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

was destined to make sunshine in Maggies low
ly log cabin in that far away wilderness.
Grandma Neal had furnished the cotton and
lining, and had it put on frames at her own ex-
pense, because, as she said, it was more kind
o. central than any other The truth was,
the kind old lady dearly loved the prattle of
youthful tongues, particularly when their theme
was her favorite gran dchld and counted the
labor of getteng four or five suppers fora dozen
mad-cap girls, as nothing in comparison to the
pleasure felt in the employment.
Hand me that spool, Katy Green said one,
after an unusually heightened silence of four
minutes, and the shears and chalk-line, please.
The pattern is nearly rubbed out
Yes, said Lottie Wright, and here Josiah
has destroyed whole grape leaf with his elbow
Its not grape leaf, Lottie,,. answered pref
ty Fanny Grant, to whom, as being acknowl-
edged the genius of the circle, had been dep
uted the delicate task of marking the quilt
It's an acanthus leaf, and not at all like
grape leaf
Well, acanthus, asphodel, or cabbage, it's
all one to me- laughed merry Lottie, reach
me that bit of pasteboard, and the pencil =,
Grandma Neal, and please make Josiah mark
this over again
Won't Maggie laugh when she sees this lit.
tie bit of a triangle from my chocolate wrap
per! said Susy Pease, she used to say that 1t
was so homcly that the crows ran away from
me when we were crossing the meadow. VEN
ture she'll think it looks pretty here, though.
Maggie and had dresses alike from this oil
colored red, remarked Katy Green, she Il re-
member, guess, how Major Pierce's big turkey
chased us for daring to wear them on his prem
ises. Do you think we can finish it at two more
sittings, Grandma!'
oh yes and besides you know the girls
from the Corners, who couldn't come last week,
will be here the last day. l shall send them
word to come on Thursday, and we'll end of
with nice little party
There was general demonstration of salts
faction at this arrangement, in the midst Of
which the girls suddenly became so still, as a
loud knock sounded at the hall door.
Old Mrs. Neal went to open it, saying that Of
course Josiah must be off when he was wanted.
She was gone but q few moments for the man
seemed in great haste, but when she returned
to the room, what was the constcrnation of the
quilters to see that she was agitated and weep
ing.
It's all over girls, about sondng that quilt
You've had your labor for nothing. Deacon
Bates called to tell me that he had determined
to start for Michigan tomorrow morning hi.
friends from Maine have arrived, and they wish
to 60 on together He must have Maggie's bo,
at six o'clock in the morning, and it must e
without the quilt. Poor Maggie!
There was not a dry eye in the circle III
too bad cried Hattie Bower, he ought t,
have notified you sooner. Wewould have COM
here at daylight to quilt
You couldn't have finished it, dear, if 70,
had, SO we must try and not fret about it
though it does seem hard at first, considern,
all the pains we've taken. It's a thing tha
can't be helped don't cry any of you. You'v
labored faithfully out of pure love to your oil
friend, and you'll have your reward. The quill
can go in the spring, for know several fanilie
that are expecting to move West, as soon a
navigation opens
Yes, in the spring, but what while t.
wait Besides, she may need it this winter, il
that cold place
Grandma Neal smiled, and her face glowe
with honest pride, even through her lingerin
tears. No child. I'm thankful l can sa
there's no fear of her needing it this winter
nor for good many, if no accident happens
Three feather beds, and twelve first rate quilt
she took with her, and would have carried NOR
had there been room in the wagon
f 'Fll tell you what we might do said tn
thoughtful little Abby Norman, we might ri
the quilt from the frames and send it as it is
V We can roll up the patterns and some strips 70
r the binding, and Maggie can putt in the frame
and quilt it out
Grandma Neal mused moment, and tn
n young girls waited impatiently to learn wit
| what favor she would regard the proposition.
, mo, Abby, she said at last, { it wouldn't b
best. Maggie has but one small room, and it
: a parlor, kitchen, bedroom, buttery, cellar an
t all. How could she have quilt on so Ions
and such a quilt! 1t would be ruined wit
n smoke and dust before she could possibly qni
c it out. Besides, she has all that she can d
d with her housework, and winter sewing, dal
q say
d She could invite in her neighbors to ASST
/, her.
o She has no neighbors, poor thing with
Q three miles, and if she had they would ha,
e work enough of their own, I've no doubt N
candidly believe it is best to wait till sprin,
and may be it will be just as acceptable to h
}. then as now
T, The girls acquesced in the old ady's decisic
= but went on with their quilting, determined
i complete it oil the same as if it were to be sci
h as intended. Their fingers still flew briskly, b,
10 their hearts had grown suddenly heavy, al
% few were the jokes and smiles that enliyen,
h the hour that intervened till tca-time. Th,
1T Grandfather Neal and Josiah were admitted
re share of the disappointment, and the latt
remarked with laugh, that was not very hear
he felt. that it seemed the everlasting quilt was
n, done with yet.
SO Alter tea was over the girls busted themsely
in assisting Grandma Neal to fill the hoy d
RS signed for Maggie A mammoth cheese fro
It. her own dairy, well wrapped and protected, W
he in the bottom of the box, then large piece
nd fiannel, dress pattern or two and muslin
,m q pair of shirts fOr tho darl;nu ,o