At another house they got a set of old brass fire-irons and a crane with all the hangers and pots complete, just as it had been removed from the brick fire-place and thrown up in the attic.
At the third house, Polly became enamored of a wonderful sampler, and several very old silhouettes—the latter, very different from the kind we are familiar with. As these old relics were in the attic and were considered valueless, she got them for a very small sum.
While Polly was bargaining for these trifles, Eleanor was in the grandmother’s room looking at several marvelous patch-work quilts. The old dame told Eleanor the story connected with each quilt; and one, the unusual one of silk pieces, as well as worsteds, patched in with calico, velvet and other odd materials, was said to be made of a collection of famous bits from gowns worn by the ladies of Revolutionary Days.
How the old grand-dame ever came into possession of such a valuable quilt, was beyond Eleanor’s comprehension. Then Polly and the house-wife joined her, and Polly was shown the quilt.
“How very interesting,” remarked she.
“Yes, and I’ll tell you how it came about,” explained Mrs. Johnson. “We’ve always lived on this place, and when the Army passed this way, our folks helped out in all sorts of ways.
“During the winter that General Washington and his Lady were stationed at Morristown, there was lots of doings all about the county. You’ll read in the history of Lady Washington, how she was entertained by the first families about here—the Fords, the Footes, and others.
“Our great-grandmother was a fine needlewoman and went about to the houses making gowns and cloaks for the ladies. She always saved the scraps of silk and stuff that was wasted, and of these she patched several quilts. On the back of each bit of these materials, she pasted little book-muslin tickets that had the name and date printed on it, of the lady and the occasion she wore the gown. So on the back of each of these pieces is still to be found the printing of that ancestress of mine.”
“Oh, isn’t this interesting!” exclaimed Polly, eagerly.
And Eleanor asked: “Where are the other quilts?”