ra work, Araminta's eighth patchwork quilt was made for
quilting, and the Ladies' Aid Society was invited to Miss Mehitable's
for the usual Summer revelry of quilting and gossip. Miss Evelina was
invited, but refused to go.

After the festivity was over, Miss Mehitable made a fruitful excavation
into a huge chest in the attic, and emerged, flushed but happy, with
enough scraps for three quilts.

"This here next quilt, Minty," she said, with the air of one announcing
a pleasant surprise, "will be the Risin' Sun and Star pattern. It's
harder 'n the others, and that's why I've kep' it until now. You've
done all them other quilts real good," she added, grudgingly.

Araminta had her own surprise ready, but it was not of a pleasant
nature. "Thank you, Aunt Hitty," she replied, "but I'm not going to
make any more quilts, for a while, at any rate."

Miss Mehitable's lower jaw dropped in amazement. Never before had
Araminta failed to obey her suggestions. "Minty," she said, anxiously,
"don't you feel right? It was hot yesterday, and the excitement, and
all--I dunno but you may have had a stroke."

Araminta smiled--a lovable, winning smile. "No, I haven't had any
'stroke,' but I've made all the quilts I'm going to until I get to be
an old woman, and have nothing else to do."

"What are you layin' out to do, Minty?" demanded Miss Mehitable.

"I'm going to be outdoors all I want to, and I'm going up to Miss
Evelina's and play with my kitten, and help you with the housework, or
do anything else you want me to do, but--no more quilts," concluded the
girl, firmly.

"Araminta Lee!" cried Miss Mehitable, speech having returned. "If I
ain't ashamed of you! Here's your poor old aunt that's worked her
fingers to the bone, slaving for you almost ever since the day you was
born, and payin' a doctor's outrageous bill of four dollars and a
half--or goin' to pay," she corrected, her conscience reproaching her,
"and you refusin' to mind!

"Haven't I took good care of you all these eighteen years? Haven't I
set up with you when you was sick and never let you out of my sight for
a minute, and taught you to be as good a housekeeper as any in Rushton,
and made you into a first-class seamstress, and educated you myself,
and looked after your religious training, and made your clothes? Ain't
I been father and mother and sister and brother and teacher and
grandparents all rolled into one? And now you're refusin' to make
quilts!"