The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-05-15

honored members, the wife Of wealthy landhold-
err whose spacious mansion offered ample elbow
room for the execution of the desired project.
About half dozen girls-being the number with
in miles distance that could be spared from
cooking-stove and clke-baking-sat primly, with
thimble and needle-book in hand in oonclave with
so many Of the prairie lads any Of whom with one
to-be-noted exception) could WELD pitchfork
with far more grace and effect than q needle.
"Our fagn was the order OF the dsyn Its
dimensions had been previously decided and the
necessary purchases Of cloth, &c, intrusted TO an
able agent-none other than the pedagogue who
was bearing brief sway in the log school-house.
He was there of course, with his face in its most
business-like trim. The great aim of the ambi-
tious among us was to make our flag larger and
more splendid than the flag of any other section
With this laudable end in view, the cloth was
carefully divided into enormous strips, and the
workers ranged themselves along opposite ends
of q long room. stretching their work between
them, and approaching with every stitch. The
youths meantime, whose ambitious anxiety would
not allow them to tear themselves away FROM the
scene Of inaction, Ito th>nl sfter cracking stale
Jokes until they were tired, took up needles in
very restlessness and made bold intrusion into
"woman's spheren They met with no mercy OF
course in their bungling attempts.
@What giant stitches p shouted Qpe and another
merry girl ooh but it's all you gentlemen
know about sewingw
al know something about it, please you p as
serted foreigner, who had hitherto kept himself
quite aloof coming forward to vindicate the in-
suited {" rights of man. "Give me a needle,
miss, if you please
Z" will you take thnble, sir 2" asked one, de-
murely.
"Not unless you have big iron one, thank
you; | don't deal with plsythings Laugh on !!
you shall laugh the other way presentlyW
And, seating himself on low stool, he COM
menced whizzng the needle TO the sstonishment
of the assembled party, who crowded around to
criticise his stitches but no; there they stood as
smooth and regular as a battalion Of soldiers
The mystery was soon unfolded.
"DOn't you ever tell gentlemen he can't sew,
or do anything else, again p he said, triumphant
ly, yielding up his needle and seat to the former
occupant "rl tell you how it is. You see,
when we came over from the old country we
set up that windmill yonder on the prairie. There
was scarce house whereabouts standing then,
and nobody 10 stitch the sails so we boys just
put to it, with big thimbles; and it was strongly
they had to be joined too, to brave the prairie
winds and storms. That's my experience, miss
esp
The flag was to bear simply the stars and
stripes Of olden date with the name and motto
of our Sabbath School The stripes were already
stamped upon the cloth their twinkling compan-
ions existed as yet only in our imaginations
After the important needle-work was finished
the matter of filling the starless armament of blue
cambria became more serious.
"Can naebody gle US the pattern Of star ?"
anxiously asked the matron Of the little company.
Quere--how many points ought it to have7
| FIVE, six, seven, or 80 on indefinitely The
school master" ought to know, certainly; and
he confessed his ignorance to be culpable; but he
frowned, doubted, and finally shook his head.
Meanwhile several with scissors and paper were
attempting practical calculation Of the problem,
with but very awkward success.
III it had four points ~ said the baff,ed school.
master, folding bit of paper twice over with a
mathematical air; but he was forced to shake his
| wise head again and the stars seemed likely to
rest peacefully in the chaos of "gold and silver
paper,n from which they were to be evoked. " In
ventionn for once seemed likely to fail her
mother necessity"
"Give me the scissors p' said one of the young
est Of the group, at last. Have you pair Of
| oompasses, Mrs. -W
The article was an almost unheard-of one, but
pencil and cord were substituted for it. With
this, the circumference of the star was drawn,
divided, and cut, while the circle silently looked
on. The pattern was passed to the tall peds-
gogue, who scrutinized it carefully, and finally
| solemnly pronounced the star of the young lady's
creation mathematically perfect in every point,
and entirely satisfactory. She accordingly was
installed the maker, if not the starr of the
evening Chaos was soon transformed, and
its stars pasted into their places. discussion as
to their number occupied some minutes. The
narrow dimensions of the armament, in proper
ton to the size of the orbs that frightened it, led
the party to give decision in favor Of the cod
Thirteenn So the flag was fairly in trim for
glory and all went home to dream of lndepend-
ence day
fro BE CONCLUDED IN OUR NEXT.