The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-04-23
For the MldnleDurN Heglsttt'
The Album Quilt.

Il
quilting parties, particularly the ladies'
will tell you of one that was made for
old Aunt Hepsey Grout-a poor bu'
very respectable lady, that lived in what
is sometimes called Visionary Valley
1t was made by young ladies in an adj
joining district. The quilt was peaced
in the form of cauIl6ower, with piece
Of white linen, for the name Of he don.
or, in each block. The names were
written with indelible ink in fair hand
writing. The plain part was bleached
cotton in window-sash form, il was
quilted in "feathers and vines and was
bound at the edges with white tape, and
fringe sewed on five or six inches wide,
which gave it most splendid appear
ance. The fourth Of July was the day
fixed upon for the quilting. The ladies
we're to meet at nine O'Clock then the
gentlemen of the place were in, tied u
come in the afternoon, TO take tea, and
escort the ladies home.
Miss Nancy Bean, Mary Evans. and
myself, lived some distance from Aunt
IIepsey's, and cur path lay through a
thick wood where were now and then
some wild animals, and being obliged to
walk, we could hardly help being some
afra d; consequently we urged our
selves onward with as much speed as
possible--not forgetting 10 gather a
quantity of Evergreens, wherewilh III
Trim ourselves, and our tables, for they
we're TO be placed in the open air, or
rather in a bower half covered with
woodbine which served to screen the
rays Of the hot sun.
AGtcr all had got seated at the quilt,
with needles and ihimbles in hand, the
merry jokes went briskly round. Every
one Joined in the merry laugh. Even
Aunt hepsey would often peep up over
her glasses, and make now and then
some remarks which added very much
10 our pleasure. Nancy Bean was very
sedale, sober girl, but there was one
among the company tina. was peculiarly
fond Of fun, so much so that she would
make sport at the expense of the inno-
cent In the course of the day she re-
minded US Of the old adage, that "merri-
ment is The spice of life" and proposed
to Aunt Hepsey to send for an old for
tune teller, that was commonl! called
BLACK Anthony" not only because he
had dark skin. but on account of the
practice of iortune-lclling, or the PIE.
tence of looking into fu,urily. Accor-
dingly, little Johnny Grout was sent to
call in Black Anthony" who came in
due time.
1t was hinted to him TO tell rather OF
HuFh NSt W hHHd DIo"", VI ihc hiiS
chef-making one, and 10 the ones she
most pestered, a very pleasant story was
TO be related. So every one met. or
was to meet, with very fortunate course
until he came 10 Anna. when his hands
began TO shake, and a general iremor,
apparently, came over his whole frame,
to show the exirere sensations of his
nerves produced by his visions OF the
future.
1t would be useless to relate all his
conjuring. Suffice it to say, she was to
be met with a ierce-looking object on
her way home, and everything was pic
tured out in so plain and smooth a man
ner, that il was, TO her, the same as a
plain reality. She was certainly afraid
10 advance q step homeward, when a
boasling fellow offered her his company,
with bravery and great gallantry. The
whole scene was turned TO complete
mirth on their account. Size has been
known since toprocIaim publicly against
+" Black Anihony," and her suilor has
been known as Capt Confidence; and ]
dare say that none ol the company will
ever forget, il they live many years, the
quilting of Aunt iiepsey's.
....n Album OUR.
Rochester, April LIST, Js5l.