The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-11-02


9sfYHV girls in Eden that
she liked, It was
the lone woman's ''love-quilt," with
her shades of affection deliberately
outlined in the tiny irregular pieces
composing it.
"I won't have any pieces in it that
call up anybody that's stingy or stuck
up or meddlesome or cruel" she said.
"I'll have it just as near like fresh air
and sunshine as il can be, so when
I'm sick it'll seem like o nice, bright
story"
"But you needn't have counted
every stitch" protested her sister,
Mrs. Billings, in whose home she had
her cozy room.
''Anybody would think you were an
astronomer counting stars, to see how
particular you've been" added pretty
Hetty Barton, for whose benefit the
quilt was now exhibited; and she
looked at the paper, covered with
cabalistic figuring, which was Aunt
Bina's actual record of stitches set.
swell, stars or stitches, we like to
see how many we've got, and counting
is only pastime. The minister says
we can't think of two things at the
same time, but somehow 1 con count
my stitches and have most profitable
thoughts right along. 1 like the way
I've disposed Of my lights and darks,
don't you?" Aunt Bina shook out the
great square complacently.
"It is beautiful" Hetty exclaimed.
"Why, you've got piece Of my light
blue in the middle; and here is my
pink, and there is my dark bluel"
eyes; that's because l." Aunt
Bina had almost said ''love you," but
she was not in the habit Of expressing
herself in that way.
The young girl looked at her ques-
tioningly, then suddenly stopped and
dropped kiss upon her forehead.
Don't be foolish, child, said Aunt
Bina.
When the last minute triangle was
finally set In its corner, Mrs. Billings
made q Quilting" to which every
woman came who was invited, for it
was we'll understood by this time
that goodness as we'll as gowns-ac-
cording to Aunt Bina's measurement
was represented.
'.She ought to know who amongst
us is angelic, after being in our sick
rooms and kitchens for so many
years." they said.
In those days cuttings were sup
posed to be enlivened by much gos-
sip, but the women who gathered that
afternoon, in the spring Of 1852, wore
anxious faces and had but one theme
of conversation, the sacrifices that the
overburdened nation seemed to be
preparing to ask from them.
"They have opened recruiting
Office" said one to another.
Captain Pillsbury's in charge.
His furlough is almost up, but he
means to get company enlisted be-
fore he goes back, was the next bit
of news.
II should think we we're far enough
out of the world to be let alone," said
Mrs. Hastings, as she snapped the
cord, wet in starch water, across the
triangles.
"That's crookedl" interrupted her
neighbor, referring to the work; then
she added, coming back to the topic,
"But I don't wonder yon feel so,
with three grown sons to worry
about"
"We've no boys to spare, here in
Eden," added Mrs. Thurston, "but
Massachusetts, hasn't failed to do her
part so far, and I've expected our
time would come"
"Her John'll be one of the first to
enlist, now you seel" whispered two
busy workers on the opposite side OF
the quilt.
And so it proved; for when at twi-
light the husbands and brothers came
in to partake of Mrs. Billings bounti-
full supper, bringing the Boston pa
pers and the news of the day, they
gave the names OF those who had en-
listed that afternoon, and the first one
was John Thurston's.
"And probably Harry Thurston
will join that company before it's
filed; but his mother needn't know
about John now," they said. So it
was whispered in the room where she
sat; but she understood the message
that passed from eye to eye. Hetty
Barton understood, too, although she
did not raise her eyes from the line
where she was setting small, even
stitches. The cir waves were full oI
echoes in go, and Hetty did not need
even Johns words, which came later
in the evening, 70 confirm their dire
prophecies.
Then how the war fever spread
through Edenl Around the recruit
ing-office, where large flag proudly
loated. on the store steps. ct the post