“Mother!” said the tiny little thing, smiling to Mary Frances.
“Attention!” roared the King of Thimble Land.
“I beg your Majesty’s pardon,” said Mary Frances, “but she’s never spoken to me before―and”―
“That will do,” said the King. “If a doll is more important than I,―sew her up!”
[Illustration: “I beg your Majesty’s pardon”]
[Illustration: “I didn’t mean it that way!”]
“Oh, no, no!” exclaimed Mary Frances. “I didn’t mean it that way!”
“You better not!” said the King. “But I understand,”―he added, seeing Mary Frances look sad. “You must know I understand how you feel,
“When you see All her lost dresses, On this tree,”
and he pointed to a little tree nearby. There were all Mary Marie’s pretty lost clothes!
“You may take them with you,” said the King, smiling.
“Never in all the years of Thimble History,” he went on, “have we been so interested in any little girl. I borrowed these to show some other little girls what patience and perseverance will do.
“Now, I am going to bestow on you one of my loveliest gifts; for I saw all your beautiful work, and the Grand Sampler! A prize indeed, you shall have! From to-day, the Needle-of-Don’t-Have-to-Try is yours―to keep! We give one something like it to all good girls who try to do their best, but yours is the Fairy Needle-of-Don’t-Have-to-Try.
[Illustration: “You may take them with you”]
[Illustration: “We’d love to keep you longer”]
“And one more surprise! You may tell your mother about us, and explain about the dolly’s clothes. Please pack them all, attendants!”
“Here’s the suit case!” said Fairy Lady, handing out Mary Marie’s little suit case, “and over there is the trunk. Put the caps in the tray, remember!”
“You have saved us from being Never-Nevers,” continued the King, “because you kept the secret until you finished the lessons. And now, that you are going―here is a bag of useful gifts for you to open when you reach home. Pack the bag in the suit case, attendants.”
“We’d love to keep you longer―you, and sweet Mary Marie―but your Grandma has called you twice. You may show her all the pretty things you’ve made, when you get home. Let us know when you want us again, unless you wish” (and the King laughed) “to say forever―Good-bye. Who’ll say Good-bye forever?” he asked.