The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-09-25
square before go to bed am determined

square before ! go to bed am determined
Butt it did seem to Mrs. Batterby as if the
children were, never so worrisome before
What was the reason 3 year-old Edith should
be so tiresome about getting to bed? And theu
after she was there she wanted the pillow fixed
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:
ssMamma, mamma, Eide wants dollie."
The usually gentle mother, becomes frantic
and snatching up the battered bald headed
criib
.'There, dollie, get into bed with you,' she
said, GROSSLY. ''You haven't gotto say any
prayers, because you haven't got any soul "
her mother with flashing eyes.
s'Tee hab dot tum tout tool" she roarcd
Mrs Batterby, smitten with remorse, 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 hopeless crazy quilt ma
MAC The devoted husband, his attention now
drawn to the subject was alarmed to observe
how fixed hold the terrible mania had
taken upon his poor wife's .aberrated
mind: It was only Sunday she
stroyer Of domestic unhappiness BUTT was,
after all only a 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, abstracted
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
or stitching" on her 'sguare' as if her mex
DAYS day. , bread depended on getting it done be-
"Well, goodbye" said the old lady at part
ing eff they conclude to send you to the
asylum at Batavia, tell them to let me know
immediately"
ana she went DaCk 10 G00 SuDur DS WIN D llGtle
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, a kind
Providence was sending q blessing in dis
guise. It was something like the sensational
society drama where the sickness; Of the child
Little Philip fell ILL It was only the CHECKER
pox, but as the family physician said, ut wal
not once in hundred times that there wal
such 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 GOV
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:
''Phillp doin' to die?" she lisped.
go no, mamma hopes not"
Mamma wouldn't feel so very bad, Mamm,
could work all re time on her tazy twill zen,
rejoined Edie gravely.
The unconscious reproach went straight to tn
| mothers awakened conscience.
As soon as her arms were temporarily freet
from their beloved burden she gathered up al
the material of her crazy quilt and put them il
bureau drawer in the sewing ROOM In tn
drawer lay the five yards of dark greer
plush for the border; for the squares were al
ready to be put together. Five yards at two
dollars yard, ten dollars! And now there wal
oil tno expense VI THlup slchness W uleet
She half regretted the spending of the ten dol
lar gold piece Gustave had given her He hat
told her to buy comfortable house dress will
it. Not that he would ever ask what she di(
with it. But now she really needed the dress
And ten dollars just for the border of the quill
cheaper, Of course. But then, plush was tn
thing. Still she sighed little perplexed sigl
as she shut the drawer.
The next Monday morning Bridget left he
wash in the tubs, declaring she was sick ant
must go home to her aunts.
can shure ye wuldn't be kapin' back weeks
pay for a weeks warnin' whin I'm that sick
can't stand on my two fate!"
So she got her full pay and she went, ant
when the the strange washerwoman hired t.
fni sh the wash was gone, it was found that al
the towels, and handkerchiefs and stockings
Then the intelligence Office began to send its
Bedouins through the kitchen Of poor Mrs
Batterby.
It was the same old tribe. In the course o.
three weeks they had them all-the girl who
broke everything from the largest platter dowr
to the handle of the furnace door, the girl who
served her hair up with various dressings a
each meal, the girl who put her potatoes on tc
cook when she heard Mr.. Batterby's voice il
the hall, and baked all the griddle- cakes before
the breakfast bell rang. And so forth and Sc
on.
and nothing ever really came of it all excep
secret change of MI. Batterby's views on the
subject of a Purgatory, and his growing con
viction of such q place as necessary adjunc
to celestial housekeeping.
In the meantime the crazy quilt was almos
forgotten. One day, however, when Mr. Batter
by was enjoying days vacation in the bosom Of
his family, a lady visitor came in, and somehow
the new style of patchwork became the topic Of
conversation.
"Ah, but you just ought to see my wife.
guilt! Go get it, dear, and let Mrs. Smith see
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.
':Never mind Show the squares"
20 do. should SO like to see them"
sPretiest thing you ever saw" enthusiastic.
ally said the proud husband
Mrs. Batterby rose and left the room. As sht
went slowly through the hall and up the stairs
her mind wildly recalled that $40 worth o.
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 hel
own. Yet he would be astonished at her ex-
travagance. At least he would think 1t extrav-
agance.
So thinking she opened the drawer 1t was
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 fol
aprons, and her unmaid calico dress.
With lightning flash she recalled sending
Bridget to the bureau one Sunday afternoon
for flannel for Philip. The next Monday she
left
Mrs. Batterby went back to the sitting room
She was pale, but dry-eyed- She told he,
woe.
'sNever mind, my darIing!" said her hus-
band, putting his arm about her: "Ill buy
you handsome Marseilles spread"
Her hours and days and weeks of slavish
work rose up before Mrs. Batterby's mind
the tears gushed from her eyes
A Marsellles spread! What does mar
know about woman's feelrngs?" she SOB
bed.
Laws of Humanity in a Back Seat
From the Cleveland Plaindealer
Rev. r. E. Macduff, pastor of St Mary's
church, was arrested yesterday by Patrolman
Seibel for riding bicycle on Wilson avenue.
This morning Mr.. Macduff ap peared in the po-
lice court and pleaded guilty.
II desire to make an explanation" he said.
ri reside at No. 1852 Slater avenue, and my
parish is very large one I am often called
must get there as fast as can I hope I am a
law abiding citizen, but when receive call
of this kind am going to respond at all haz-
ards. / consider that in following my calling
as minister am obeying the law of humanity,
a higher law, even though violate the law made
"Where is your church," asked tho court
"At the corner of Woodland avenue and Wal.
how fron11o,<1v hoard If - aai6 the