New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-29
DELY'S QUILTS.
\ BIT OF NORTH CAROLINA LIFE

ABTT OF NORTH CAROLINA LIFE
LIMESTONE TowssInrN c., April TO-" Won't 20
| light and warml. This question was asked me by
tho postmaster as rode the hill to the solitary
heuse where Government has ordained that mall faci-
tiles may be enjoyed BY the Inhabitants OF the sur
rounding country. rather by those Inhabitants who
know enough to comprehend what postonice ISL
there DO any such people.
was cold and stiff from riding In chill wind. and
Immediately resolved to accept the invitation of the
Official particularly. half mile back had brokea
nv strrup strap. and had only barely succeeded In
rescung tho strrup without breaking my neck at tho
same time. Therefore / made answer. al reckon,'
and slipped of the saddle.
When you have said 81 reokon.S In response TO q
request from mountanccr in these regions. you arc.
perhaps, moro bound than by a simple Affirmative
| Indeed. I am not sure but that they tako oath by
laying hand the Bible and pronouncng these words
more solcmnly than usual
Naturally, the post.oflco is kept by q man who can
read and write He was also able TO say to me that
thero was right smart Of wind blowing" and no
added to my amazement, that there had been great
change in tho atmosphere since the day before
did not wonder that who In this country could
appropriately a word like atmosphere should have
| received o Government position TO be sure. this
ofice is kept in a small wickerwork basket. supple
mentod by little steel clip, which hangs against the
wall above The CLIP holds the letters which are
brought TO DO mailed. This know, because ! saw
my contributions put there, after they had been duly
studied by the man. and by woman supposed to be
his wife, who camo in rather dlshevoed as to the
fasenings Of her dress, though and tight
as to the knob Of her hair at the back Of her head
She held one OF the letters long that afraid
that the intensity Of her gaze upon 1t might act as
burning glass, and that tho paper would ignite and
before my eyes. There wasn't anything else
in the clip what had contributed and further
Judged to the ordinary size Of the mail sent Off from
this ONCE by remark the woman addressed to tho
postmaster-in-chiof She said
"Psw. wc-uns amt had no sich mail as that there
mail sence them furrners stsyin at the Gap last
SUMNER
Having spoken thus. this person forward
toward the great fire place where sitting before
an immense fire. sauatted down foot-stool at the
other side of the chimney, and hcr undivided at
tonton to me, in much the in which she had
previously given It TO the letters had brought
Meanwhile. the man. who was evidently far superior
TO his hcpmcet. slowly poking the contents
Of tho basket and patiently studying the superscrp
lions the different packages that he might select
those which belonged TO me and my friends sat
beneath tho woman's answering examination and
tried not to squlrm. but to seem unconscious Use
less attempts believe my stolid-ooking calf
skin boots that were stretched toward the fire. wrn-
ed and tried to wiithe away from those gimeteyes,
and my muddy riding skirt wavered in the ordeal
But those eyes did not waver The woman was fair
complected,S sho had yeowish hair and eyebrows, a
thin mouth and tooth. She also had tucked
away In ono cheek a good-slzed lump OF backy,"
which doubtless the principal reason why the
enoyer OF the tobacco occasionally. with the slightest
possible turning OF the head. and In the most matter
of.fact way, elected swift and unentng stream Of
yellow liquid upon the stone which nearest her
the hearth. and which served as a fredoG" This
liquid Kissed sharply. then subsidized leaving COM
pany again in silence.
There was not particle Of expression uuon the
woman's face Her hands. looking scratched and
grimy, II they had worked digging stumps-only
stumps arc not dug in this country-were now lying
llstless on her lap. Her whole existence. for tho
icing, was merged In stare. OF which was tho
object I was beginning to DO sorry that had
aightod TO warm, when. without warning. the post
masters wife spoke. Her words were extremely
expected. and for a moment was too bcwdered to
reply What she said was
"Now you-uns re got warm. reckon yo'd like to
see my new bedQullts."
Finally I stammered something to the effect that
II would give great pleasure to see her new bed.
CULTS.
As she to leave the room. her husband came |
forward with package Of letters and papers which |
he had ariuousy selected. and then tied with twino |
In such a manner that could hang them on my |
pommeL lilo a largo man. and dressed in a |
decent coat OF faded blue. and gray trousers: he |
wore russell leather leggings mention his clothing
particularly because noticed II particularly. his gar
ments being tho first masculine attire had vet |
since came to the mountains which was not more or |
less tattered. This was fair Of hair and beard,
and had bright blue eyes of frank and pleasing
preston. His face emphasized conclusion that |
these mounaineers are mostly blond race.
This man placed tho postal bundle In my lap and |
locked down at me with an ndulgent smile, IT, being |
a man, he would be kind and forboarIng toward all
decided that he might be thinking OF his wife than
Of me-
"TaInt much amusement she en- gtr he said, jerk
Ing his head round the door through which his partner
had disappeared IN hopo you'll be Interested IS
you be In them quilts It III please her heap II
you be- You see she lost her last twin, she Amt
had no Glance to take up her mind She en- read s
good g anybody, N lot her pick out the letters for
folks sometimes, but thcre amt many letters, N
times she gets 'em kind Of mixed up. II you here
any time when an't here, and DEFY gifts your mall
you en- jcs look 1t over foro you take 1t away. She
can read g good Is anybody, but woman's liable to
make mistakes, you know
] was just acknowledging that women prone to
error, when there shutting at the door It
opened. and DEFY entered, her arms laden with large
pieces OF patchwork The husband said that he would
90 with the sowing OF them oats, and strobe out OF
he room, leaving In my mind decided liking for him
The first thing Dely did was to expectorate freely
hat Immediately aware that she had RETAINED
rom doing during her absence. AS as she
,ould speak she said she reokoned didn't use backy
10 II wouldn't be any use TO offer mo a chaw. When
said no. she told me that, IL ever had chawed, I
would know the comfort Of and wouldn't give II up
IN no count. She further informed me that backy
md patchwork had carried her through heaps of
Ioubc. After she had said this, and had murmured
assent she added that the Lord had been over.
present help to her also, and that His strong had
zen under her to lift her up when crossn bowy seas
4 nction. These sentences were spoken in that GLIB
way vblch told they had probably boon learned from
reachcr. remained SILENT suspccug from the draw.
ne down Of tho childish and yet grownup faco before
no that DEFY might be going to talk plousr for
inc. But when she began to unfold her armful OF
patchwork the bed, the sight of 1t drove all other