Patchwork christmas, p.20
Patchwork Christmas, page 20
He turned toward the house. He hadn’t felt this way since that long-ago day when he perched in a tree and watched gray uniforms emerge from a cornfield. Everyone told him he’d been brave that day. Maybe he had. He’d wanted to defend his friends. What was a man worth if he wasn’t willing to try just as hard to save himself? Taking a deep breath, Peter whispered, “Help,” and headed inside.
It was still dark when Jane rose and lit the lamp in the window. Without bothering to do anything about her hair, she slid her bare feet into the moccasins Peter had made for her, then grabbed a blanket and headed into the other room. Peter. She’d heard him leave the house. He hadn’t come back inside. The idea of him sleeping in the barn spoke volumes. Whatever flights of fancy she’d entertained, whatever she thought she’d read in his dark eyes, obviously she’d been wrong. He was avoiding her.
She laid Mr. Huggins’s letter on the table, then lit another lamp and tiptoed to Peter’s room to look in on Anna. The old woman was sleeping peacefully. Whatever vestiges of illness she was fighting off, it was obvious she no longer needed special care. Mr. Huggins was right. It was time to go.
Back in the main room, Jane heated water. She didn’t want to disturb Anna by grinding coffee. She would settle for hot water until everyone was awake. Then they’d have a proper breakfast, and she’d tell Molly what she’d decided they must do.
She sat for a moment staring down at the letter, praying desperately for peace. Finally it came. Taking up the pencil, she wrote the letter that Peter would take to the depot today. Tears slid down her cheeks as she signed it, then folded it and slipped it into the envelope. Swiping them away, she clutched the mug of warm water between her palms and looked around the room. She gazed up at the sampler. For a moment, she closed her eyes. Please be my strong tower today.
Molly was going to be so angry about not having time to finish her doll quilt before they left. She would promise the child that they would have a cabinet photo taken of her with Katie and the finished doll quilt so that Anna could see it. Maybe that would help. Certainly Anna would enjoy a memento of their brief friendship.
The door opened, and Jane sprang to her feet. Peter moved slowly, unwrapping his scarf, removing his hat, hanging everything up before he said a word. When he did, it was to nod at the envelope on the table. “I was hoping …” He paused. “You’ve written your answer.”
Jane nodded.
“I wanted to …” His voice trailed off again.
“You must be so cold.” Jane set the mug of warm water down. “Did you sleep at all? Anna’s resting. I haven’t heard her cough once. I’ll make coffee. And breakfast. Just let me get dressed.” She headed for the bedroom.
“Don’t go.”
She turned to face him, afraid to say anything, afraid she’d heard what she wanted to hear, not what he’d actually said.
“Did you hear me, Jane? I said, ‘Don’t go.’”
“I heard.”
He looked away. “I have a medal for bravery. For what I did that day.” He drew his palm across the scarred cheek. “But I’m not brave. I’m terrified right now. Terrified to talk and afraid that if I don’t I’ll lose—” He closed his eyes, then finally looked her way. Shook his head. “Molly’s right. I am a monster. I know that. Stephen McClure gave you so much. You had a servant, for goodness’ sake. And this Huggins fellow? I can’t compete with any of it.” He took a deep breath. “But I love you, Jane. Heaven help me. I love you, and I love Molly. But if you can’t love me back, I understand. Really, I do.”
Jane swallowed. Couldn’t he hear her heart beating? See her trembling? She nodded toward the letter. “I did my best to explain—to apologize. I never intended to mislead him. I just—I just wanted what was best for Molly.” She paused. “We lost the house, Peter. Stephen made some terrible investments, and then he died, and we lost it. I had to sell it to pay all the people we owed money. I paid them, but—” She began to cry. “Things got hard. And I was so lonely. I answered an advertisement in the paper. And Mr. Huggins—” She gave a short, throaty laugh. Shook her head. “Poor Mr. Huggins. I told him we would be catching the train for Omaha.”
“Omaha?” Peter frowned.
