The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-02-07

CneW on IL. 6OUn Went rapidly Down the
noun; ain side. Ttey soon came to the
house of the "Ellery folks.' Two little
mites, seeming to be all pink calico and big
sun-bonnets, were sitting In the dirt out
side. A woman was busy washing with
big tub that stood in the doorway. Chill,
dren and country folks take up the thread
of existence just where they have dropped
it.
Mothers a goin' to have her quiltin' TO-
night, can you come?n said Uncle Aaron,
without ceremony.
Mrs. Ellery rested her soapy hands on the
edge of the tub and answered: "Mebbe.
Who's comin'!'
''Most all the north side folks, reckon
Sarah and Tom, and the babes, and Dun
ham and Susan-most everybodyln said
Uncle Aaron, sweeping out his arm COM
prehensively.
"4es," sad the woman, "we'll come-but
tell Sarah not to expect much from me.
I'm tuckered out now, and hain't had no
time to do my own sewing"
''That's all right,'' SAID Uncle Aaron;
"telt Tom to bring his fiddle with him.
eyes," nodded Mrs. Eilery, lifting her
head for moment, ''he'll fetch it."
"Come OIL, Jacob" said his father, but as
hestrode off he stopped long enough drop
mites, who received this gift from the clouds
without CLEAN of thankfulness One of
them, indeed, inspected hers very closely,
at which Uncle Aaron smiled and said:
''She's wise un, she is.'
The two trudged along, crossing the long
stretches of distance that lay between the
various houses, with scarcely break in
their silence; and yet that walk was not a
lonely or a void one, either to the father
or to the son. The man saw more than the
boy had lived more-had felt more-but
there was that in the lad of comprehension
by sympathy that is the next best thing to eX-
perience and 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." Finally they came back to
their original startln g -point-the old log
house upon the ledge of the mountain.
"Well, MOTHER" sad Uncle Aaron, s'they
be all a comm, 50 do yer cleverest to-day.
How many plates and mugs have yer?'
Count 'em," sad Aunt Kate, pounding
into batch of bread vigorously; 'all of
'em's on the shelves thar"
A few moments of silence, wherein Aunt
Kate went on l1neading up the loaves. and
Uncle Aaron, with puckered-up brow and
much headwork, kept murmurlng low:
"Ihats thirteen, fourteen, fifteen-I tell
you, mother, there's fifteen all told, countin'
in them two ere tin ones you bought O. the
pedd4er. Whatll we do? There bees more'n
that a comin'n
"They will have to wait their turn, then"
said Aunt Kate, cutting that knot of the
difficulty with single stroke. THAT
makes no differ. We're not supposed to
keep chiney 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
hulnbling estimate of himself that he had
often felt before in the presence of his
Wlfe's practical remedy for an embarrass-
ing situation. He stood big and awkward,
RUBBING his cheek with one hand. ''Reckon
III go and fetch in some Of them ears of
dried corn, We'll want 'em to-night,' he
said, after vainly searching around for
something that he could do to help along
the approaching celebration.
You'd better fetch in some logs for the
big chimney,n said his wife, 1--WE hain't got
any"
''All right" answered Uncle Aaron,
cheerfully, "that's more in my line-Tll
fetch 'em,n and picking up his hat off the
1loor, 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 three in the afternoon all
was in readiness to receive the company.
The ''store stoveh shone with a brightness
that did honor to Aunt Kate's muscle, and
still little later the children's rosy faces
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 it's best sunflower
spread, and Aunt Kate herself, resplen
dent in solferino-colored merino, stood in
the center of her room, looking about hes
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
chest quilter' for miles around. Her well
come was cordial
"Give me your bonnet Cold weather for
spring. Sltttar," SAID Aunt Kate.
Mother Bansoms wrinkled face looked
gray and old after her bonnet was off Her
long, bony hands kept moving restlessly in
her lap for moment, and then from the
depths of big calico bag she brought forth
aquilting 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 yer9" she asked,
weighing the punches of gray cotton wad-
ding
"Thar's ten rolls down here, but thar's
more up thar (ponting to the loft over
head if we need 'em. Aaron's good pro-
vider.n
"Be thankful he's your man and no one
elses, then," said Mother Bansom.
Il 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
trlous ones We're beginning to weary with
work, nd the idle ones We're growing tired
from not working, and all were wishing for
supper time to come, suddenly outside was
heard the sound of fiddle.
"That's Tomr' cried several at once.
"Just hear hIm!"
In accompaniment to the fiddle came out
the words IN clear, strong voice:
II said, pretty Polly, will you marry meG
Oh no. no, dear sir, that can never bel
For never shall be happy til Billy seel