Well, I did some more checking and with the help of a lot of interested people, we now know it is a Beard Guard, Whisker Guard or Chin Guard, all of which are a heckuva lot more better named than Drool Rag! So, my next quilt will have a Chin Guard on it. I think I will use natural muslin, make two sets and go from there.
After I got a name for it, I googled it and there is all kinds of information on it. I am still so God-thankful that I can still learn something that is historical and still practical for today. Who would have ever thunk it? A piece of material added on to the top and bottom of a quilt that will protect the quilt itself. I found it most interesting how people back in the "olden days" were so much smarter and inventive with practical things than we are today. In a throw-away society as we live in now, what a nice "green" idea to save something precious like a quilt and keep it clean. I am wondering now if one could use their stash and make a colorful chin guard. Even though, technically, no one will see it except the people who are using the quilt, it is still using up what we probably would have thrown out or given away or something.
I have a lot of people I can tell this bit of info to and thanks to all of you that helped, we have a legitimate reason to add this to our quilt.
Thanks again! Edie