Jane nodded. “However desperate my situation, I could never marry one man when I was in love with another.” Her voice wavered. “I didn’t think you—” She cleared her throat. “You didn’t kiss me. That night when you could have. You made a joke instead of kissing me.”
“You wanted me to kiss you?”
She nodded. “I love you, too, Peter. I just—”
Whatever she was going to say slipped her mind as he pulled her into his arms.
“Molly.” Jane tickled the sleeping child’s cheek. “It’s time to get up. Breakfast is ready.”
“I’m not hungry.” She was lying with her back to Jane, and she didn’t budge.
“Peter’s taking us to post my letter to Mr. Huggins. He said you wanted a sleigh ride, and it’s a beautiful day. He thought you’d want to go along.”
Molly shrugged. “I want to stay here. With Anna. I want to finish Katie’s quilt.”
“I know. But you need to trust me—”
“—in the matter of Mr. Huggins,” Molly groused. “I know.” She finally rolled onto her back. And sat up. And looked from Jane to Peter and back again.
Jane leaned into Peter, and he put his arm around her as he said, “I have a question for you, Molly.”
Molly grabbed Katie and held her close. “All right. Go ahead.”
“I want to ask your mother to marry me. Is that all right with you?”
With a shout of joy, Molly launched herself into Peter’s arms, wrapped her arms around his neck, and planted a kiss, first on his good cheek and then on the bad one.
Anna spoke from where she was standing in the doorway. “What am I seeing?”
Jane let go and went to her side. “You shouldn’t be out of bed. Let me—”
Anna shooed her away. She glared at Peter. “You have asked?” Peter nodded. She looked at Jane. “And you have said yes?”
Jane nodded and glanced at Molly. “We both have.”
Anna raised both hands to the heavens. “Praise be to Gott!” She smiled and shook her head. “So sick I was of being sick.” She looked at Peter. “I thought never would you ask.”
“Mutti,” Peter scolded. “You were pretending?”
Anna shrugged. “Maybe a little.” She forced a cough, then turned toward the kitchen, waving for everyone to follow her. “Come. We have springerle for breakfast today, ja?” She grinned at Peter. “All you want.”
Discussion Questions
1. Share a favorite passage or scene from the story. Why did it resonate with you?
2. Did you learn something new, either about yourself, about the nineteenth century, or about God from this story?
3. Can you think of a time in your life (or a friend or family member’s) when you/they wanted to hide from people? How do you think having Jane and Molly in his life will change Peter’s feelings about interacting with others?
4. Have you experienced being snowbound? How did you pass the time?
5. Peter associates the aroma of springerle cookies with holidays. What scents make you think of Christmas? Do you have a special memory of a tradition that creates a sense of “home” and “family” for you? Have you ever had to celebrate Christmas away from home? What did you do to compensate?
6. Molly’s outburst about Peter being a “monster” is used in a unique way in the story. Have you had an experience when a child innocently said something that made everyone uncomfortable? How did you handle it? What would you do differently?
7. Jane isn’t really very comfortable with “farm chores” like gathering eggs. Have you ever experienced something similar? How did you react? How do you see Jane changing in years to come?
8. Brainstorm the sequel. Where do you think Peter and the family will be in five years? What would you want to see?
9. You are the casting director for the film version of A Patchwork Love. Who would you cast to play Jane? Peter? Anna? Molly? What about Mr. Huggins?
10. If you were in charge of writing epitaphs for these characters, what would you say about them?
Fouir Patch Doll Quilt
© 2011 Jo Morton Quilts
Finished Size
Blocks—2½″ x 2½″
Quilt—15½″ x 18¾″
Directions
The following instructions are for template-free method—using rotary cutter, seam allowances included.
Block Cutting:
2 (1¾″ x 1¾″) squares from each of the dark fabrics.
