Chapter XXIX: Mary Marie Goes Automobiling

“OH, my feathers and oh, my eye!” Sewing Bird was screaming, as Mary Frances came to the sewing room door for the next lesson.

“Why, what’s the matter, Sewing Bird?” asked Mary Frances.

“Not for myself, but quite contrary―
’Twas for the sake of Dick Canary!”

sang Sewing Bird frantically.

“Why, what is the matter, dear little bird?” again asked Mary Frances.

Sewing Bird replied:

“While I was sitting here in state,
Just what happened I’ll now relate:

“A gentle scratching at the door,
A gentle foot-step on the floor,
Then Jubey, black as a blackberry,
Looked up at pretty Dick Canary,
And what he said, to me seemed clear:―
‛Ah, bird, your voice is very dear!
Your feathers shine like purest gold
As in the sun they do unfold;
Oh, sing to me, you lovely thing,
Oh, sing and sing and sing and sing!’

“Then Dick Canary hurt his throat,
He sang so loud on every note.

“‛Now, people love to eat of chicken―
If I stole one, I’d get a lickin’,
And then you’d hear an awful scream―
“Why don’t you give that cat ice-cream?”
A chicken and a bird to me
Seem much alike―do they to thee?
How classic is your pretty voice,
I love to hear you make that noise.
Oh, sing to me, you lovely thing,
Oh, sing and sing and sing and sing.’

“Then Dick Canary hurt his throat,
He sang so loud on every note.

“‘Music has charm to soothe, I believe,
The wild instincts that in me breathe.
How horrible your lonely fate,
To be behind that golden gate.
If I for you undo the bars,
Perhaps you’ll soar beyond the stars.
Where go birds-souls―I really wonder―
It makes me sit and sit and ponder.
Oh, sing to me, you lovely thing,
Oh, sing and sing and sing and sing.’

“Then Dick Canary hurt his throat,
He sang so loud on every note.

“‛If I undo the bars for thee,
And from the cage thy sweet life free―
Well, folks love chicken, this I know―
Are you a chicken? Yes! I trow!’

* * * * *

“Just then, I heard you on the stair,
Dear Miss, and cried out, then and there;
Not for myself―but quite contrary―
’Twas for the sake of Dick Canary.”

“I met Jubey scudding into the kitchen,” laughed Mary Frances, “frightened to death,―she looked. I can’t understand how she got up-stairs, Magic and Mystery. I said to her: ‛Jubey, you’ll get no sympathy from me if you’ve been up-stairs.’”

“The strange part is,” said Fairy Lady, “that Dick Canary seemed to like it.”

“‛Flattery sounds
Sweet to the ear,
Even from those
We ought to fear,’

my Grandma says,” replied Mary Frances.

“Oh, yes,” said Fairy Lady. “I do believe that is so; now, for to-day’s plans.”

“This time,” said Mary Frances, rather shame-facedly, “it is a real event. Mary Marie has been invited to take an automobile ride with Lottie’s ten children.”

“Oh, how delightful!” exclaimed Fairy Lady, “and so opportune!”

“Opportune,” thought Mary Frances. “Opportune―that must mean ‛just right.’”

“Yes,” nodded Fairy Lady, as though reading her thoughts, “it is ‛just right’―for I have to-day the

PATTERN 21.―DOLL’S AUTOMOBILE COAT

See Insert VII

To cut out―

1. Fold goods crosswise. Pin pattern with edge having two rings
(oo) on fold. Cut out.

2. Remove pattern. Spread coat open on a table.

3. Cut pattern along the _one_ row of pinholes marked FRONT. (See
Directions on Insert VII.) Fold pattern backward along the other
row of pinholes.

4. Pin pattern in place on _one_ end of coat.

5. Cut neck along the V-shaped lines.

Remove pattern.

6. Cut goods open from point of V-shaped neck, to bottom of coat.

This makes the front-opening.

7. Cut two collars with edge of pattern having the two rings (oo)
on lengthwise fold of material.

8. Cut two cuffs with edge of pattern having two rings (oo) on
lengthwise fold of material.

To make―

1. To face the front-openings:―

Spread coat open upon a piece of the material of which it is made,
right sides facing.

2. Baste along front-opening, and _around_ the neck, through the
material underneath.

Cut open the underneath-material, along the opening of the coat.

3. Cut underneath-material off, one and one-half inches from edge of
front-opening and _around_ the neck.

4. Stitch facing in place one-quarter inch from edges. Remove
bastings. Turn facings over to wrong side. Baste edge, along enclosed
seam.

5. Closely notch, or “pink” the “raw” edges of facings.

Baste facings down along notched edges. Press.

Stitch (or “tack”) facings down near the notched edges.

6. Baste facings on ends of sleeves, on wrong side of coat.

Stitch one-quarter inch from edge. Remove bastings.

7. Turn facings over to right side, and baste along the turned
edges. Turn down one-quarter inch at top, and stitch down.

8. Join coat under arms with French seams.

9. Make collar as for Fur-lined Cape.

10. Matching notches carefully, baste collar on coat, and sew in
place as in making Fur-lined Cape.

11. Make a three-quarter inch hem at bottom of coat.

12. Fasten coat with two large buttons and button-holes.

PATTERN 22.―DOLL’S AUTOMOBILE BONNET

See Insert VIII

To cut―

1. Fold goods lengthwise.

Pin pattern with edge having two rings (oo) on the fold. Clip the
notch carefully.

2. In cutting Bonnet Band and lining:―Pin pattern with edge
having two rings (oo) on a lengthwise fold of material.

To make―

1. One-quarter inch from edge, gather circular part of bonnet
from notch in center back to notch in center front. Gather other
side of circle.

2. Baste lining to Bonnet Band.

Stitch one-quarter inch from front edge.

3. Remove bastings. Open the band. Join ends in a plain seam.
Fold lining down inside band, and baste along the circular seam.
Stitch one-quarter inch from edge.

4. To Join Band to Bonnet:―Proceed just as in attaching collar
to Fur-lined Cape.

First pin single center-front notch of bonnet and of band
together.

Then the double notches.

Then single center-back notch of bonnet to _seam_ of band.

Baste and sew in place, hemming down the lining.

Attach ribbon-strings at the double notches.

NOTE.―Trim bonnet with bunch of ribbon-rosette flowers, sewed on
left side.

Fold back the bonnet band through the middle. (See dotted line on
pattern.)

“My dear Thimble People!” exclaimed Mary Frances, after working a long while with the Needle-of-Don’t-Have-to-Try. “Never did a child have such lovely friends―never! Look at this dear little coat!”

“We love all children who are patient, and try to do their best!” smiled Fairy Lady. “So many are forgetful, or impolite and impatient.”

“I’m afraid I’m sometimes all of those,” said Mary Frances.

“But in your very down-deep heart,
You never think the things that smart;
Your heart is really always kind―
Sometimes you’re wrong, and sometimes blind,―
But those who know you well, know this:
To make all right, you give a kiss―
Not just an ordinary kiss―
It says, ‛Please just forgive me this!’”

“And that is why you are loved so much!” Sewing Bird sang.

Mary Frances took Mary Marie, all dressed in her new automobile clothes, out to the automobile which had just pulled up in front of the door. And Scissors Shears, and Tommy Pin Cushion, and Emery Bag, and Pen Cil, and Needle Book, and all the other Thimble People, waved their cunning little hands.