When she was ten years old, she learned to spin cotton. Her mother first carded it into rolls, and then Patty "roped" it, and spun it on a wheel; but the spindle was so high up that she was obliged to have a board to walk back and forth upon. She liked it as well as any other work, for she had a "knack" at spinning; but the older she grew, the less time she had for play. Her mother, though very kind to her children, did not seem to think it made much difference whether they played or not. She never praised Patty; but once the little girl overheard her telling some ladies that her youngest daughter was a "natural worker," and "the smartest child she had." Of course that pleased Patty very much, and afterwards she was brisker than ever. Her stint was three skeins of cotton a day; and sometimes, when she was spinning it, Linda Chase would come up in the chamber and look on. Linda could not draw a thread without pulling the cotton all to pieces, and it amazed her to see Patty's spindle whirl so fast; for it went at a wonderful rate, especially when any one was looking on. "I'm spinning warp for my new gown," said Patty; "and Rachel is going to weave it." "What color will it be?" "Blue and copperas, in little checks," replied Patty. Linda knew what copperas color was,--it was a dull yellow. "'Twill only be for me to go to school in," explained Patty. "I shall have it for my _not-very-best_. By and by I'm going to learn how to spin linen on that little flax-wheel, and Rachel will weave me some table-cloths, and sheets, and pillow-cases, just as she does for Dorcas. Guess why she weaves them for Dorcas." "I'm sure I can't guess. Because she wants to, I suppose." "Look here--it's a secret. Dorcas is going to be married by and by, and that is the reason Mr. Starbird comes here on that white-faced horse. He doesn't come to see the rest of us; he comes to see Dorcas." Patty stopped her wheel in her eagerness. "Yes; and you know, when I was a little speck of a girl, I spilled some hot tallow over, and burnt his hand; and he says that is the reason he is going to marry Dorcas." "What! because you burnt his hand?" "Yes. I don't see why that made him like Dorcas," said Patty, reflectively; "but that's what he said. And then I shall have eight brothers; won't it be nice?" "Does Betsey Potter know?" "Yes. I told her." "Well, I should have thought you might have told me first," said Linda, pouting. "I don't like it very well to have you tell me last." "O, I told Betsey first because she came first. I never heard of it myself till this morning," said Patty, innocently. She was never known to keep a secret twenty-four hours. The idea of a wedding in the family was perfectly delightful to the little girl, and after this she used to watch for Mr. Starbird every third week, just as regularly as Dorcas did, and was almost as much pleased when she saw him coming on his white-faced horse.