The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-26

matter cSltplISH iiiiitaSil opposite. anu st9
his fellow craftsman made space annihi-
latiAg hats, make time annihilating. OF
bot1 would | purchase. We're Il my last
groschen but chiefly Of this latter. 70
clap on your felt and simply by wishing
that you were any ,eAere, stTaiahtway be
there! Next t0 clap on Your other felt,
and simply by wishing Won were any
when, sfraightWay to he Het.i This
were indeed the grander!'
All! TO go back 10 that Old quitting
under the gannble-roof. IheEate gath
cred from miles about. these specimens
of a dead generation, living, thinking,
acting; with theundeteriorated English
blood pulsing through the healthy veins;
they think no more Of decay and change
than the strongest Of us does to-day
The lining has been fastened to the
frames: look at this lining, It is made
Of home-sBun and hone-woven linen.
Originally serving in the capacity of
under-garments. it has beenpressed into
second service, having been slightly col
ored with copperas; and seeh0W strong
Il is. even to-day Compare it With the
fabric you buy, which, being shaped and
made With many stitches a garment, sud
denly NETS beneath your WashWonana $
proves into fractions, which may he
fidSSti over 10 liIt IiDNlIIiatI 1Ilifa NJ
bandages, or may dust your furniture
awhile, Al your option.
On the copperas-dyed linen lining is
laid the soft black wool. All the morn
ing, preparatory to the grand quilting,
carders, making into smooth nice rolls,
this wool. by means of little hand I'M
pigments called cards. And now over
the layer of wool is placed the calico
cover, which IS emhellished by q border
Of dialnond-shaped pink pieces the bet
ter part Of Aunt Sally's short gown.-
Some expert, who, living in other days
, III another location, would have given
lessons III crayon and pencil drawing,
| has "nlarkedn the quilt that is to be,
after the pattern called "shelis." The
early dinner being out OF the way, the
quilters begin to gather at a prepOstef-
ouslv ungenteel hour Of the day (if you
are thinking of d modern tea-party,)
although am entirely certain my grand
mother sent out no such message as she
once received from one of her neighbofs,
viz: " Eat your dinner early and none
before noon; and bring your thread
with YOU, will find what use.o
How curiously they dress Here
come the good, plain, unpretending ma
irons, in loose short-goWns" and petit
coats, with checked linen aprons; and
caps upon their heads, in shape like
those worn by the sister Friends. But
the young misses-fashionable and foot
ish, behold them fresh from the attiring-
glass! The hair is combed straight back
| from the face over large roll which lies
across the organ of veneration, giving
an unnaturally fierce look to the face.
They are gay with chintz dresses and
neat with lawn aprons; they are red
checked and robust. Notwithstanding
| their busts are cncased in an armOr OF
whalebone quilted into thick linen,
which seems to us more dreadfully UNI
comfortable for the wearer than the
iron mask" of Count Matthioli in the
| Bastile.
They commence to quilt. Human
nature is the same in every age. These
daughters of Eve cannot be supposed
any wiser in their conversation over the
bedquilt, than an equal number of the
daughters of the same mother in those
DAYS.
Now they chat of various things,
! OF taxes, ministers and kings,
Or else tell all the village news.
How Madam did the Squire refuse
The elder ladies talk of the sicllnesses
Of the neighbor hood, of the little all
ments incident to children, of recipes
and panaceas, of cheese, and butter
making. ut were scarcely worth while
to go back to the old quilting to hear
only this =
After time comes the supper. Fried
chicken, with ut vegetables, served with
hot short-cakes and new bread, with an
after course of pies, election-cake and
cheese. Tea in cups holding only few
spoonfulls, curious English ware, Of
which remains to me one saucer stained
by time. An awkward bird, bright
yellow with blue wings, is looking up
ward from the middle, of the saucer,
evidently counting a row Of stars ar
ranged opportlnely over his head. The
silver spoons are 50 ridiculously small
they would seem to us made for dolls
house. The homemade linen is beauti-
fully white, having been bleached in the
time Of the appie-trce hlossoming, ac-
cording to an approved custom.
Years ago, every one Of those who as
sisted at the quilting of this hea-cover-
i ing, the shreds of which ] treasure
passed away; they have been gathered
| to the dead generations. The hands