Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-11-21

| perience ana knowledge. And then the man,
although great man, was half dumb him.
self, not having the gift of expression, so he
did not speak words that went beyond the
boys understanding.
At last every body had been asked that
they wished TO ask to come that night to
the ''quiltin'.n Finally they came back TO
their original starting point-the old log
house upon the ledge of the mountain.
"Well, MOTHER said Uncle Aaron, "they
be all comm, so do yer cleverest to-day.
How many plates and mugs have yera'
"Count 'em,n SAID Aunt Kate, pounding
into batch of bread vigorously; ''all OF
EMS on the shelves thar"
A few moments of silence, wherein Aunt
Kate went on kneading up the loaves, and
Uncle Aaron, with puckered-up brow aud
much head-work, kept murmuring low:
"Thats thirteen, fourteen, fifteen-I tell
you, mother. there's fifteen all told, countin'
in them two ere tin ones you bought o. the
peddler. What'll we dol There bees more'n
that a comin'n
"They will have TO wait their turn, then,n
said Aunt Kate, cutting that knot of the
difficulty with a single stroke. 'sThat
makes no differ We're not supposed to
keep a chimney store
The superior air of wisdom with which
his wife said this was not without its eff
feet upon Uncle Aaron. He felt a sudden
humbling estimate of himself that he had
often felt before in the presence Of his
wife's practical remedy for an embarrass-
ing situation. He stood big and awkward,
4.
I'll go and fetch IN some Of .hem ears Of
dried corn, Wen want 'em tonight" he
said, after vainly searching around for
something that he could do to help along
the approaching celebration.
"Youd better fetch in some logs for the
big chimney, said his wife, I'VE haint got
any,
San right" answered Uncle Aaron,
cheerfully, that's more in my line I'll
fetch 'em, and picking up his hat of the
floor, where he had thrown it, he went out
Aunt Kate went on pounding the bread,
with smile upon her face.
CHAPTER II.
BY half-past turee in the afternoon all
was in readiness TO receive the company
The ''store stove' shone with a brightness
that did honor to Aunt Kate's muscle, and
were bright through the same cause.
Big logs burned and cracked in the great
chimney; the wooden shelves glittered
bright with polished TINS; the box bed in
| the corner had on its best sunflower
| spread, and Aunt Kate herself, resplen-
dent in solferino-colored merino, stood in
the center of her room, looking about her
with pride A large quilting frame resting
upon four upright logs stood over at the
east side of the room. The first TO arrive
was Mother BansOm, noted for being the
stbest quiltern for miles around Her well
come was cordial.
eGive me your bonnet. Cold weather for
spring. Sittkar," said Aunt Kate.
Mother Bansom's wrinkled face looked
| gray and old after her bonnet was Off Her
long, bony hands kept moving restlessly in
her lap for a moment, and then from the
depths Of a big calico bag she brought forth
quilting needle and her thimble.
'Oh, take yer time" said Aunt Kate,
| generously.
I'D rather begin to once't" said her
guest, walking over toward the quilting
| frame.
Aunt Kate smiled, well pleased, and
looked on with admiration as this acknowl-
edged expert turned over the calico spreads
with nimtle fingers.
"How many have yeri'' she asked,
Weighing the punches of gray cotton wad-
ding.
"Thars ten rolls down here, but thar
more up thar (pointing to the loft over
head) If we need 'em. Aaron's good pro-
WIDER"
"Be thankful he's your man and no one
| else's, them said Mother Bansom.
~ be-" said Aunt Kate, nodding her head
proudly.
Very shortly all the women folks began
to arrive. All went to work Immediately
upon coming in, and they sewed and tied
and worked on the quilts until about seven
O'Clock. Then, just as the more indus
trious ones were beginning to weary with
work, and the idle ones were growing tired
| from not working, and all were wishing for
supper time to come, suddenly outside was
heard the sound of a fiddle.
"That's Tomr' cried several at once.
Just hear hIm!n
In accompaniment to the fiddle came out
the words 10 a clear, strong voice:
81 said, pretty Polly, Will you marry met
Oh no, no, dear sir, that can never bel
For never shall be happy til Billy seel
I'll go TO some tailor's. III hasten away,
I'll dress myself up in some young mans
! array;
I'll dress myself up so neat and so trim,
And I'll go and I'll fight Great Britain S
Kngr
Andthen it seemed as if the door was GO
ing to be broken in, he thumped upon it so.
"Hellopi he cried, as Aunt Kate FASTENED
to open it. Gan dead in here! MOI
reckoned you must be, seein' as how you
was all parcel of women and didn't hear
you taking Hal Hat laughed Tom, as
he came in, mischief beaming in nls blue
| eyes. what yer doing. Not through
with that ere job yet, Mother Bansomy Oh,
come now, you've done enough for to-day.
Let be-"
I'm Gene in tomorrow and finish it up
for YOU" whispered Mother Bansom, as
Aunt Kate and several others began to fold
up the work and put it away.
Gan right" nodded Aunt Kate
Just then in came Uncle Aaron. 81 seed
Bates and Durham down below. They'll be
along soon, mother. You'd better get the
victuals, hadn't yerl'
/ "Weh goin' to right now" said Aunt
Kate, as she proudly began to spread the
table. Several of her guests turned to and
helped her, and soon there was generous
board of good things that looked very
tempting to her hungry visitors. Very
shortly all the linen folks that were ex-
pected came, and all gathered around the
long table. After supper was over Aunt
Kate set to work washing up the plates,
| cups; etc, and putting away the remains Of
the feast. After she had finished, Tom,
with comical smile upon his face, took up
his fiddle, and standing in the middle OF the
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