Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-04-10
81 am so glad that / didn't live then,

| if you had. Meow don't s'pose one O.
you gals ever pieced up even cradle
quilt, did your"
"No indeed. 1 never could see the
sense of cutting calico into little pieces
Just to sew them together again. Be-
sides, what do we want of patchwork
bedquilts?"
"Wa'al, if you don't like 'em, thar s
many poor missionary would be glad
| to keep warm under em. Before l was
your age, l had made tew for the mis-
| sionaries, an he'd chest full for myself
| besides. But meow the times hev
changed; young gals spen' their time
a.strummin' on the pianner, an fixin'
| themselves up mighty fine" and good
| Miss Perkins cast watchful chances at
| Carrie.
"Did we ever mention to you fair
gotten up by our church in aid of the
| missionaries, the last winter we were in
the city," asked mother. eve are not
quite unmindful of them; Carrie and
| Fanny contributed fancy articles that
sold for nearly thirty dollars, and had
charge of one of the tables; besides
which she contributed several spicy little
articles for the paper they published, and
| that aided in the good work"
| "Good work, Miss Fales? / don't think
much O these fairs
"The young people enjoy them, and in
that way a great deal Of money is real
lied that could not be in any other way"
enjoy 'em: yes; that's all folks nova
days think on. When | was young,
'twarn't so. s'pose that thing you're a.
| knttin' with one bone needle is like them
you he'd at the fair?" Miss Perkins again
addressed me.
Yes, isn't it pretty?" and spread out
on my lap a most intricate pattern. 81
am croeheting tidy. Do you know how
Mrs. Sanger's health is now?
She's waal 'nough, | guess. Her
darter Mandy was sleigh riding yes'day
with that good-fur nothin' Jim Blake.
| Frances" alas, mother had given the coa-
versation sad turn. ''they say that fell
Ter that was here with your brother was
a-cOurtin you up. I'm sorry, Miss Fales,
| that your boy should be deaf, for he's
kinder good-lookin' with them long yaller
! whiskers, and his curly hair, though
myself don't like teW see curly hair; my
sisters husbands brother, he was Judge
once Judge Pepperell-I don't know as
ever you heerd on him; wall, he said he
never yit see rogue in court what hadn't
curly hair, and | think it's about so.
Waa1, that dark-haired man, be you
rally engaged to him, Frances? Thinks
I, I'll ask, for you can't more'n lie about
| 1t any haOw, and he was pretty sweet
on you thought"
ono HARM" rejoined, with some as
perity. 81 am rot engaged to him, and
don't intend to be-"
"Sho! he didn't offer himself and get the
mittin | know. Naow you needn't git
hysteriky over it, cause jest asked"
My face was nearly scarlet, and l was
fairly burning with Indignation, when
mother, ever pitiful and anxious to shield
her daughter, said: "That seems quite
absurd, Miss Perkins: MIR. Newberry is
particular friend Of Ned's, who spent the
Christmas holidays with us by his invita-
ton. Fanny never had met him before.
Love at fust sight, then; / don't ap
prove O that, never did"
wonder if she approves of any
thing?' Carrie calculated under her
breath, while I calculated quite tartly,
Il told you. Miss Perkins, that there was
no love about it. Mr.. Newberry is simply
friend of my brothers, and as such,
merits civil treatment from Us, and re-
spect from our acquaintance"
Frances. When gal gifts riled, if you
pend upont, it means somethin'.
Your brother warn't with him, or
few hum nuther, t'other Sunday
the day afore yesday that
he spent here, an didn't he walk tew
church with you, a-carIyin' your Sabbath
School books, an didn't he fin the
hymns? I'd jes like to AK if these things
don't mean somethin'?'
"Yes, Miss Perkins, they mean just
this" Carrie answered for me; 81 was
unable to attend church, being confined to
the house with a severe headache.
Would you have had father and mother
drive Fanny before them, while Mr.. New
berry followed on behind?'
"Waa1, meow, faint you he's arter, is
it? | heerd that Frances writ to him."
What could say now? 1t was fact.
Ned requested that we write, asking Mr.
NewberTy to spend the Sabbath with US.
Father was away from home and the task
devolved upon me. Being busy, wrote
hastily, and calling in neighbours boy,
dispatched him to the post-office with the
letter, rewarding him with an orange,
said to myself. How l wish it had been
lemon or a lime. If ever he's sick
hope they will call me in; l will make
him drink hot pepper tea"
I replied quite meekly, "Why Miss
Perkins, we do not correspond; I was
obliged to write to write to him on bust
ness once; father was away from home,
and as is frequently the case, l am dele
gated to write business letters. | never
have received line from him.
Claw sakes! WAL, folks dew talk
about most nothin' I tell 'em its one
great proof O. total depravity, the way
women nowadays dew gossip and slam
der. / warn't brought up SO, | kin tell
you. | went in to see the minister yes
day, and / told him purity plain that [
wished he'd preach one sarmin on Re |
deemin' the time That young folks was
a spendin' so much O their life in folly. |
The parson said that he he'd partially pre- |
pared discourse on that very text for |
mex Sunday. told him that l was
mighty thankful ont, and then | men
toned two or three p'ints | thought he'd |
orter tech on. He thanked me dreadful |
civil. l axed him once afore to preach |
agin' idolatry, an he said he would; but |
some way or ruther, his sarmin WASH jes'
what | meant it should be. You see, | |
he'd Miss Sarey Bates upon my mind; she's |
SO mighty gram O what she calls her lit
cry 'tainments. / s'pose by that, as near
as | kin find about, she means them
aeoutlandish Turin talk she's SO glib |
at. Then tew, | thought o Squire
Buffers wife, who jes' idoliZes her chill
dren, and makes little monkeys on 'em,
with their bows and manners. But