Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-05-04

BILE youth preferred coming in for the "pick-
ings' rather than trusting to the uncertainties
Of the 'stealings."
Sis Ally" was in high feather Her quilt
was spread in the centre of the room, and
the qulters' needles flew through the shining
fabric. 1t promised TO be finished by sun
down." which also meant supper time. The
brothers" assisted in the quilting by thread
ing the needles for the SISTERS" both parties
attitudinizing in their best company manners
Whenever a sister received needle she made
point of doing so between her thumb aud
forehuger, while the others were held straight
out as public evidence that the owner
'knowed how ter ber behave herself in SER
ciety"
''S'pose We take a little breathin' spell, 8"
said Sister Elsie, as the work grew warm
IAN let's onroll de quilt, ef Sister Ally is &C
commodatin', an take a look at it,"
''Ier be sho,' cried Sis Ally and in mo-
ment the nimble brothers had unrolled the
light frame, and the quilt in all its beauty
was unfolded to the admiring eyes of Sis Al.
lys company. II was magnificent affair
Every shade Of shimmering silk every pat
tern of glorious brocade, every color of heAv-
en.caught dye, seemed to blend in the shin.
ing whole-."a harmony in rainbow" it
might have been called and the only won.
der was how SO many fine bits of color had
ever Auttered into Ally's homely nest In
truth, the silk quilt had its beginning long
ago in fine old Southern mansion when Al.
ly was "teeny gel" Her mistress. wishing
to train her az a maid for her little daughter.
taught hor to read and to sew. Ally was fond
of recalling those days and of telling how
the quilt came to be in her possession.
Il hated my spellin' book, an l hated my
patchwork, " she said 'but ole mis- she KEEP
me at work, a.rappin my head wild her gold
thimble ef l 80 much as yawned. But when
l saw how hansum dat silk quilt was gwin9
tor be, got ter wishin it was mine. Fust
thought Id finish it up for to spread over
my big doll dat little missy give me de Christ
mas befo' den it seemed as ef I'd like ter
sleep under it myself, jes for de grandeur
ov it. An il grew bigger an bigger in my
mind till decides that ef it truz mine, I'd
save it fur my weddin' quilt for 1 wuz a
mighty onregenerate young 'un, - said Sis Al
ly incautiously, IAN my head Was always
a.runnin on things it didn't have no call to
meddle wild"
Brother Buford groaned slightly and
subdued chucke from Niney in the next
room showed that she had overheard the
rash admission, and scored one against Sis
Ally.
AT las" continued that worthy matron,
improssively. "at las dar come day. Lor'
Lor'! remember it ez ef it waz Yesterday
Dlr wuz ole mis- in her big cheer by de win
der sorter dozin' like an dar wuz me set
tin on three-legged stool tother side O de
room, R-puttiu de yaller an de red an dc lie
lack pieces O. silk tergedder, an a. a.Eonderin'
whedder her or me wuz de mos likely ter
sleep under hit an dar wuz Uncle Tobe-
lobe yonder Is his gran chile Uncle Tobe
he looked in at de do, sneakin' like, an sez
he, Ally SEE he, 'jes' as dough he was
skeerd- whisperin he wuz-'Ally, sez he.
'Sar sez l. never sturrin' er inch but er-
prickin' up my years fass enuf, kin tell yer
-'sar, SEE l. Sez he, Ally, cibiEezlshun
hab tooken place; de Yankees dun KUN,
chile sez he an l desser grabbed up de
quilt, scraps an all, an l went like er streak
er lightning fur daddy's cabin, an' l snatch
up my bes' clothes, an him hisn, an de way
we went fur de sojers you never seed, an
hain't seed ole mis- and she haint seed her
quilt sence. didn't hsb it fur my weddn'
quilt concluded Ally, with jolly laugh
"bekase never got pieces enuG to finish it
but is been begin 'em right an lef' fur
a good many years; an here's de quilt"
The Egyptians shell be spoiled, pro-
nounced Brother Buford in a strong voice.
