CHAPTER XXII.
A WELCOME GUEST "Oh, Aunt Alice," cried Patty, flying into her aunt's room one morning in the latter part of November, "I've just had a letter from papa, and he'll be here for Thanksgiving-day! Isn't that grand ?" and catching her aunt round the waist, Patty waltzed her up and down the room until the good lady was nearly breathless.
"I'm as glad as you are, Patty girl," she said, when her niece finally allowed her to come to a standstill, "for I haven't seen brother Fred for many long years.

But I can tell you that his coming doesn't by any means bring your visit to an end; I'm going to keep you both here with me until after the holidays, and longer too, if I can." "Well, I'll be only too glad to stay as long as papa is willing, and I do hope I can persuade him to settle in Vernondale.

_Do_ you believe he will, Aunt Alice ?" "I don't know.

I think he is inclined to make his home in New York city.
But Vernondale is a pleasant place and so near New York, as to be a sort of suburb." "Well, I'm going to coax him, anyhow,--and now Aunt Alice, I'm going to ask you a big, big favor, may I ?" "Yes, you may ask, but I won't make any rash promises to grant it, until I hear what it is." "Well,--I'm afraid you'll think I won't make them good enough,--but--I do want to make the pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving-day.

Papa would be so surprised and pleased." "Why, of course you may, child; I'll be very glad to be relieved of that duty, and cook will have all she can attend to." "When is Uncle Fred coming ?" said Frank, as they all sat at dinner that evening.
"The night before Thanksgiving," said Patty; "he'll arrive at about nine o'clock." "Well, we'll give him a rousing welcome," said Frank, "a sort of 'Harvest Home,' you know." "All right," said his father, who was ever ready for a frolic, "what can we do out of the ordinary ?" "We could decorate the veranda with jack-o'-lanterns," said Marian, "and he'll see them as he drives up." "Just the thing," said Frank, "and, oh,--I have a fine plan, but we won't tell Patty,--at least, not yet." The day before Thanksgiving, the children were all allowed to stay home from school to make the final preparations for Uncle Fred's reception.
While Patty was in the kitchen making her pumpkin pies, (and surely, such beautiful pies never were made, before or since!) there was much rushing in and out of the parlor; and sounds of hammering and of moving furniture reached Patty's ears, but she was told that she would not be allowed even to peep into the room until evening.
So after the pies were made, Patty ran up to put the finishing touches to her father's bedroom.
She filled the vases with fresh flowers, laid out a new book which she had bought as a welcoming gift for him, and on his dressing-table she placed the cherished portrait of her mother; and talking to the picture as she often did, she said: "I'm going to lend you to him, motherdy, for a few days; I shall miss you, of course, but we want to give him the very best welcome possible." Patty was allowed to help with all the preparations except those in the parlor, and she was extremely curious to know what was going on in there.
But she found plenty to occupy her time, for the whole house was to be decorated.
On the veranda railing were many "jack-o'-lanterns," which when their candles were lighted would flash a welcome from their wide, funny mouths and round eyes.
The hall was decorated with boughs of evergreen, among which were tiny yellow squashes and gourds, also cut like jack-o'-lanterns and holding small candles.
The sitting-room was decorated with bunches of grain, and red peppers, "for," said Frank, "it won't be a Harvest Home, unless we have grain and winter vegetables." After all was ready, Patty went to don the pretty dress which Aunt Alice and she had bought for the great occasion.
It was a dainty little blue and white striped silk, with ruffles edged with narrow black velvet.