Thanks for your input, Tom - you reminded me of something: another verse we used to sing had the line "She's worth the saving..." Can't remember the rest of it but I don't think it had the featherbed reference.

This slightly abstract image used to set off all sorts of associations in my mind. I THINK (don't have a copy and can't check) that in "A Death In The Family" James Agee makes some sort of reflective reference to this line.

The featherbed version certainly makes more sense! But I rather liked the slightly mystic meditations that my line set in motion. [Note to self: Get out more...]