 | Lines in Pleasant Places |  |
235
THE QUILTING.
In the revered ancestral days,
When folk were innocent and good,
And had not lost in selfish ways
The generous fact of neighborhood,
There was an honored custom known
—The “quilting bee” of genial fame—
Whose simple graces far outshone
Occasions of a loftier name.
When folk were innocent and good,
And had not lost in selfish ways
The generous fact of neighborhood,
There was an honored custom known
—The “quilting bee” of genial fame—
Whose simple graces far outshone
Occasions of a loftier name.
Its summons sped o'er hill and dale,
And, like the slogan of a clan,
Its note filled every passing gale,
Awaking echoes as it ran;
Till all feminity, inspired,
Rushed cap-à-pie at the appeal,
With zeal and emulation fired,
To ply, in peaceful strife, the steel.
And, like the slogan of a clan,
Its note filled every passing gale,
Awaking echoes as it ran;
Till all feminity, inspired,
Rushed cap-à-pie at the appeal,
With zeal and emulation fired,
To ply, in peaceful strife, the steel.
A work of love—no selfish aim
Inspired the hearts assembled there
About the pristine quilting-frame,
To do their devoir on the square;
The nimble fingers deftly flew,
Through “herrin'-bone,” and “cone,” and “shell,”
And stitched the fabric through and through,
With loving stitches strong and well.
Inspired the hearts assembled there
About the pristine quilting-frame,
To do their devoir on the square;
236
Through “herrin'-bone,” and “cone,” and “shell,”
And stitched the fabric through and through,
With loving stitches strong and well.
The ancient profiles on the walls
Upon the scene look primly down,
Where autumn's mellow sunshine falls
On snowy cap and homespun gown,
And listening,—if they can but hear,—
Most wondrous stories they obtain,
Of “carryin's on” afar and near,
Where gossip pours like summer rain,—
Upon the scene look primly down,
Where autumn's mellow sunshine falls
On snowy cap and homespun gown,
And listening,—if they can but hear,—
Most wondrous stories they obtain,
Of “carryin's on” afar and near,
Where gossip pours like summer rain,—
Of hap'nings that have had their day,
And hap'nings that are like to be,
While still the gleaming needles play,
With converse glib in harmony.
The ease of confidential talk
Lends to the scene its rarest charm;
No masculine the tide to balk,
Or give the sensitive alarm.
And hap'nings that are like to be,
While still the gleaming needles play,
With converse glib in harmony.
The ease of confidential talk
Lends to the scene its rarest charm;
No masculine the tide to balk,
Or give the sensitive alarm.
The work complete, a varied field,
Like human life, the thoughtful see;
But ere a pause the thought can yield,
Along come evening and the tea.
The board with homely fare is set,
And hospitality the grace
That crowns the social circle met,
Where cheerfulness and truth embrace.
Like human life, the thoughtful see;
But ere a pause the thought can yield,
Along come evening and the tea.
The board with homely fare is set,
And hospitality the grace
That crowns the social circle met,
Where cheerfulness and truth embrace.
237
And gay the evening when the beaux
Come in their 'lotted part to bear,
To sing Old Hundred through their nose,
Or in the dance to take a share;
For melody and mirth combine
To give a briskness to the time,
And festal wreaths of joy entwine
Of funny fancies or sublime.
Come in their 'lotted part to bear,
To sing Old Hundred through their nose,
Or in the dance to take a share;
For melody and mirth combine
To give a briskness to the time,
And festal wreaths of joy entwine
Of funny fancies or sublime.
Thus doth the memory return
Of a rare scene within the past;
A simple scene we may not spurn,
With modern notions gay and “fast;”
For in the light and growth of mind
We may a room for contrast see,
And in the retrospection find
A balance for the “quilting bee.”
Of a rare scene within the past;
A simple scene we may not spurn,
With modern notions gay and “fast;”
For in the light and growth of mind
We may a room for contrast see,
And in the retrospection find
A balance for the “quilting bee.”
| Lines in Pleasant Places | |