The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-09-12

as I've had," replied MrP. Huff. "And
the premium aint nothin' al all com
pared to the loss of that carpet that ]
had callated sure on putting down In
the sittin'-room this fall"
The rags were not found in the days
that interviewed before the fair, and Mrs.
Calisty Horns carpet did get the first
premium.
"And such looking carpet aS it was,
said Mrs. Huff, somewhat spitefully
THE rags was half an inch wide, and
she'd got too much copperas in her col
oring, and the stripe was nothing to
compare to what mine would have
been."
Her loss and defeat weighed heavily
on Mrs. h uff, and she lay awake long
time thinglng the matter over after she
had gone to bed, when she came home
from the fair.
Some time after midnight, Mr.. Huff
awoke to find himself alone in bed, and
as he opened his eyes he fancied he saw
some one pass the door leading into the
hall.
"BarrIet," he called, sis that you P
There was no reply.
II wonder" he said, "if that woman
has got up in the dead of night to begir
another carpet. She shan't do i'll Har
rie', what are you doing? You sick ?"
Still Harriet did not answer. Mr.
Huff arose, wrapped quilt around him
lighted a candle and started out to in
vestigate. AS he stepped into the hal
he heard noise as Of some one moving
around in an unused attic room above
him, a room that had not been entered
for weeks, and which was now filleC
with all the odds and ends Of things tha
will collect in house as the years go or
and which a great many people cave, ,un
der the impression, usually delusior
that they will sometime "come handy.
Among the useless rubbish slowed
away in Farmer Huff's attic was the
frame of an old carpet loom on which
Mrs. Huff had woven many a carpet il
her younger day: but years had passed
since the loom had been in use. Tht
moonlight streaming IN through win
dow showed Mr.. Huff that the attic dool
was open, but there was no other ligh
in the room. ,.-. -.r
Harriet Huff he called, "what il
creation air you doing up there at thil
time o night Hunting some more tor
mented old ragsf Come right back tc
bed You'll get your death o colo
roamin' round at night !"
She took no notice of his querulous re
marks, but he heard no more sounds il
the attic. But he was too much troubled
to let the matter rest as it was, and &C
col dinghy mounted the stairs and enter
ed the attic room. There he saw some
thing that caused him to open both eye
and mouth with amszement.
At the old loom sat Mrs. Huff in hel
night clothes. In one hand she held at
old wooden shuttle, while with the 9th
or ahe fumbled around in a grain bas
full of carpet rag balls leaning against 8
post of the loom. Drawing forth bal
Of the "hit-an' miss" rags she slowly be
gan winding it on the shuttle, which sht
then passed to and fro through an imag
mary warp. The reed and batten barr
were gone, but Mrs. Huff went SLOWLY
through the motions of using them.
The amazed Mr.. Huff at once noticed
that her eyes were closed, and his be-
lief that abe had become a "stark, star
ing, crazy loonytic" changed into the
more agreeable thought that she wal
simply sound asleep. His eyes rested on
the missing carpet rags, and he mental
ly calculated ..... ... ....
Brought 'em up here herself two
weeks ago, in her sleep, by Jinks
What's goin' to become of her II she goel
and awake Her intelleckshel reason
will give way. That's what'll happen tc
her No born woman could stand it
and it will be mighty hard on all of us
She shan't make nary mother carpet
I'll buy body bristles for ev'ry room il
the house first |! Harriet Diany Huff
wake up and get 10 bed where you
b'Iong - ......
Mrs. Huff did not waken, and Mr.
Huff hesitated before speaking again.
"They say" he said to himself, "thal
it amt safe to wake up sleep walkers OF
somnambulances suddenly. Mebbe she'd
have a fit If woke her, though she dom
come of q fifty family. I'll just SET
what she does" .4. -.......-.
A moment later Mrs. Huff slowly left
the loom, and, with eyes still closed shut
the attic door behind her, walked down
stairs, and returned quietly to her bed
ut beats all" said Mr.. Huff, as be
quietly lay down beside her, but she
shan't NEEDLE with carpet rags no more
she shdn't ~
In the morning she said while dress
ing, IL dreamed bout wfeaving me a
carpet at my old loom last night. I've
had several such dreams lately"
'Hey 2" duerried Mr.. Huff drvlv
THAT reminds me that want to show
you something in the old loom room.
Come right up = .- lr..
''Wait till after breakfast"
"No, I've got more time now" .... g.
There you air Hannah Huff" said
Mr.. Huff, dramatically, as he threw
open the attic door and waved bis hands
toward the bag Of rags. l.t
Gideon HUFF ~ she said, as she sank
down on an OLD hair-covered trunk, with
her hands appraised. .. tl.-a1. n.l
"I'd say Gideon Huff IL was you, -
he replied then he went on solemnly,
occasionally shaking his finger toward
her: Harriet Diany Huff, I aint got
much to say to you, but what do say
is solemn and pertickler, and mean Il, y
you've made your last rag carpet |!
Your intelleckshel reason is givin' way
under the strain of it, to cay nothin' Of
our duds bein' cut up fore they're half
worn out. and you in stiddy pickle and
stew over your colorin' and twisted
stripes. Yon drug them r Rs up here IN
your sleep. and las night l ketched you
up here goin through weaYin' motions
IN your sleep Your mental brain pow
ara to h.ooF,inu m NJ hauufad nva. ,sx,,,,t
rags, and you've got 10 give 'em up for