what are some details about things at the rummage sale in a long way from chicago ?

In Chapter Six, Grandma has the children sort through things in the attic for a rummage sale. At the sale, she sells a quilt, a stove-pipe hat. The quilt has the initials MLT embroidered on it, leading the buyer to believe it belonged to Mary Todd Lincoln. Grandma does nothing to correct the buyer, leaving her to believe it's a piece of history. A bonus.... the items came from Mrs. Wilcox house, recently lost to foreclosure. The items, and the belief they belonged to the Lincolns save the home.