The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1884-04-17

DOC surprised 10 NnQ HcT, neHG Qdy,
already set to work upon her pro-
posed carpet.
First she visited the attic, and
overhauled the big rag-chest and
examined all the half.worn and
cast-of' clothing hanging about.
Then she went over the whole house
and ransacked every box and closet
for anything that could be appropri-
ated to her work.
The next few days were spent in
washing and freshening up the
various articles, and in ripping and
tearing them into shreds, which
were then rolled into great balls,
according to their color.
All the rag-carrets that | had
seen were woven in q mixed medley
of colors, without order or arrange
ment; but Cousin Armenia showed
berself possessed Of an artists eye
and An aesthetic soul.
The brown and grays, and all
other neuter tints,' she said, wind
ing her strips about an old ironing
|, board in the at ic TO illust ate her
pattern, "are to make up the ground
color. Then come red and blue
stripes; because, you see, one al
WAYS has most Of those two colors;
and in the middle Of each narrow
stripe of green and yellow, which
are skeerce colors TO get. I'd like
little purple; but that's what you
hardly ever come across.
"If you could get the purple" !
said, you would have all the colors
of the rainbow, and one would call
your carpet the Iris-patten.'
She appeared struck with the
idea.
ITO be sure, there's my old mer.
rino, which Id haG an idea of max
ing over for Sunday-school dress
for little Kitty Leary. But I dare
say a new calico would do as well.
Calico is only six or eight cents a
yard; and any way, charity ought
to begin at home"
That evening she came down
covered with dust and bits of thread,
just in time to tidy herself for sup
per.
Deacon Hutchings had come in
to see grandpa on some little busi-
ness matter and at the table grand
ma apologized for the absence of
hot-cakes, on plea of cousin Amen
las pre-occupation with her carpet.
"a rag-carpet, eh?" said the dea-
con, with interest. "Well, my moth
er used to be great hand on rag
carpets; but since her day they seem
pretty nigh to ha' died out. Seems
to me wimmen amt as keerful and
saving nowadays as they used to be.
Now, if l ever get married. he
addod, with his dry smile, Ill ex-
pect Mrs. Deacon Hutchings to
make a rag-carpct the first thing
Almost
Then don't ask Susie or me,
please, deacon" said Lizzie, srchly;
'for we both hate rag carpets
they're so ugly
You won't think so when you've
seen mine,' said Cousin Armenia,
with a confident nod; land anyways
it'll save fifteen dollars out O moth
ing, and that's consideration"
The deacon looked approvingly
at the woman who could make fif-
teen dollars out Of nothing. He
was good man, generally liked
and respected; bnt bore the charac-
ter of being rather "closer' than
there was any necessity for, seeing
that he was we'll off, and with no
family to supl ort-for the deacon
was batchelor.
When Cousin Armenia had used
up all her material" she discov-
cred to her dismay that at least
one-third more was required. So
she went again over the house.
collecting everything before reject
ed that could be made available.
Colored hose and corsets were press
ed into service-bits formerly con-
sidered too small were carefully
collected and stitched together.
The very rag-bag itselfwhen emptied
was seized upoi; and even grand
mas old red flannel dusting rag did
not escape. The rag carpet became
starding joke with US.
There's apair Of leather shoe
strings for your carpet, Armeny,
grandpa would observe, drily, land
some raveled rope ends in the barn,
if you're mind to EN-
But Cousin Armenias soul was
not to put down by sarcasm, any
more than it had been dismayed by
difficulties. The carpet progressed
and about the same time Lizzie and
I began to discover various articles
of our clothing missing, which upon
rigid investigation were found re-
duced to strips in Cousin Armeaia's
carpet-rag balls. Among other
things were the green lining Of q
cashmere shirt-green being one Of
the "skeerce" colors; a Turkey
red curtain, which was to be mend
ed and done duty in Toms room,
and pair of grandpa's "trowers, ,
which, though not yet condemned
to the attic, Cousin Armenia had
pronounced entirely too shabby for
further wear, and so utilized in her
| omnivorous carpet.
| Grandpa said little, but, as grand
q L