From the book, Rhymes and Roses, copyright 1895, Frederick A. Stokes Company.
This is a photo of a portion of an old Crazy Quilt for those of you who are not familiar with this Victorian style quilt.
“Aunt Jemima’s Quilt”
by Anonymous
A miracle of gleaming dyes
Blue, scarlet, buff and green;
O ne’er before my mortal eyes
Such gorgeous hues were seen!
So grandly was the plan designed,
So cunningly ’twas built,
The whole proclaimed a master mind –
My Aunt Jemima’s quilt.
Each friendly household far and wide
Contributed its share;
It chronicled the country side
In colors quaint and rare
From belles and brides came rich brocade
Enwrought with threads of gilt;
E’en buxom widows lent their aid
To Aunt Jemima’s quilt.
No tapestry from days of yore,
No web from Orient loom,
But paled in beauteous tints before
This strange expanse of bloom.
Here glittering stars and comet shone
O’er flowers that never wilt;
Here fluttered birds from worlds unknown
On Aunt Jemima’s quilt.
O, merry was the quilting bee,
When this great quilt was done;
The rafters rang with maiden glee,
And hearts were lost and won.
Ne’er did a throng of braver men
In war clash hilt to hilt,
Than sought the smiles of beauty then
Round Aunt Jemima’s quilt.
This work of art my aunt esteemed
The glory of the age;
No poet’s eyes have ever beamed
More proudly o’er his page.
Were other quilt to this compared,
Her nose would upward tilt;
Such impudence was seldom dared
O’er Aunt Jemima’s quilt.
Her dear old hands have gone to dust,
That once were lithe and light;
Her needles keen are thick with rust
That flashed so nimbly bright.
And here it lies by her behest,
Stained with the tears we spilt,
Safe folded in this cedar chest –
My Aunt Jemima’s quilt.
This poem refers, no doubt, to a Crazy Quilt of the late 19th century. While I enjoyed most of the poem, I just about shrieked at the ending. The thought of a Crazy Quilt folded in a cedar chest was so alarming! To read tips about properly storing quilts and fabrics, please read my book, Straight Talk About Quilt Care II, available on CD as an e-book, and sold on my website or at amazon.com
Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications
