The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-02-21
AN OLD-TIME QUILTING-BEE
BY GARRY MOSS.

The time is 1872. am little pitcher
with big ears, aged about nine. Miss
Roxanna, maiden lady of forty, is my
great-aunt. Sally Ann, not yet sixteen,
Is my young aunt, of whom I am very
proud.
If you can imagine prettier creature
than the same Aunt Sally, or quainter
and more laundering person than Miss
Roxy, you are at liberty to do SO; but l
don't believe you can.
There are no such girls as there were
in my day. Perhaps their pull-backs
spoil the present generation. As for
Sally Ann, with her pretty curls, and
rosy cheeks, and her happy laugh, her
limbs were unfettered. / seem to see
her now, in her fresh white muslin
gown-they didn't have suits then
her low-cut slippers, and her dainty ruff.
fed black silk apron.
"Sally Ann" said great-aunt Roxy,
" they're going to give a quiltin'- bee
over to Faithful Simmons's next week.
They've got three quilts in the frames,
and I expect there'l be big company.
Old Miss Simmons give us all an invite
when we was eatin' our incoming
on Father Gibbs's tombstone this
mornin'."
We were all sitting round blazing
fire, for the fall weather was on. Sally
Ann looked as il the glow of the red
Goals had got into Eer cheeks, as she
smiled to herself, and said:
"They always do have good time
over to Faithfurs."
$50 they do" said Miss Roxy;
Especially when Timothy's John is
tbere;n and then she gave a little
chuckle, which added flames to the hot
Goals in Sally's cheeks, that fairly
fickered. She looked rsund quickly to
say something sharp, / suppose; but
M IS Roxy had gathered up her knitting,
and was off like cat.
CHOW hateful aunts arel" said Sally.
"I don't think 81" was my response.
Sally laughed all the good humor
back.
dispose couldn't go to the quilting
bee," 1 said, because Pm little. What
is it? How should like to see It'll Do
you really have bees in it p
Sally laughed again, rocking herself
back and forth.
"You poor city childr she said,
"not to know what quilting-bee is
I tell you what, you shall go and see for
yourself"
This was delightful news. / could
hardly sleep for thinking about it. We
had an early dinner next day. By
twelve, the dishes were all washed. By
one, Miss Roxy came down stairs in her
lavender silk, four breadths to the skirt
"a dress that was venerable indeed,
having served three generations before
it came to her.
Miss Roxy had never been handsome
She was painfully bony and angular,
ana / never saw her in that dress
topped with the old green calash, that
did not hunt for some object that ]
could laugh at with impunity.
Presently came Sally. A sweet, full
blown rose was nothing to compare with
her. / think / could have fallen down
and worshipped her, if it had not beer
sinful, she was so bloomingly beautiful
"Tiny must remember that little girl
were made to be seen and not heard,
said Miss Roxy, as we set of, and he
hollow black eyes looked so comical
deep under the calash, that / shoult
have laughed in her face, if donke,
by the roadside had not fortunatel,
brayed Just at that mouent.
The Simmonsesl lived in a-farge squar
house, burnt to dark under the sun. /
had never been painted, but had
healthy look for its age, which was owe
a hundred year,. knew that ther
we're pears aud pound cake in the owe
the moment passed the threshold.
In the large parlors were set up thre
quilting-frames, tive in the east roor
for the young people, and one in tn
west room for the elders. / fear tha
Aunt Sally was a little thoughtless @
my comfort, for some way slipped fror
her keeping into Miss Roxy's, who's
large, long hand held mine in fearfr
grasp, as we entered the west room.
How many old ladies there were
Some with jolly round faces, some wit
punched cheeks and noses, and some Ion
past work. Faithful Simmons was or
of these. Her head kept bobbing in
curiously cordial way, and her twinkliI
eyes, full of latent humor, were vel
pleasant to look at.
Miss Roxy marched up to her in
stately manner, and said:
/" thought you'd like taste of OF
of our greenings. We didn't gath
but two bushels this year, for-you,
see"-
No wonder she fa1tered. She hi
gone to the wrong barrel in the di
cellar light, and here, as she fished the