“It will be a good day to put a quilt in the frame,” said Aunt Prissy, the morning after Faith’s birthday. “You and Donald can help me with it right after breakfast; then while you children are off to the lake I will mark the pattern.”  
“Can’t I help mark the pattern?” asked Faith, who had sometimes helped her mother, and thought it the most interesting part of the quilting.
 
The quilting-frame, four long strips of wood, was brought into the sitting-room¹ and rested on the backs of four stout² wooden chairs, forming a square. The frame was held firmly together at the corners by clamps and screws, so that it could be changed and adjusted to fit the quilt.
 
This quilt was a very pretty one, Faith thought, as she watched Aunt Prissy fasten it to the frame with stout linen³ thread. It was made [Pg 151]of bits of bright woolen⁴ cloth. There were pieces of Faith’s new dresses, and of the dresses made for Louise, and they were neatly⁵ stitched together in a diamond-shaped pattern. Faith had made a good many of these, and so had Louise in the evenings as they sat with Aunt Prissy before the open fire.
 
First of all Aunt Prissy had fastened the lining⁶ for the quilt to the frame. Over this she spread an even layer of soft wool, and then over this the bright patchwork⁷ was spread and fastened. And now it was ready to mark the quilting pattern.
 
Aunt Prissy took a ball of firm twine⁸ and rubbed it well with white chalk. The cord was fastened tightly across the surface of the quilt.
 
“Now,” said Aunt Prissy, and Faith took the tight cord up and “snap” it went when her fingers released their hold, leaving a straight white mark across the quilt. Back and forth⁹ they stretched the cord and “snapped” the line, until the quilt was marked in a checkerboard pattern of white lines, which the quilters would follow with their neat stitches.
 
“I believe I’ll have a quilting bee to-morrow,” said Aunt Prissy.[Pg 152] “When you and Donald start out you can go down and ask the minister’s wife, and be sure and say that we shall expect Mr. Fairbanks to tea. Then ask Neighbor Willis and her husband, and Mrs. Tuttle. I think that will be a pleasant number.”
 
“May I help quilt?” asked Faith.
 
“Of course you may. Tell Mrs. Tuttle to bring her daughter. And now, my dear, in what manner will you ask our friends to the quilting party and to tea?” asked Aunt Prissy, looking down at her little niece with her pretty smile.
 
“I shall rap at the minister’s door first, of course; and when Mrs. Fairbanks opens the door I shall make my best curtsy, like this:” and Faith took a bit of her skirt in each hand, and bent¹⁰ in a very pretty curtsy indeed; “and I shall say: ‘Good-morning, Mrs. Fairbanks. My Aunt Prissy will be very happy if you and the minister will come to her quilting bee to-morrow afternoon and stay to tea.’”
 
Aunt Prissy nodded approvingly. “I think that will do very nicely indeed. Now put on your things and run along. Donald is waiting.”
 
Donald and “Scotchie” were at the door when Faith was ready to start. The big dog barked [Pg 153]his delight at being allowed to go with the children.
 
“I’d like to harness him to the sled; he could draw us both,” suggested Donald, but Faith was sure that “Scotchie” would upset the sled; so her cousin gave up the project.
 
“We can go on the lake just below Mrs. Tuttle’s house, and skate along the shore home; can’t we, Cousin Faith?” asked Donald, after they had stopped at Mrs. Willis’ house and that of the clergyman.
 
“Let’s call and get Louise,” suggested Faith.
 
“Oh, there won’t be time. Look, there goes an English soldier into the shoemaker’s now. The boys all say that the shoemaker is an English spy,” answered Donald.
 
They were nearly in front of Mr. Trent’s shop now, and Faith noticed that the soldier was the one who had been on the lake the previous day, and who had called her “a little rebel.”
 
“Come to the back door, Donald. Just a moment, while I speak to Louise. And make ‘Scotchie’ keep still,” said Faith, turning into the path leading to the back door.
 
“Scotchie” was barking fiercely as if he resented the sight of the redcoat.
 
[Pg 154]
 
The soldier turned quickly. “Stop that dog before I put a bullet into him,” he called.
 
“He’s afraid,” Donald whispered to Faith, with a word to “Scotchie,” and Faith ran up the path and entered the house.
 
Donald and “Scotchie” stood waiting, the dog growling¹¹ now and then, whenever the soldier moved about on the door-step. It was evident that the shoemaker was not at home, for no answer came to the raps. In a moment Louise appeared at the door and told the man that her father was not at home.
 
“Send that boy with the dog about his business,” said the soldier.
 
“’Tis the public road, sir; and ’tis not likely he’d mind what I might say,” responded Louise smilingly, as she closed the door.
 
Donald rested his mittened¹³ hand on “Scotchie’s” head.
 
“You needn’t be afraid. I won’t let him hurt you,” Donald called.
 
The soldier came down the path scowling¹⁴.
 
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