Thus spoke the prophet-thus it wuz done"
'Well l will say, Sister Ally" cried Sister
Elsie, dat dar amt queen under de skies
could hab pretter spread to sleep under"
Maybe you'll give it to Vney fur her wed
din quilt" spoke up Sister Clrline Eliza
beth, who was new conner in Happy Hol-
low, and rather given to making unseasona
able remarks.
May de day be fur away" calculated Al
ly. Dough to be sho'," she added pensive-
ly, 'our Viney's got to be had an eye on,
now she's gittin' to be growed up Look at
her to-day in dat pink calico ov hern. 1t
needs a-lettin' out, and a.puttin' in, and
maxim over gin'ally, an l amt got piece
ov cloth like it no bigger dan my thumb"
I've got piece O. pink caliker to whchen
you's welcome, said Sister Elsie. ut amt
no way dif'rent from hern 'ceptin' in fig
ger"
Thank you kindly, sister I'll do as much
for you some day. De trouble is dat Viney
mas shot up so sudden ter be a woman dat
she foun' me onperpared 1t makes me feel
ole an compressed jes' ter look at de chile.
II understan' she's got beau, too, says
Sister Car'line Elizabeth, with a giggle-
Mr.. Jack Chaney by name"
well, he do hang roun' Niney cOnsidera-
ble,' acknowledged Ally, with a sigh. He's
always fetchin' her sugar cane and goober
pease and wantin ter take her to parties
and it goes agin me hard to see her busted
out o dat ar caliker right before his eyes
Jack Chaney," said Elder Buford, severe
ly, lis a wild fellow-a wild fellow. He is
one of the sinner folks wot plays kyards and
dances-fghts cocks He comes to meetin
Sunday arter Sunday, an de preschin' ov de
Word don't have no more effect on him dan
so much cold water poured on our yaller dog
to cure him OBJ de mango"
well, well, well, said Preacher Smpkins.
''let us not forget charity to de weaker bred
eren."
Brother Simpkins," said Brother Buford
1--WE done been a-lIftin' my voice in testi-
mony a.gwine on twenty years next Christ
mas, and l amt neber seen no good kun oh
fyin' in de Lords face, an s-dAncin' an
playin' kyards, just as dough He had not
KUN down in fire and birthstone mongst de
pine trees OBJ Libnus-"
There is no telling where Brother Bufords
eloquence might not have landed them if
Preacher Simpkins had not raised his hand
stop right dar, brudder. De Lord amt
no way connected wild birthstone, seein' dat
dar article belongs to de debii-aud its false
doctrine to say dat it belongs to de Lord
an false doctrine, brederen, will slay a sim
ner's soul quick as chain lightnin'."
"Dats de troof, said Sis Ally, heartily,
''an' it's on account oh dat dat first sot my
mind to be 'morgst de cleo. l warn't gwine
to be layin' roun' loose on Judgment Day,
an run de risk oh havin' my soul turned into
a goat, aud sent gallopin' down de slopes ob
hell"
Here the company looked dismal and
few groans were heard but cheerfuness was
restored as Viney's voice from the inner room
exclaimed, "Dis turkeys about ready ter
take of, Tobei an my don't he smell heab-
enly !"
The supper hour was indeed drawing near
the needles flew faster, and the quilting was
honorably completed by the time Viney ap-
peared and whispered in Sis Allys ear that
all was ready.
Sis Ally rose "Walk right out ladies an
gentlemen" she said with a delightful air of
mingled triumph and modesty. Walk into
de mex room for a little refreshment."
At sight of the ''little refreshment, Preach
er Simpkins's hand instinctiyely sought his
buttons. All settled into their seats with
fiutter, followed by hush of expectation.
"Brudder Simpkins," said Ally gravey,
twill you please to hab de honor ob akin de
grace 2"
Brother Simpkins cleared his throat in re-
ply; then began 1--WE hRb come togedier,
good Lord-we hab come togedder as Thy
humble worshippers fur to praise an thank
Thee, an to psrtake in righteousness of the
creature comforts which Thou hast prepared
for us from de beginnin' OBJ de worr.' A
pause, during which Preacher Simpkins shifts
his position. "Ef dar be any sin mixed up
l.. safH Ia Il H.