2 (1¾″ x 1¾″) squares from each of the medium fabrics
Setting Cutting:
6 (3″ x 3″) squares from background fabrics
3 (5?″ x 5?″) squares from assorted background fabrics, cut in half on the diagonal, twice (you will have two extra pieces) *these are cut slightly oversize
2 (3½″ x 3½″) squares cut in half in the diagonal for the corners *these are cut slightly oversize
Borders Cutting:
Inner
2 (1″ x 14½″) lengthwise cut strips for the sides
2 (1″ x 12″) lengthwise cut strips for the top and bottom
Outer
2 (2¼″ x 15½″) lengthwise cut strips for the sides
2 (2¼″ x 15¼″) lengthwise cut strips for the top and bottom
Make the Blocks
Arrange the squares to form the four patches for piecing.
Sew a medium square to a dark square, press seams toward the dark fabric. Repeat.
Pin the two segments together, matching seam intersections, then sew. Press this seam open. Square these blocks to measure 3″ x 3″.
Make the 12 Four Patch blocks.
Assemble the Quilt Top
Arrange the Four Patch blocks on point in rows of three across by four down. Be sure the dark squares are all going the same direction—vertical—and the medium colored squares the same direction—horizontal.
Position the assorted background fabric setting pieces.
Sew to make diagonal rows, pressing seams toward the alternate blocks.
Pin rows, matching seam intersections, then sew.
Using the Clipping Trick described below on the seam intersections, continue to press seams toward the alternate blocks; press the clipped intersections open. The top should measure 11″ x 14½″.
CLIPPING TRICK
This is a nifty way to create less bulk at the seam intersections of machine stitched pieces, which will result in flatter blocks.
1. Clip up to the seam line through both layers of the seam allowance ¼″ from each side of the seam intersection (the clips will be ½″ apart).
2. Now you can press the seam allowance in the direction it would like to lie (or the direction indicated in the project instructions) to reduce the bulk. Press the clipped intersection open.
Add the Borders
Pin the two 1″ x 14½″ strips to the sides of the quilt top, then sew. Press seams toward the border.
Pin the two 1″ x 12″ strips to the top and bottom of the quilt top, then sew. Press seams toward the border.
Pin the two 2¼″ x 15½″ strips to the sides of the quilt top, then sew. Press seams toward the outer border.
Pin the two 2¼″ x 15¼″ strips to the top and bottom of the quilt top, then sew. Press seams toward the outer border.
Quilting
The quilting lines form a grid over the Four Patch blocks and produce an X in each square of the Four Patch. This same grid is repeated in the alternate blocks and setting triangles.
Quilt in continuous lines from inside inner border to opposite side inside the inner border. Inner border is quilted ⅛″ from ditch. Outer border—the crosshatch quilting design is an extension of the Four Patch blocks.
Draw the quilting lines with a ruler and a chalk wheel fabric marker (use white). Since the chalk lines will disappear when quilting, you will only be able to mark one line and quilt it, mark a line and quilt it, etc. (Mark lightly!) I recommend single fold binding on all quilts from large to small, as that is what was done in the nineteenth century.
Springerlein
(German recipe adapted from a 1913 cookbook)
4 eggs
1 cup powdered sugar
Grated rind of 1 lemon
4 cups flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
Aniseed
Beat eggs thoroughly with sugar. Add lemon rind, flour, and baking powder sifted with flour, and mix quickly into loaf shape without much handling. Set in a cool place two hours. Flour a baking board and roll out dough to ¼-inch thick. Dust the mold* with flour, press the springerlein on it tightly but firmly, then turn it over and carefully remove the cakes. Cut off surplus dough, put in the remainder, and mold more. Use as little flour as possible in rolling out. Put a cloth on the table, sprinkle it with aniseed, lay cakes on it, and let it stand twelve hours in a cool room. Bake** in buttered pans.
*Springerlein molds are available through many Internet outlets and gourmet cooking shops.
**This original recipe doesn’t indicate an oven temperature or a time, probably because the women were baking in woodstoves. Modern-day recipes vary in recommendations for oven temperatures from 255 degrees to 325 degrees and time from 10 to 15 minutes.
