Long cords
rubbed with chalk were snapped upon the surface of the quilt to mark out
the lines to be stitched; wax, thread, and scissors were passed from one
to another; and every woman began to sew and to talk as fast as she
could.
I stood in the doorway and watched this scene with considerable
interest, for I had never before seen anything of the kind. The quilting
ladies, to every one of whom I had been presented, cordially invited me
to enter and take a seat with them; some of the more facetious offering
to vacate their places in my favor, and, more than that, to show me how
to thread and use a needle. I found from their remarks that it was
rather an unusual thing for a man to take an interest in this part of
the proceedings at a quilting party.
After a time I went into the parlor, which room was then occupied by the
young men and young women. It was ever so much pleasanter out-of-doors
than in this somewhat gloomy and decidedly stuffy parlor; but as these
people were guests at a quilting party, they knew it was proper to enjoy
themselves within the house to which they had been invited.
The young folks were not nearly so lively and animated as their elders
in the next room, but they had just begun to play a game which could be
played in the house, and in which every one could participate, and as
the afternoon wore on they would doubtless become warmed up.
Pages:
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200