The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-09-25
MRS. BATTERBY'S CRAZY QUILT.
BY AMELIA SULLIVAN. Z

/. r.. By AMELIA SULLIVAN
Chicago Tribune :. ~
Mrs. Batterby war model wife and mother.
llease to remark, Dear reader, say was, be-
cause after careful observation and deep con-
sideration of the subject am convinced that
q woman who allows herself to fall under the
baleful spell of "crazy" patchwork, becomes
surely and swiftly lost to every other influence
and needless Of every appeal either to her
conscience Or her affections
Well, Mrs. Batterby was dear little roly-
poly of woman with dark blue eyes, and
soft gurgling laugh that was perfectly infec-
hous, and which had the added charm of sud
denly bringing into view two rows of little
white teeth and some hitherto unsupported
dimples. Her bright brown hair waved natur-
ally on either side of her smooth white FORE
head, and Mr. Batterby who had the reputa-
ton of being quite a connoisseur in
female beauties, and given to admiring
snowy, brilliant women, thought there never
was anything in these days of bangs and friz-
yes, 80 exquisitely feminine, and bewitching,
and suggestive of home and happiness, as
that tiny white parting in his wife's bounteous
brown hair, and the little ripping waves on
her white brow. However, he simply re-
marked that he '1iked that way of wearing her
hair" and let it go at that In his instantane-
GUS mental conceptions of her there was al.
ways distinct in his mind, her bright, loving
glance, her pretty brow and hair, her dark
dress and white apron, and plump, white
hands; and generally he thought of her with a
baby in her arms. They had been married
ten years, and there had been three children,
so that Mr.: Batterby had good cause to re-
member his wife as holding babe
Such woman it was who fell a victim to that
'crazy quilt" mania which is now insidiously
undermining the moral and intellectual charac-
ter of the females in all ranks of life through
out the whole country.
1t was Nine. Pumpernickel, who, being her
self demented, introduced the contagious mania,
into this hitherto happy household Who is
Nine. Pumpernickel? Everybody asked that
the moment they saw her: With her gray hair
coiled like q coronet on her well-poised, head
and her air of good breeding, and her lively wit,
and her gracious manner, one almost expected
to hear she was a duchess. But in reality
she was only woman Of defeated possibilities
She might have been world renowned plan
list if she had been born to poverty. She might
have been Senator's wife, if she had married
her first love. She would have been a great
writer if she had been better talker, and she
would have been celebrated as wonderful
conversationalist if she had been born to wealth,
and in Boston, instead of spending her first
twenty years in learning and teaching music in
Western State.
But despite her disadvantages Nine. Pun
pernickers consciousness of her own superior
ity to criticism never deserted her, and never
failed to impress, with more or less inten-
sity, those with whom she came in contact
So when Nine Pumpernickel opened her
valise, and from every part of it came tumbl-
ing out silk rags, snippings and clippings of
every shade and shape, she said in her gay
way:
81 travel like an aesthetic ragman. It's my
crazy quilt You must have one. They are
elegant" And Mrs. Battery Immediately de-
cided to have one.
That night, when Mr.: Batterby, who as one
Of Chicagos prominent men, had been re-
quested to attend "a ratification meeting" down
town, arrived home at 1890 p. M, he looked
over the banisters into the dining room, and in
voluntarily exclaimed:
doing?"
Well might he exclaim.
The floor of the room into which he looked
vas strewn with rags; the dining table was
strewn with them; and bending over the table,
Hrayed in loose wrappers, their checks
flushed and their hair dishevelled in their
eagerness, we're his wife and her guest pulling
about and tossing around the heap Of silk
scraps.
cob, I'm making crazy quilt! '' distracted
~ returned his wife, scarcely raising her eyes
from her work. "Mme. Pumpernickel is helping
me plan squares"
Mr. Batterby looked on moment his habitual
abiding sense of man 8 inability to comprehend
the mysterious workings of the feminine intel
lect enabling him to maintain q becoming COM
posture of manner.
"Well, good night" he said. with the air Of one
who was giving up problem
But as he turned to go his eyes was caught by
the familiar pattern of one silken fragment He
drew it from the heap.
ssMy old necktie! another of my scarfs!"
'Now, Gustave!" cried Mira Batterby, snatch
ing i away; ''y0u gave up wearing that years
"Here is one bought in Paris" said Mr.. Bat
terby, giving another pull at the pile, and bring
ing out rich blue tin scarf.
And she is so close and stingy with them
she won't cut one!" cried Nine Pumpernickel,
'Here, Nine. Pumpernickel, I'll give you
this for your quilt" very gallantly responded
Mr.: Batterby, handing over the bright silken
ribbon.
"Oh!" involuntarily gasped his wife. 'sWhy
Gustave! and I've been saving that to use in
some such way as this these five years."
''Oh, thank you Mr.. Batterby! Now I shall
always have something to remind me of you in
my quilt Now you see how your wife feels
about it! But shall not divide with herr"
Batterby, keeping up the joke; and he betook
himgef to bed, leaving the two women delving
into the rags.
They finished their squares, though Mrs.
Batterby had to let the baby cry a little while,
till she pieced out corner; but there was not
Batterby's entrance. Mrs. Batterby's good
sence was all that restrained her from jealousy.
She knew what belle and firt Nine. Pun
pernickel used to be, and ''really," she was
mentally saying, '.gray hairs and wrinkles
Will she really take advantage of Gustave's
fun and carry away that scarf she knows was
boarding."
But Nine. Pumpernickel, who had a keen
sense of huraor, and read Mrs. Batterbys mind
like book really did carry the scarf away to
her room and vallse, and poor little Mrs. Bat
terby (who lay awake that night planning
squares, and thought about that beautiful tie,
and Gustave's reckless generosity)never saw
again the treasure Of which her husband and
her guest had so ruthlessly despoiled her.
Immediately after breakfast the next morn
ing the two women sat down TO their work.
ssI'm going to let Mary dress the baby and
pick up the house. I'll just let things go, and
devote myself to you"
eyes, and we'll see how many squares of
your quilt we can finish while I'm here:
''We must 60 to the opera matinee this after
noon, you know"
ssDear me! hardly feel as If we could take
the time" cried Nine. Pumpernickel, who was
a musician by nature and training, and adored
the opera.
They worked on their respective squares till
the last minute, barely allowing themselves
time to dress and swallow cup of tea each.
by, when. they were almost at their destination
The next moment she gave q little cry Of con-
sternation.
=, .'oh, mercy! + +; didn't leave our tickets on
Glow long will it take for us to go for
them"
sForty minutes, and forty back Call it an
hour and half. The opera will be nearly
over How stupid of me!'
ssNever mind We can stop and buy that
pink satin for your quilt, and then go home
and plan two more squares before we 60 to
bedo'
81 know you only say that to relieve me.
hey're well named 9crazy quiltso"
Eyes; but you see must leave you Friday,
so there is only one day more for us to work
on the quilt. Dear child, y pleaded Nine Pun