The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1874-12-17

Il
were-''Give US this day our daily bread ~
-.
The Junket at Squire DOO-
Titles.
wss making my yearly visit at
grandmOther's when L was attacked
by my old foe, neuralgia. Grand
mother dOsed and petted me to her
hearts content, until under her eff
cient ministration was soon almost
free from pain, but not yet able to
leave my room, where 1 spent most of
my time under the cspaeioHs folds of
q patchwork quilt.
Grandmother had but few books,
and those not particularly interesting
to my romance-lOYing nature, and l
was sometimes rather lonesome.
Grandmother's stories of old times,
however, did much to relieve the
tediousness of cOnvalescence.
She was bright, happy, old lady,
trifie sarcastic, but dearly loved to
hear her quaint criticisms, because,
although her words were sharp
enough, sometimes, there was always
a CLEAN of humor in her eye that
somehow pointed them most pleas
aDtly. 1t was as though she felt that
she must rebuke wrong and folly for
the sake of principle and her own pure
soul, but that away down in her heart,
its native kindliDess was always MAX
Ing excuses, and her lively fancy call
ing up humorous illustrations.
The patchwork quilt having been
the companion and comfort of my
sickness, L could fancy it actually in
terested in my welfare /: for when my
pain had been most acute the differ
ent pieces of calico seemed to wear
expressions of coincidence and pity.
All but oIie piece, a malicious sort of
red with yellow spots. That actually
seemed TO grin with delight, and
when the freight shone upon it, il
seemed TO be dancing and performing
all sorts Of impish capers, until my
nerves having been much weakened,
L was Obliged TO pin my handkerchief
over it.
Grandmother came in just as was
doing IL and asked the reason. When
/ told her she said /: "WeIl, now,
that is strange. That square was
piece of Silena Baxter's gown, the
greatest mischief maker l ever knew,
She was always making a fuss. She
would invariably begin by saving, Il
hate to believe it dreadfully, but they
really say it's sO;' and then she would
tell some disgraceful story and look so
terribly shocked, and-but no matter.
Poor Silena has been dead this forty
years, but there's a good many Sile-
mas nowadays"
"Oh, grandmother, can't you tell
me some stories about these pieces of
calico / am sure they would be in
tensely interesting"
"Why, yes, [ suppose so. They
nearly all have history" said grand
mother.
"Tell me about this ugly piece of
yellow with the fiaring pattern"
''There is nothing in particular to
tell about that, only it cost hundred
dollars"
"How could that be ?'' I exclaim-
ed. az am sure it would not cost
more than ten cents yard now"
"But this was bought over a hun
dred years ago, my dear, with Conti-
mental money which was but little
better than so much paper. Father
bought it before 1 was born. I have
often heard mother tell how pleased
she was with it. In those days they
used to go to Portland twice a year
with the produce of the farm and get
in exchange groceries and other ne
cessary articles for the family. 1t
was q great undertaking, for it was
nearly all the way through the woods
for hundred and fifty miles and the
Indians were troublesome. The min
lister used to put up prayers for their
safety and welfare. Dear me, I don't
think he ever thought the time would
come when one could go the same dis,
tance in half day and by the same
agency that cooked his dinner" and
grandmother forgot her theme to
muse upon the changes that had
transpired since she was girl.
Grandma i ssid, after waiting
patiently for some time, "What of
this pretty square Of light print ?'
"That is more modern" she replied.
sit is piece of dress worn by cousin
Mary MOreland's first baby"
"Why, grandma" 1 gasped, "it
can't be that Senator Moreland ever
wore a dress like other babies.n
"Why not ?n asked she, smiling
"Oh, / don't know" l replied,
"bGt it seems as though he must al
ways have worn tall hat and broad
cloth I should never have thought
of him as baby, he is Sc dreadmlly
dignified.n
After this, with the memory of the
Senator's baby dress, 1 should not
stand so much in awe Of our dignified
relative.
'But this piece of brocade," I said,
pointing to large square of rich silk
in the center, sis the only one of its
kind, and 1 have long intended to
ask you about it. 1 know it has
histOry.n
Eyes, indeed it was sister Thank
fulis wedding gown. l remember it
as though it were yesterday how
beautiful she looked in it. It was Just
three weeks, counting from the Junk
ct at Squire DOOlittle's."
"What was 3 Junket 1 supposed
it to be a kind of ancieIIt feast-a
stolen feast.n
swell, perhaps so,if you go by Web
ster. But in our day it meant dane
ing party, and was usually held in a
kitchen it might not be so far wrong,
though about the feast, for there was
famous cooking in those days, and
JuDkets were held in good reputation
then"
"Please tell me all about it i; about
Thankful and the Junket and every
thing" said I, eagerly"
every we'll" +" she said, smiling, "but
wait few moments until / collect
the ideas 1 want"
A few moments of thought and she
commenced
"There were Just three of US, Thank
ful, Keturah, and Jerusha. l was
Jerusha, and mother often said if there
had been but two she couldn't have
got along, for Thankful wove, ketu-
rah spun, and l helped her about the
housework, and getting wool and flax
ready for their use f; and if there had
been four OF US one must have been
idle, and mother abhorTed idleness.
MAYBE you think you know what
spinning and weaving are, but you
would change your mind if you had
seen Thankful's and Keturahis work.
Such webs of toweling and table
cloths, all of the handsOmest patterns,
flowers and diamonds and stars your
iSuONuAOlS OoA \ CtmpdAS WIN luCAA
and the counterpins grandma meant
counterpanes) and blankets, and cloth
for the family wear-but, dear me, l
can't tell you half the things Thank
ful wOve and Keturah spun. 1 don't
know but there is as much work done
now as there used to be, but it's of a
different kind. Now it is riding,
walking, and fixing up for callers, and
going TO the opera, balls and concerts
with the besuX. But beaux were as
plenty in those days as now, yes and
plentier, for then wives were help
instead of expense and now where a
man can not afford to marry, then he
oo,rlI ,,1f afFr-d - rar,aafu cf,Ula