The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1862-05-08

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liberty
"Ephraim Scranton told me that the
commissioners had come as far as the
Three Mile Tavern, and that he rather
! specttd they'd be along here to, night"
sa,d John, as he was helping round the
baked beans to the silent pany at the
! tea table.
To night? ? do tell, now ~ said Aunt
ilitty. ''Th' n it's time We were stirring.
Let's sec what can be got'
"Ill send my new over coat, for one
said John. "Tbst old one isn't cut up
yet, is it, Aunt Hitty?'
"No,' said Auat IItty II was lay
ing out to cut it over next Wednesday,
when Desire Smith could be here to do
the tailoring"
"There's the south room,' said Aunt
llitty musine; "that bed has two of old
Aunt Wards blankets upon it, and the
great blue quilt and two com forters on it.
, Then mothers aud my r. ON, two pair
four comtorters-two quilts--the best
chamber has GOT
"Oh, Aunt Hitty! send all that's in
the best chamber! If any company comes
we can make it up off from our beds,'
said John. II can send a blanket or
two uf from my bed, know cant lu:
just turn over in it, so many clothes on,
rcw.'
Aunt liitty, take a blanket off from
our bed," said Grace and Dick at once.
"WcI, well, wc'll see,' said Aunt
Hitty, busting up.
Cpro>e srandmamma; with great earn
estn"ss, now, and On going to the next
room, and opening a large cedar wood
chest, returned, bearing in her arms two
large snow white blankets, which she de
posted fiat on the table, just as Aunt
Iiitty was whisking off the table cloth.
" Mortal. Mother, what ere you going
to d. :' SAID Aunt IIitty
"There,' she said, II spun those,
every thread Of en-, when my name was
Mary Evans. Those were my wedding
blankets, made of real nice wool, and
worked with roses in all the corners -
I've got them to give - aud grandmam-
ma siroked and smoothed the blankets,
and pa'ted them down with great pride
and t"nd"rn"ss. 1t was evident she was
giving something that lay very near her
+ heart but she never falterel
/ ." La, mother, there's DO need ofthat'
said Aunt lIitty. ''Use them on YOUR
own bed and send the blankets rff from
'h@t; they are just as good for soldiers -
! "No, | shan't.' said the old lady,
waxing a little warm "'tisn't bit {, O
good for 'em. l'Ilsend the very best I've
got, before they shall suffer. Send EN-
/ the best. - and the old lady gcstured or.
atoricaIly
They were Interrupted by knock at
the door, and two men entered and an
rounced themselves as commissioned by
Congress to search out supplies for the
army Now the plot thickens Aunt
Hitty flew in every direction, through
the entry passage, meal room, milk room,
down cellar, up ehamber-her cap bor,
der on end with patriotic ZEAL and fol
lowed by John, Dick and Grace, who ca.
gerly bore to the kitchen the supplies
that she turned out, while Mrs Ward
busted herself in quietly sorting and ar
ranging, in the best possible travelling
order, the various contributions that were
prccipiiately launched on the kitchen
floor.
Aunt Hitty soor appeared in the
kitchen with an armful of stockings,
which, kneeling on the floor, she began
counting and laying out.
"There,' she said, laying down large
Inn
just two pairs apiece, all round"
La" said John, "what's the use of
saving two pair for me? | can do with
one pair as well as father"
Sure enough.' said his mother. "be
sides, | can knit you another pair in a
day.
And can do With one pair,' said
Dick
"Yours will be too small, young mas.
ter, guess, said one Of the commits
sioners.
"No," said Dick, II have got pref
ty good foot of my own, and Aunt Hitty
will always knit my stockings an inch too
long, cause she says l grow so. See
here-these will do" and the boy shook
his head triumphantly.
And mine, too,' said Grace, moth
ing doubling, having been busy all the
time in pulling off her little stockings.
Here she said to the man who was
packing the things into wide .mouthed
sack; here's mine," and her large blue
eyes locked earnestly through her tears.
Aunt Hitty flew at her "Good land!
is the child crazy Don't think the men
could wear your stockings; take EN- away
Grace looked around with an air of ut.
ter desolation, and began to cry. al
wanted to give them something" said
she; I'd rather 90 barefooted on the
snow all day, than not send them any
thing"
"Give me the stockings, my child"
said the old soldier "There, III take
'em and show 'em 70 the soldiers, and
tell them what the little girl said that
sent them. And it will do them as much
good as if they could wear them. They
have got little girls at home, too" Grace
fell on her mothers bosom completely
happy, and Aunt Hitty only muttered.
Everybody does spoil that child, and
no wonder, neither :"
Soon the oil sleigh drove off from the
brown house. tightly packed and heavily
loaded And Grace and Dick were creep.
ing up to their little beds
"There's been something put on the
Altar of Liberty tonight, hasn't there
Dick -
uyes ;ndeed said Dick. and look