Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-01-26
STORY OF A BED QUILT

The ladies of Middletown, n. L.,
had decided to present fine quilt to
their pastor 1t was. to be an auto
graph bed quilt Every old, yonnG,
married and unmarried woman OF the
congregation was to donate fragment
of some wearing material from which
the quilt was to be made. Then the
autographs of all the donors or any
body else who chose to contribute the
small sum of one dime was to be skill
fully wrought on the patches in many
colored silk, by the needles OF the
fairest of the flock. Work was begun
on this wonderful quilt two monsHs
ago. Long before it was finished the
question of who should have the honor
of presenting it to the pastor was the
leading one for discussion at the meet
ings of the ladies' When the quilt
was completed, the question was still
undecided. Two prominent young
ladies were rivals for the honor. Fin
ally, to settle the matter without
creating unsisterly feeling and making
the quilt stumbling block, it was con-
cluded 20 decide by lot who should
place the quilt in the pastors hands.
The plan was to hold social, at
which the drawing was to take place
Chances were to be sold at ten cents
each, the proceeds were to go to the
church fund. Whoever should draw
a ticket inscribed "Quilt" secured con-
troll of the privilege of presenting it.
The social was held at the house of
Brother William Davy. Everybody
was there. The quilt, gorgeous in
coloring and remarkable as to autos
graphic inscription, was prominently
displayed.
There was great excitement over
the taking of chances. The two young
ladies were supported by their respec
tive friends and almost every chance
sold was placed in the name of one or
other of them.
Old Uncle Tunis Wood, who lives
near Centreville, was passing Brother
DAVIS house about 9 o'clock on the
night of the sociable He heard the
sounds of merriment within. He
knew it was q public gathering, and
the purpose of it. He went in.
Uncle Tunis was surrounded by the
Young ladies and their friends at once.
Each besought him to buy a chance for
her.
Giant choose betwixt ye," said he.
I'll split the difference and buy a
chance for myself"
He bought one Seven hundred
and sixty chances were all that could
be sold. Then the drawing commence
ed. After about four hundred tickets
had been drawn and the prize ticket
was still in the hat, Tunis Woods
name was called He drew out
ticket. 1t was marked Quilt" The
old man had drawn the prize. He was
beseiged by each young lady to lei
her be his substitute in presenting the
quilt to the preacher.
"The preacher! Give this quilt tt
the preacher! Well mot this year,
guess. Amt the quilt good enough
for me2 l guess no preacher dom
git this quilt / wont it, | reckon 7
And the old man took the quilt anc
went home with it. A committee fol
lowed him to tell him that he didn't
seem to understand the object of the
drawing. He said that he thought ht
understood it very well. Sine ther
the ladies have visited him and offered
to make him quilt exactly like the
one be drew If he would let them have
that one.
"This IN suits me to DEATH" he re
piled, "an' Pm afraid you couldn't gel
them colors jist like that again.
wouldn't like to part with it, ladies.
And at last accounts neither plead
ings nor threats could induce him t.
change his mind