Chapter XXI
Aunt Maria Makes a Visit
“A pinafore!—Sewing Bird Lady,” exclaimed Mary Frances. “An apron for Mary Marie?”
“Yes,” smiled Fairy Lady, “a big apron which she can use as a dress until you make her some dresses—then she can use it as a ‘cover-me-up’ apron.”
“Oh, good!” said Mary Frances, “and, dear Fairy Lady, I want to tell you—I’ve a lovely surprise! My Aunt Maria is coming to see us.”
“Aunt Maria—oh, does she love sewing?”
“Indeed she does! She made a bed quilt when she was—let me see,—maybe—I think—it was when she was two years old.”
“Tee-hee!” giggled Tommy Pin Cushion.
“Oh, I beg your pardon,” he said, pretending he had stepped on Scissors Shears’ toes.
“A-chooo!” said Needle Book, pretending to sneeze.
chooo!”
“She must have been a wonderful child,” said Fairy Lady.
“She was,” said Mary Frances, “and the loveliest cook ever! She told me all about it! She almost knew the Kitchen People.”
“Well, I’m glad such a delightful person is coming, I’m sure,” said Fairy Lady, “but let us have as much done as possible before she gets here. To do to-day’s lesson, we have to learn the best way for
1. Make a pinhole where the button is to be sewed. Thread a No. 7 needle with No. 36 cotton—the cotton double,—and make a knot.
2. From the right side put needle down through the cloth in the pinhole mark, bringing the knot on the right side. The knot is then hidden under the button.
3. Bring the needle partly through near the knot on the right side.
4. Put the button on needle. Draw needle through.
5. Take a stitch down through the opposite hole, and put a pin through this stitch.
6. Sew through the holes, making a cross over the button and pin.
7. Take out the pin. This will loosen the stitches.
8. Bring out the needle from under side of cloth, between the button and cloth.
9. Wind the thread around the stitches under the button three or four times. This allows for the thickness of the button hole.
to see
you Miss”
10. Fasten on the wrong side.
In sewing a button with a shank or loop, take several over and over stitches with double thread.
If putting on a number of buttons, the button-holes should be made first, and the place for buttons be marked through them.
“When does Aunt Maria arrive?” asked Fairy Lady.
“I don’t exactly know,” said Mary Frances.
“Oh, I hope—” began Scissors Shears;—then the bell rang.
“A lady to see you, Miss,” said Katie, coming up-stairs.
“It’s Aunt Maria! It’s Aunt Maria!” exclaimed Mary Frances, jumping down the stairs, two steps at a time.
“Oh, dear Aunt Maria, how perfectly grand!” kissing the old lady again and again. “Have you had lunch? Grandma always takes an outing on Wednesday afternoons, and she’ll be so sorry not to be home to welcome you!”
“But I feel very welcome,” laughed Aunt Maria, “and I have had lunch, thank you, my dear.”
“Then you can come right up-stairs,” said Mary Frances, leading the way to the guest-room.
right
up-stairs”
After taking off her hat and smoothing her hair, Aunt Maria began:
“What are you doing, child, all alone this afternoon—are you often alone? You have no chance to cook here, I imagine.”
“No, Aunt Maria,” said Mary Frances. “I’m very busy, never-the-less.”
“Busy!” exclaimed Aunt Maria; “and what do you do, pray?”
“S’sh! Aunt Maria—it’s another secret!”
“How lovely!” smiled the old lady.
“I’m—” standing on tip-toe to whisper into her aunt’s ear—“I’m learning to sew.”
“No?” exclaimed Aunt Maria. “Why, my dear child, how—how can you learn to sew? I know your grandma cannot see to teach you—her eyes are too weak.”
“Aunt Maria,” whispered Mary Frances, “I’ve some little friends who know all about sewing, who teach me how—but it’s a ‘dead secret,’ and you must never, never, never tell—hope you’ll die if you do—will you promise—skull and cross-bones?”
see some
of your
work?”
“Mercy! Child!” exclaimed the old lady, “what an awful vow! But I’ll not tell, and if I give my word—”
“Oh, I am sure you won’t, Aunt Maria,—and—some day I’ll be able to tell you all about it.”
“Is it a book—like the cooking lessons,—that delightful secret? I won’t tell.”
“My!” thought Mary Frances. “Wouldn’t Sauce Pan laugh!”
“Not exactly like that,” said Mary Frances aloud, “and I know you’ll never-never tell, Aunt Maria,—but it’s a very-very serious secret, for nobody knows—not even Mother.”
“May I see some of your work, my dear?”
“I’ll bring some to show you,” she said. “Excuse me, please.”
She stood on the threshold of the sewing room a moment before entering. All the Thimble People were jumping around in excitement.
“I tell you,” tinkled Silver Thimble, “it’s the Aunt!”
“It’s not!” piped the thinnest little voice Mary Frances had ever heard.
not!”
“Hello!” exclaimed Scissors Shears. “That’s little Common Ordinary Pin! You don’t know! You haven’t much of a head.”
“Maybe not,” answered the thin voice, “but we have some fine points.”
“Ha! ha!” laughed Tommy Pin Cushion.
“And we’re not stuck on ourselves!”
“Ha! ha!” laughed Tommy Pin Cushion again.
“No,” exclaimed Scissors Shears, “you’re stuck on Tommy Pin Cushion—such taste!”
Mary Frances went into the room.
“Oh,” said Fairy Lady, “I was afraid you might not be alone.”
“Mary Frances!” came Aunt Maria’s voice from nearby.
Every Thimble person fell down where he was, and in a twinkle Fair Lady became Sewing Bird.
“I thought I wouldn’t trouble you to bring your work to me, so I’ve followed you to the sewing room,” said the old lady, “I thought I heard—I’m quite certain I heard some one talking.”
27. Rain Coat