CHAPTER II

SEWING BIRD BEGINS TO TEACH

THEN Sewing Bird began:

“Little fingers, thin and nimble, Fit to one, a little thimble; Right hand―finger, number two― Put the hat on,―that will do.”

Mary Frances put her thimble on the second finger of her right hand.

“I knew that much, Sewing Bird,” she laughed.

“What else do you know, If that much is so? Chur! Chur! Chur!”

sang Sewing Bird, hopping up and down on one leg.

“Why, I know how to thread my needle,” said Mary Frances, to whom the talking of Sewing Bird seemed just as natural as the talking of Tea Kettle and the other Kitchen People.

“I know, too, that you should put the end of the thread broken off next the spool through the eye of the needle, so that it will not kink.”

“Very good, And very true;― What in your basket, Pray, have you?”

asked Sewing Bird.

Then Mary Frances answered, “These are the articles needed, my Grandma said,

1.―TO OUTFIT A WORK BASKET

1. Spools of cotton, white, Nos. 36, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80; also one of red, No. 50. One spool of basting cotton.

2. One little strawberry emery bag to brighten and sharpen needles.

3. Pins.

4. A piece of beeswax.

5. A tape measure.

6. A pair of scissors.

7. A paper of ground-down needles, Nos. 5’s―10’s.

8. Some unbleached muslin.

9. Thimble.

and, oh, look! here is a large piece of Java canvas, and a package of blunt tapestry or zephyr needles, No. 19, and some red D. M. C. working cotton, No. 8, that Grandma put in here yesterday.”

“Good,” sang Sewing Bird,

“Oh, that is fine! Is fine, indeed! The zephyr needle Is what we’ll need.”

“Oh,” laughed Mary Frances, “I can thread that―you turn the thread over the needle, double, because a fuzzy end would not go through even this long eye. Then hold it tight between the thumb and finger, and push the needle over the double thread―this way. Mother taught me that.”

“Needles and pins! Needles and pins! This is where your lesson begins! Now, thread your needle, And knot your thread; If you know how― Please do as I’ve said.”

“Yes,” laughed Mary Frances. “I know how to knot my thread; I’ll show you, after I get this needle threaded―now!”

2.―MAKING A KNOT

1. I wind the thread around the tip of the first finger of my left hand.

2. I press it with my thumb and roll the thread downward to the tip end of my finger―so!

3. Then I bring the second finger over the thread on the thumb.

4. Then draw the thread tight with the right hand as I hold it.”

“Good! You’ll easily Learn to sew! How many stitches Do you know?”

“Let me see,” pondered Mary Frances; “there are basting, and running, and hemming!”

“Good!” exclaimed Sewing Bird, in a very nearly human voice, but much more musical and softer.

“Good! Now I’ll name over all the principal stitches:

Even and uneven basting Running Back-stitching Half back-stitching Overcasting Overhanding Catch-stitching Button-hole stitch Darning Blanket stitch

“My,” said Mary Frances. “I had no idea there were that many! I wonder―will I ever learn them all?”

“Oh, yes!” Sewing Bird assured her, “if you come for a lesson whenever you can.”

“Indeed I will!” said Mary Frances, “and how I’ll thank you, dear little birdie.”

Just then the door opened.

“My dear little girl,” said Grandma, “how are you? What a dull day!”

“Are you home already, Grandma?” asked Mary Frances. “I had no idea it was time for you to come.”

“Ah, my dear, you’ve not been lonely,” said Grandma―then discovering Sewing Bird on the table, “You’ve been playing with my old-fashioned sewing bird, I see. Many a year this pretty little beak has held Grandma’s long seams and hems while she sewed them.”

“I think she’s lovely!” exclaimed Mary Frances.

“I love her, too, dear,” said Grandma, a far-away look coming in her eyes.

“The first time she ever helped me,” she added softly, “was with my wedding dress. Yes, I love her, too, dear.”

“Peep!” said a little bird voice.

“Dick,” said Grandma, shaking her finger, “Dick, you surely aren’t jealous of the little sewing bird!”