FullReads

“Ephraim Scranton told me that the commissioners had come as far as the Three Mile Tavern, and that he rather ‘spected they’d be along here to-night,” said John, as he was helping round the baked beans to the silent company at the tea table.

“To-night?–do tell, now!” said Aunt Hitty. “Then it’s time we were awake and stirring. Let’s see what can be got.”

“I’ll send my new overcoat, for one,” said John. “That old one isn’t cut up yet, is it, Aunt Hitty?”

“No,” said Aunt Hitty; “I was laying out to cut it over next Wednesday, when Desire Smith could be here to do the tailoring.

“There’s the south room,” said Aunt Hitty, musing; “that bed has the two old Aunt Ward blankets on it, and the great blue quilt, and two comforters. Then mother’s and my room, two pair–four comforters–two quilts–the best chamber has got—-“

“O Aunt Hitty, send all that’s in the best chamber! If any company comes, we can make it up off from our beds,” said John. “I can send a blanket or two off from my bed, I know;–can’t but just turn over in it, so many clothes on, now.”

“Aunt Hitty, take a blanket off from our bed,” said Grace and Dick at once.

“Well, well, we’ll see,” said Aunt Hitty, bustling up.

Up rose grandmamma, with, great earnestness, now, and going into the next room, and opening a large cedar wood chest, returned, bearing in her arms two large snow white blankets, which she deposited flat on the table, just as Aunt Hitty was whisking off the table cloth.

“Mortal! mother, what are you going to do?” said Aunt Hitty.

“There,” she said; “I spun those, every thread of ’em, when my name was Mary Evans. Those were my wedding blankets, made of real nice wool, and worked with roses in all the corners. I’ve got them to give!” and grandmamma stroked and smoothed the blankets, and patted them down, with great pride and tenderness. It was evident she was giving something that lay very near her heart; but she never faltered.

“La! mother, there’s no need of that,” said Aunt Hitty. “Use them on your own bed, and send the blankets off from that; they are just as good for the soldiers.”

“No, I shan’t!” said the old lady, waxing warm; “’tisn’t a bit too good for ’em. I’ll send the very best I’ve got, before they shall suffer. Send ’em the best !” and the old lady gestured oratorically.

They were interrupted by a rap at the door, and two men entered, and announced themselves as commissioned by Congress to search out supplies for the army. Now the plot thickens. Aunt Hitty flew in every direction,–through entry passage, meal room, milk room, down cellar, up chamber,–her cap border on end with patriotic zeal; and followed by John, Dick, and Grace, who eagerly bore to the kitchen the supplies that she turned out, while Mrs. Ward busied herself in quietly sorting and arranging, in the best possible travelling order, the various contributions that were precipitately launched on the kitchen floor.

Aunt Hitty soon appeared in the kitchen with an armful of stockings, which, kneeling on the floor, she began counting and laying out.

“There,” she said, laying down a large bundle on some blankets, “that leaves just two pair apiece all round.”

“La!” said John, “what’s the use of saving two pair for me? I can do with one pair, as well as father.”

“Sure enough,” said his mother; “besides, I can knit you another pair in a day.”

“And I can do with one pair,” said Dick.

“Yours will be too small, young master, I guess,” said one of the commissioners.

“No,” said Dick; “I’ve got a pretty good foot of my own, and Aunt Hitty will always knit my stockings an inch too long, ’cause she says I grow so. See here–these will do;” and the boy shook his, triumphantly.

“And mine, too,” said Grace, nothing doubting, having been busy all the time in pulling off her little stockings.