it now!"

She held out her rosy palm to her father, and stood waiting expectantly.

"Only one hand!" exclaimed Mr. Fairfield, in surprise. "I thought such a
grasping young woman would expect both hands filled."

"All right," said Patty, and she promptly extended her other palm, too.

Putting both his hands in his pockets, Mr. Fairfield drew them out again,
and then laid a ten-dollar goldpiece on each of Patty's outstretched
palms.

"Oh, you dear daddy!" she cried, as she clasped the gold in her fingers;
"you lovely parent! This is the nicest Christmas gift I ever had, and now
I'll tell you all about it."

So she told them, quite seriously, how she had really forgotten to give
the poor an