Filling for Graham Crackers
This recipe was handwritten at the bottom of an introductory page to The Horsford Cook Book (1895) by Fannie Merritt Farmer. At the bottom of the title page, the publishers promise to “send a copy of this book, free, postpaid, on receipt of four labels from the bottom of the can of Horsford’s Baking Powder.”
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon melted butter
2 teaspoons cocoa
3 teaspoons cold, mild coffee
1 teaspoon vanilla
Add a little cream if too thick
Stephanie Grace Whitson, bestselling author and twotime Christy finalist, pursues a full-time writing and speaking career from her home studio in southeast Nebraska. Her husband and blended family, her church, quilting, and Kitty—her motorcycle—all rank high on her list of “favorite things.”
The Bridal Quilt
Nancy Moser
Dedication
To my dear friends Steph and Judy, two women who live out their own place in history with passion and character.
Chapter 1
New York City, November 1889
But Samuel, you can’t leave me alone tonight.” Ada stood within the warmth of his arms and fingered his diamond tie tack. “My evenings are empty when we’re not together.”
Samuel took her busy hands captive. “As are mine, dear lady. Your companionship is always my first choice.”
“Then why—?”
“My friends know how devoted we are to each other. So much so, that they insist I pull myself away for a Friday evening in their company.”
Ada knew the young men in their set didn’t like how she’d plucked Samuel out of their circle. She imagined they were a bit uneasy to witness the effects of true love, especially when they would rather concentrate on flirtation, frivolity, and fun. They were mere boys, while her Samuel was a man.
Her man.
The clock on the parlor’s mantel struck eight, prompting Samuel to press his lips to hers before gathering his hat and cloak.
“I’ll call on you tomorrow at one. Would you like to go to the Met? We could dine afterward.”
That sounded delightful. But Ada didn’t want to let him off so easily. “Are you certain one is late enough after your night carousing with the boys?”
He volleyed her teasing right back at her. “One fifteen then.” With a wink he left her.
The room was empty without him.
But before Ada could brood, she heard the tinkle of a bell coming from upstairs. Nana needed her.
Ada met her mother in the upper hallway. She was also on the way to answer the summons.
“I’ll go, Mother.”
“But Samuel …”
“He left.” Mother looked taken aback, so Ada explained. “He had another engagement.” When her mother’s eyebrows rose, she added, “We aren’t engaged yet, so Samuel is free to … to …”
“He’s been so attentive, Ada. You must see to it this match is made. The Alcott banking fortune is huge and—”
“I wouldn’t be marrying Samuel for his money. We love each other.”
“All the better. But you really must—”
Her grandmother’s bell saved her. “If you’ll excuse me.”
“Get him to propose, dear,” Mother said. “Samuel Alcott is an excellent catch.”
Ada was glad she was walking away so she could roll her eyes without fear of a reprimand. Yes, yes, she knew Samuel was an excellent catch, and yes, she would like nothing better than for him to propose. But her mother’s words cheapened the feelings they had for each other. For this wasn’t some arranged match; it was true love. Samuel could have been a peddler on the street and she wouldn’t love him less. They were soul mates.
She cherished any time they spent together, whether it was going to the opera, enjoying dinner at the Vanderbilts’, or sitting before the fire reading to each other. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways….
Ada couldn’t count the ways she loved Samuel. Each smile, each word, each wink, each touch left her feeling—knowing—that their love was a gift from God.
A proposal would come soon. Samuel had hinted at a special surprise he had planned for her at Christmas, which was just a month away. Marriage was inevitable, and a lifetime together was a dream that would come true.
Ada knocked softly on the door to her grandmother’s room, then entered. The gas sconces were unlit, the only light coming from an oil lamp on the bedside table. Ada sought Nana’s face. She could always tell how she was feeling by her expression. This evening there was an absence of discomfort, but her brow was furrowed. “What’s wrong?” Ada asked, taking her hand. “You seem worried.”
