Year: 1863




Such was the name. given to party OF
young girls, who attended cousin Lizzios
quilting party, one warm afternoon in early
spring time. At the time to which reier,
quilting parties -as Is usual in country
places-were quito common; and Lizzie, hav'
ing one OF those all.important articles neces-
sary for housekeeping, ready to be Joined
together, by the thread and medic, kindly
asked several Of us girls If wc would not
como one afternoon and assist her; and we,
knowing that an afternoon, spent in Lizzie 9
and Aunt C-'s company. always passed
pleasantly away to be reflected upon with
pleasure, gladly accepted the invitation. So
when the long-wishcd for afternoon arrived
we set out for Lizzie's. And though the walk
ing was somewhat bad on account OF the
mud, yet we were not to be denied OF our
anticipated visit by that, but quickly as pos.
sblo wended our way to the pleasant little
cottage where Lizzie rcsidcd-vcry glad when
we arrived there.


We were received with great cordiality,
both by aunt and Lizzie, and after few
minutes rest we took the places assigned us
around the noted quilt. Mary, (that being
tho name of one of the girls) not because
she was the eldest of the group-for that
she was not; but for some other reason, with
which am not acquainted. unless that she
was deemed the most capable OF acting in
that capacity-bcing a school'ma'am-pre-
sided as oversecr. We set about our work
in good earnest, thinking occasionally OF the
good things in store for us in tho cupboard
which we felt quite sure had been prepared
and which thought made our fingers MIN
bic as mice. We were equally as merry, al
though busily plying our needles, when Liz
zie having occasion to 90 the window, espied
that fire was fast making its way over her
fathers bayfield,. The alarm of fire was
quickly given, and We girls, thinking We
might bc of service in allaying its fast spread
ing flames, quickly left our seats, and not
stopping to don bounets, rushed out of doors
each one ready to lend helping hand. As
we rushed out we heard auntic calling tor
"the girls to bring water" which direction,
was no sooner heard to be given, than we all
started to obey it. On passing back through
the kitchen in the direction of the we'll
which was at the back door-we found lot
Of Aunt C-'stin milk pans on the kitchen
table, and seizipg them we made our way In
haste to tho well. After filling them, which
was no slow work, We started with such
speed rs would do credit to any fireman, for
the bayfield,, but some of us were 40 unlor-
tunate as to spill the greater part OF the
water before reaching the place OF action
so that we failed to render very efficient ser
vice, through tho means of water, as we
were equally unfortunate every successive
time. BY this failure, wo found wo must re-
sort to some other source, which some OF us
did, by beating on the fre with clubs hastily
procured, and therefore not very we'll adapt
ed to such service, but, however, answered
the means for which they were procurcd.-
Myself. not being SO fortunate as the rest, to
procure q club Of any sort, foolishly took
my hands, but luckily did not get them
burned though l found them to be somewhat
blackened on examining them after having
helped extingush the fre-as | prided my
self had done. 1t was with rejocings we
bcheld the last Of the flames extingulshed for
we had greatly feared for the safety of Uncle
SIS harm, as the fire on our first discovery
was rapidly spreading in that direction, but
with our united efforts we at last conquered,
much to the delight Of Uncle s. and
Aunt C.


On inquiry as to the cause of the FIRE. it
was ascertained that two little boys by tho
names Of Charles and Henry, had set fire TO
some brush on the lower edge Of the farm
and the wind being in the right direction
had rapidly driven the flames toward the
buildings.


OF our appearance on again entering the
house you may well judge as being ridicu.
lous; for we in our haste did not stop to
procure aprons, but dexteriously caught up
the skirts OF our dresses, and fastened them
to the waist, in order to prevent their being
burned or blackened, by coming in contact
with the fire or SCOT; 80 with that style Of
dress, and with hands blackened, and faces
partaking somewhat Of the same hue, our
appearance could not be otherwise than ridic-
ulous; but by the use Of soap and water,
comb and brush, we soon made ourselves quite
prcsentablo again. 1t was, however, some
what of job, to remove the dusky coloring
smut, and required hard and vigorous scrubs.


But oh what q sight did we behold as
we looked into auntie's Kitchen The pans
which We had found SO nicely arranged, were
all scattered around, and the floor bore I'M
misfakabie evidence of water having been
spilled there, and also the marks of many
footsteps; to say tho least well.marked