The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-04-04
THE QUILTING BEE.

Ono winter by the Merrimac, some two-score
years ago,
You could not sec the fence>rails for the drifted
heaps Of snow; :
Tho hecks Of chickadees would come and In the
the dooryard stand,
Too hungertamed to fear the touch of cen q
boylsh hand.
sat beside the kitchen fire; the chores at last
Tho farmers wife. unwilling, owned my tasks q
resthad won.
When down the road. all silver-sweet the sleigh
bells jingle came,
And through the frosty air HEARD thrice called
in haste, my name;
dmperious grlish voice: 'Oh! john be quick,
for see,
You're wanted over at the spragues, They've
got quiltin' bee.'
a quilting beef held my breath "And pray,
what good are your
dheeded not the dame sharp tongue, she al
ways was shrew;
But coat and mufier hurried on, sprang into
tho sleigh,
And like the wind we few along behind the
squire's old bay
A little hand stole into mine, low laugh rippled
feet,
And mixed its music with the chimes so rollick-
ing and sweet;
Perhaps -perhaps-I kissed her check, the
merry blueeyed maid,
Perhaps We whispered loving words. but pace
We never staid
Till at the Spragues' our rein we drew, and
saucy Kate to me
Said airily, i've brought you, John, to Sally's
quiltin'.bee''
Tho house was gay with candlelight. the lamps
were all aglow,
Tho rudy fame came streaming forth across
ua'~ str'e vana aistins ny tina ~frama.~ their
needles out and in
Went flashing, flashing to and fro, through such
amerry din,
You could scarcely hear yourself for fun, and
when the work was Ger
Then swift we piled away the chairs, and cleared
the kitchen floor,
And Uncle Archie drew his bow across the
fiddle strings.
And men and maids we danced that night as il
our feet were wings
Ny word! the very thought OF that sets this old
heart athrill,
ia dancy again as then I danced, and with =
right good will,
If Kate could call me once again, as sweet as
sweet could be,
Come John, make haste, you're wanted John,
at Sally's quiltin'bee.''
But Kate, my Kate, for many year, no mortal
ears have heard
The tones which rang with melody, surprising
any bird;
The angels wanted her too soon: thew alwavs
want the best;
They take tho one whose absence leaves an
ache in every breast,
Her grave is in the open ground, beneath the
open sky,
Right In the fair home meadow, where her
fathers people lie:
And have been . lonely man, and numbered
oft with care.
And bowed beneath the burden that my darling
used to share.
little thought how soon the gold to ashen gray
would be
Turned darkly, when went with Kate to sally's
quiltingbee.
What's that, young man? You've come to SAY
that you and daughter Sue
Would like to join your hands for life-that she
has promised you,
In case her father will consent, He will. thu
dear old dad
She cries, and It's the same sweet way her dar.
ling mother had.
And she, though not touch to Kate has dano-
ing eyes of blue,
ana cheeks that hide the dimples, where the
blush comes peepng through
Take her. young man. be good to her; il I have
had my day,
I'll not begrudge the happiness that seems to
point that wav
But much doubt If you will know the bliss that
fell to me,
When Kate said Eyes that night we went to
Sally quilting.bee
Margaret E. Sangster. in Once Week