Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-02-28

prose of the gift, that was to have been the po
etry; these were to minister to the bodily needs
that was to delight the heart And so Grand
ma Meals tears dropped into the box as she
thought of the album quilt that was not there.
Il do not know what to put in to fill the
space reserved for the quilt, she said, but
there's pair of pillows that wanted her TO
take with her, and she wasn't wilin' saying
would rob myself Dear soul, she was always
thinking more of others interests than her own
but can crowd them in here just as well as
not So the pillows were brought and crowded
in, but the box lsft uncovered till morning lest,
as the old lady said, she should think of some
other little notion.
All of q sudden the girls were back to the
quilt and asked leave to light three candles
Grandma Neal gave them permission to go down
cellar and get just as many as they wished, say
ing, however, that she thought they ought not
to quilt shell work in the evening, for it was
very trying to the eyes, and indeed, they had
all better crack hickory nuts and let the quilt
go till tomorrow.
However, they worked incessantly until nine
o'clock, and then Grandma Neal was obliged to
drive them from their chairs, saying emphati-
cally that it was too bad, that they would be
good for nothing tomorrow, and that their
mothers never would let them come again.
Five of the girls lived within few rods of
Mrs. Meals, the remainder from one half a
mile to u mile distant As the former were
putting on their things to go home, little Fanny
Grant, who was the old ladys special favorite,
and who lived farthest away, said coaxingly,
| wish Grandma, you had half a dozen spare
beds. Then we, who have so far to walk, wonld
sleep here and be ready with message for
Maggie tomorrow morning. when Deacon Bates
makes his appearance ......
why, dear child, replied the old lady,
smoothing Fanny's auburn locks, you can
stay just as well as not, all of you. I've beds
enough, there's the large back chamber, that
has three in it, besides single bed. Then this
bedroom
'Oh, no, no, said they all at once, we won't
tumble this bed, but give us the back chamber,
and we'll find sleeping room and fun too, I'll
be bound
So it was settled that seven should pass the
remainder Of the night there, and Grandma
Neal, after covering the fires, and winding the
clock, and charging the girls to go to sleep and
not dream of album quilts all night, retired to
her own little bedroom, at the farther end Of
the long kitchen, and before ten o'clock all was
still in the place
say all was still, yet it is true that q little
mouse, creeping into the parlor about ten
O'Clock after some crumbs of doughnut and
cheese, which Josiah had dropped in the even
ing, did see the whole troop stealthily descend
the stairs. take away the Goals, replenish the
fire from pile of wood mysteriously deposited
in the front yard, and afterwards carefully
opening the street door, admit five more dark
lantern plotters, to assist in their midnight
combinations.
All the long night, till dawn peeped through
the frost bitten nasturtion vines at the eastern
window, did the brave hearted girls sit and toll
at Maggie's album quilt swifter flew theii
fingers, larger and brighter grew the earnest
eyes of the quilters as the end drew near Nc
more disturbing the stiffness of the house; lol
thanks to Grandma Meals pains taking ant
thorough going habits, the quilting frames were
not after the manner of quilting frames in gen
eral clumsy, ms-matched, rickety pieces o
lumber, dependant on hammer and nails fol
their utility; but light and smooth, with holc
bored at regular intervals, and strong and hare
wooden pins to make fast the corners.
Day dawned and found the sleepless toiler
just drawing their work to u triumphant close
There, now, you quit, all of you, only on
can work in this little corner whispered Jen
ny Warner, as Josiah was heard descending TIN
back stairs. i will finish this bit of vine, yol
know am the Oldest and ought in justice to b
married first, so pray give me chance to tax
the last stitch
The last stitch was soon taken then doze
pair of scissors were busy moment among tn
llstngs, and the beautiful album quilt droppe
to the carpet, completed except in binding.
I'VE must send her some pieces Of calico t
bind it with, said Fanny Gray, and after all
it is pleasant to think that some of Maggie
, work will be mingled with our own.
l The frames were tied together, and left stand
ing in one corner of the room, the shreds pick
} ed from the carpet, the fire extinguished, an
, the precious quilt folded and laid on stand i
one corner of the room. Then closing the dool
t the whole band went softly up stairs, and throw
ing themselves on the beds, slept SO sound
, that Grandma Meals call to breakfast, an hou
9 and half later, fell upon unheeding ears.
Poor things They worked SO hard yeste
, day they've done out It's just as | expected
r Let them sleep and rest And the kind old Ii
dy thought of Maggie, and made Josiah's coff
q even sweeter than was her wont.
0 Before long, however. the clatter of whee
7 before the house brought the sleepers to the
t feet; and leaning over the bannisters the
d awaited the development. Grandma Neal fir
d admitted Deacon Bates, and then sent Josiah
n ring the dinner bell furiously at the foot OF Il
o stairs, thereby causing the ambushed to ia
r back out of sight. Then she went to take
: last peep at Maggie's box before mailing it.
It was all right, only the pillows that she he
squeezed in the place where the album qui
IS should have been, would puff up here and ther
= defyng all her efforts to close the box neatly.
n Just then Mr.. Neal discovered that the har
IS mer and nails were at the barn, and dispatch,
If Josiah after them.
II Now Deacon Bates, while we arc waiting,