November 1881Mary Rhawn Sievers
Widow
Logan County, Kentucky
How did you ever find me? You must be disappointed. All the stories say how pretty I was, but, now, I’m wrinkled as a prune.
It’s been years since Jesse was murdered, but I remember it perfectly. The whole story is right there, in the quilt that hangs on the wall. I never approved of hanging quilts. They should be useful things, to my way of thinking, not looked at things. But that’s what people do, these days—hang quilts from walls. My daughter’s the one responsible.
I intended that quilt as a slumber throw for an old sofa I had. I made it with my own hands, and I know each patch. They’re remnants from my party dresses. Velvet dresses, they were, and the best velvet, too.
I embroidered the shooting stars with silver gilt a
