The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-09-11
Wouldn't I just like piece of that in my

l
Fortunately Mr.. Batterby did not hear these
remarks or he might have feared for his wifes
mental condition, and as he sat between the
ladies' in the car returning home they were
obliged to make an attempt at least to speak
on other topics besides crazy quilts. The
next day, to the great delight of the ladies it
stormed.
'We shall have no callers and we can't go
out" they said So they sat in the midst of
rags, shipping, clipping, bastng, too busy to
comb their hair or change their morning dresses
until the daylight began to wane.
90 dear! It's to bad have to stop, but
suppose we must" said Nine Punlpernickel
eve must make ourselves decent before Mr..
Batterby comes"
And jest then there was ring ut the door
and telegram from Mr. Batterby that bust
ness would keep him down town till between
0 and 10 o'clock.
'And now we needn't Dress" joyously cried
Nine PumpernickeL 81 shall finish this
square before go to bed l am determined
on it"
But it did seem to Mrs. Batterby rs if the
children were never so worrisone before.
What was the reason year-old Edith should
be so tiresome about getting to bed? And then
after she was there she wanted the pillow fixed,
and the sheet smoothed, and drink of water,
and at the last moment she called her mamma
back because she hadn't said her prayers.
Then when the patient mother again reached
the stairs the little voice called:
The usually gentle MOTHER becomes frantic
atseparatioa from her 'crazy quilt, returned,
and snatching up the battered, bald headed
| object of Edies affections tossed it into the
| crib.
''There dollie get into bed with you," she
said, GROSSLY ''You haven't got to SAY any
prayers, because you haven't got any soul"
Edie snatched up her child and turned on
her mother with flashing eyes.
''Tee hab dot tum tout too" she roared.
| Mrs Batterby Smltten with remOrS6 kissed
her child and smoothed her, and yet it did not
occur to the mother how strong and baleful
must be the influence which could render her
thus hard and petu]ant to her darling Edith,
patient and tender and considerate of the
| feelings of dollie's mother as she generally
was.
The next day Nine. Pumpernickel departed,
but the evil which she had disseminated re-
NAMED Mrs Batterby grew worse daily
until she became a hopeless crazy quilt ma
MAC The devoted husband his attention now
drawn to the subject, was alarmed to observe
how fixed a hold the terrible mania had
taken upon his poor wife's aberrated
mind. 1t was only Sunday she
abstained from creative work upon this de-
| stroyer of domestic unhappihess. BUTT was,
after all only physical abstinence, for her
husband marked her long memorizing gaze
upon the illuminated texts above the pulpit
| wherein the grayhaired minister was impress
| ing upon his hea rers the spiritual darkness of
the Jews He noted her rowing, distracted
gaze over the congregation, and he OWNED the
| envy and covetousness in her soul as her eye
| caught the beauty of some new tint in bonnet
| trimming.
One cold morning Mrs. Batterby's mother
| came in from the suburbs, and surprised her
| daughter with visit But no sooner were the
| old lady's wrappings off than the crazy quilt
| was brought to notice. and the daughter could
not be induced to make any but momentary
! depression on any other subject; but there she
sat- only stopping reluctantly for lunch, ''feath-
! er-sttching on her square as if her next
days bread depended on getting it done be-
| fore night
'Well, goodbye" said the old lady at part
ing. If they conclude to send you to the
asylum at Batavia, tell them to let me know
| Immediately"
And she went back to the suburbs with little
chill of disappointment at her heart
| But while Mr.. Batterby was racking his
brain to know how he could surreptitiously
| minister to his wife's diseased mind, kind
| Providence was sending q blessing in dis
| guise, 1t was something line the sensational
society drama where tine sickness of the child
recalls the erring wife back to virtue.
| Little Philip fell ILL 1t was only the chicken
pox, but as the family physician said, 'It was
not once in hundred times that there was
| such a severe case"
| The morning of the fourth day Of his illness,
as the mother sat holding in her gentle arms
| the little sufferer, whose swollen face was COW
| cred with the continent eruption, and whose
/ beautiful blue eyes were closed by the disease,
| little Edie came and looked at her blind baby
| brother very thoughtfully.
Philip don to die2" she lisped.
| so no, mamma hopes not"
Mamma wouldn't feel SO very bad, Mamma
could work all re time On her tazy twill zen"
reioined Edie grately.
The Unconscious reproach went straight to the
mothers awakened conscience
As soon as her arms were temporarily freed
| from their beloved burden she gathered TIP all
| the material of her crazy qailt and but them in
bureau drawer In the sewing room. In the
drawer lay the Ave yards of dark-green
plush for the border; for the squares were all
ready to be put together Five yards at two
dollars a yard, ten dollars And now there was
all the expense of Philips sickness to meet
She half regretted the spending of the ten dol.
lar gold piece Gustaye had given her. He had
told her to buy comfortable house dress with
it. Not that he would ever ask what she did
with it But now ehe really needed the dress.
And ten dollars just for the border Of the quilt
seemed good deal. Satin would have been
cheaper, Of course. But then, plush was the
thing. Still she sighed little perplexed sigh
| as she shut the drawer.
The next Monday morning Bridget left her
| wash in the tubs. declaring she was sick and
| must go home to her aunt's
can shure We wuldn't be kapin' back weeks
pay for weeks warnin' whin Tn that sick
| can't stand on my two fatei"
| So she got her full pay and she went, and
| when the the strange waaherwoman hired to
| fni sh the wash Was gone it was found that all
the towels, and handkerchiefs and stockings
! had vanished.
Then the intelligence Office began to send its
Bedouins through the kitchen of poor Mrs.
Batterby
| 1t was the same old tribe In the course 81
| three weeks they had them all-the girl who
! broke everything from the largest platter down
to the handle of the furnace door, the girl who
served her hair up with various dressings al
each meal the girl who put her potatoes on to
| cook when she heard Mr. Batterby's voice in
the hall, and baked all the griddle-cakes before
the breakfast bell rang. And 80 forth and 30
on.
But they lived through it all, as people de-
and nothing ever really came of it all except
secret change of Mr.. Batterby's views On the
subject of a Purgatory, and his growing con-
viction of such place as necessary adjunct
to celestial housekeeping
In the meantime the crazy quilt was almost
forgotten. One day, however, when Mr. Batter
by was enjoyinga days vacation in the bosom of
his family, lady visitor came in, and somehow
the new style Of patchwork became the topic Of
conversation
sAh, but you just ought to see my wife'u
guilt! Go get it, dear. and let Mrs. Smith sec
cts not quite finished Baby's sickness made
me lay it away" demurred Mrs Batterby. who
felt strange reluctance to take out her old en-
SLAYER.
sfNever mind Show the squares"
80 do. ! should 80 like to see them"
"Prettiest thing you ever saw" enthusiastic.
ally said the proud husband.
Mrs. Batterby rose and left the room. Az she /
went slowly through the hall and up the stairs
her mind vividly recalled that $40 worth of
plush. 1t seemed pity not to let Mrs. Smith |
see that, and get clear idea of the whole effect
of the quilt But it might set Gustave think |
ing. OF course the gold piece had been her
own. Yet he would be astenished at her ex-
travagance. AT least he would think 1t extrav-
agance
So thinking she opened the drawer It was |
empty!
Mrs. Batterby stood COMPOUNDED The other |
drawers were packed with old half-worn gar |
ments to be remade. No quilt in them. Gone
plush and squares. Also the gingham for |
aprons, and her unmaid calico dress.
With lightning flash she recalled sending |
Bridget to the bureau one Sunday afternoon |
left
Mrs. Batterby went back to the sitting-room
She was pale, but dry-eyed. She told her
woe
'sNever mind nv darlinpin said her hus