The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1892-05-26

was bare but clean. The boards of the
uneven, sunlien floor were secured
white. The stove had lost leg and
was proppcd up cripple for life. A
few pots and pans hung against the
wall. basket of twigs, gathered per-
haps as far from the house rs the woods
we had passed through, stood near the
disabled stove.
She put her iron on the fire, took
down and did up her back hair before
she began to sew on some patchwork
and talk.
One of the first things she said was:
"Mcbbe yer hev nh notion fer quilts"
She spoke with q suppressed eager
ness in her voice that betrayed a long
ing forEympathy.
"Loami he uset ter like ter see me
patchin'." As she spoke she mcditative-
ly took out her back comb and did up
her back hair again. Then she pulled
out from under the bed an ancient hair
covered trunk. From 1t she took a large
bundle.
"Ths amt dun yit, fer hain't no
place fit ter quilt in. The roof leaks,
an don't like tor rcsli putin it on.
"Whcn Loami wuz fetched back he
lowed ter git we'll an fix thcr roof, but
he liudn't. He Jest uset ter set on yon
lop (pointing to a green calico covered
lounGc) and watch me piccin' this here
| wun."
She unfolded and spread before my
eyes as she talked wonderful com
bination of Turkey red, yellow and
green calico appliqued on white mus
lin ground This here is called the
Rose o Sharin."
Any rose would have hung its head
and blushed at sight of this nancsakc.
The roses grew out of rcd and yellow
blocks They had small square buds
and right-anglcd stems.
"Them buds wuz real pcrticler work.
The quiltin' would set it ont complete.
This here one is the Star of bethlehem.
'Taint much ter look at after the rose. u
Then panorama OF the king crown,
Irish chain, ocean wave, riSin' sun,
and the courthouse steps passed before
my bewildcred eyes.
"This un is part Dutch puzzle an
part twin sisters. Loami he never set
much store by thet un. He usct ter
say them wuz the most puzzlin' pair o
twiEscs he ever seen"
Noticing an army coat and cap lying
carefully folded at tho bottom of the
trunk, | remembered the grave in the
woods and spoke OF It.
"Yer noticed it,did YER" and her voicf
softencd. "That's Loamis grave. lie
wuz my man."
Then in her slow, patient voice came
Loami's brave story.
eyer see, Loami he wuz jest uh vol
unteer. Yes, he served all through thC
rcbcllyun, an he wuz brought home
shot a most ter pieces, an nearer dead
then alive. nurscd him up ez goot
ez could, but yer see ther wuz one
bullet they never did git out. Their
he had stiffness Of the iints frum camp
in on the wet ground inebbe nights an
he couldn't lay down on account o thu
asthmy settin' in. No, he wrz nc
trouble. lie suffered awful. Loami did
but he wuz the bravcst, paticntcst mar
that you most ever did see. Volunteers
is, | rockun. lie got dretful tired, bu
he wuz thct patient an jockey"
Here the slow voice stopped lonf
enough for her to wipe her dim eyes OF
I her apron.
"Loami, he set great store by the flag
an me, When he seen wuz uncom
mon tired on wash days he used ter say
Three cheers for the ole flag an IN,
, Betsy Long may they wave
Here the wrinklcd old face lit up 70
, an instant. Then she went on
|
"But he got drctful bad ut the last
lie couldn't layner set no place Day
, an nights he jest l'nceled down on tn
, floor with his head agip the lop yonde
: a sufferin' an q sufferip', an not groau
lie seemed tired like one mornin' an
helped him up to cheer by yon win
der. lie seq ter me: Betsy, them lay
locks smell good, Them will be sor