The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1849-09-22
INSTANTANEOUS
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From Godcy's Lady's Book for September,
The Quilting Party.
BY T..s ARTHUR,
BY T..s. ARTHUR,

Our young ladies Of the present gener
alton know little of the mysteries of "lrisI
chain," "risng STAR" "block work" o.
"Job's trouble" and would be as likely t
mistake a set Of quilting frames for clothes
poles as for anything else. 1t was diiieren
in our younger days. Half dozen hand,
some patchwork quilts were as indispen'
siblc then as a marriage portion; quite as
much so as a piano or guitar is al present
And the quilting party was equally indica-
tive of the comng-out and being Sin the
market" as the fashionable gatherings to-
gether OF the times that be.
As for the difference in the custom, we
are not disposed to sigh over it as indca-
tive Of social deterioration. We do not
belong to the class who believe that socie-
ty is retrograding, because everything is
not as it was in the earlier days of our life
history. And yeti may be weakness;
but early associations exercise powerful
influence over us. We have never enjoy
ed ourselves with the keen zest and hearth
ness, in any company, that we have expe-
rienced in the old-lashioned quilting party.
But we were young then, and every sense
perfect in its power to receive enjoyment.
No care weighed down the spirit; no grief
was in the heart; no mistakes had occur
red TO sober the feelings with unavailing
regrets, Life was in the beauty and fresh
nees of its spring time; in the odor of its
lovely blossoms. We had but to open
our eyes to touch, or taste--to feel an
exquisite delight, OF the world we know
nothing beyond the quite village and
there we found enough TO fill the measure
OF our capacity. IA" "'~o- -r
have not found greater social pleasures
though in more extended usefulness there
has come a different source of enjoyment
-purer, and more eleyating TO the heart.
But this is all too grave for our subject.
It is not the frame of mind in which TO en-
10y quilting party. And yet, who can
look back upon the early times without
browner hue upon his feelings
There was one quilting party-can we
ever lorgetit! Twenty years have passed
since the time. We were young then, and
had not tarred long at Jericho! Twenty
wears 1t seems but yesterday. With the
freshness of the present it is all before us
now.
In our village there dwelt sweet young
girl who was the Gayorlte of all. When IN
vitations to a quilting party at Mrs VIII
lings's came, you may be sure there was
luucr of delight all around. The quilting
was Amy's, Of course and Amy Willing was
to be the bright particular star in the social
armament. 1t was to be Amy's first quilt
ing, moreover; and the sign that she was
looking forward to the matrimonial goal,
was hailed with a peculiar pleasure by
more than one of the village SWANS, who
had worshiped the drawing beauty at a
respectful distance.
We had been at so many quilting parties
up to this time but more as a boy than a
man. Our enjoyment had always been
unembarrassod by any peculiar feelings.
We could play at blind mans's buff, hunt
the slipper, and pawns, and not only clasp
the little hands ofour fair playfcllOws, but
even touch their warm lips with our own,
and not experience heart-cmotion deeper
than the ripple made on the smooth water
bv q playful breeze. But there had come
a change. There was something In the
eyes of our young companions, as we look
cd into them, that had different meaning
from the old expression, and particular was
this time withAmy, Into her eyes we could
no longer gaze steadily. As to the reason
We were ignorant, yet so it was.
The invitation to attend her quilting was
an era ; for it produced emotions OF SO
marked character, that they were never
FORGOTTEN. There was an uneasy ilulterIng
Of the heart as the time drew near, and a
pressure upon the feelings that deep
siOhing breath failed to remove. The more
we thought about the quilting, tho more
restless did WE grow, and Iho more con