“Oh, I forgot,” said Fairy Lady, “I am a bird without feathers, and Jubey wouldn’t care for a bird that didn’t tickle her nose.”
[Illustration: A sweet little dolly Is Mary Marie!”]
“A CHARMING thing To make Marie, Will be a dainty White nightie,”
“Oh, good!” exclaimed Mary Frances. “That is just what she needs. I had to loan her Angie’s best one; and Angie’s terribly cross. You see, I fear she is a little jealous of my new dolly. I’ll not neglect Angie, but you understand, dear Sewing Bird Lady, that it is my duty to clothe this child―” anxiously―“Isn’t that perfectly right?”
“What would she wear? What would she wear Without a loving mother’s care? She’d freeze with every winter’s breeze, She’d die of shame if any tease;― For every thinking body knows No doll is glad without fine clothes.”
“Thank you, Magic and Mystery,” said Mary Frances.
“And,” smiled Fairy Lady, “the Thimble People have been quite busy since last lesson―see?” She pulled from under the cushion of the doll’s chair a paper pattern.
“Oh, how lovely!” exclaimed Mary Frances, clapping her hands. “A real pattern just such as Mother uses when she makes my dresses? What is this pattern to be used for?”
“For a dolly’s nightgown,” replied Fairy Lady, smiling happily. “Now, the materials required are:
Three-quarters of a yard of lawn, or muslin. Long-cloth is a very nice kind of muslin to use.
Three-quarters of a yard of lace ribbon beading.
“Here they are!” said Mary Frances, hunting among the treasures in Mary Marie’s trunk.
“They are perfectly all right,” smiled Fairy Lady.
Follow the directions on the folded sheet.
2. Lay edge of the pattern having the two rings (oo) on the folded edge of the lawn.
3. Cut out, being careful to clip the little V-shaped notches before removing the pattern.
NOTE.―_Always clip a small gash_ in the corner under arm of these kimono-style dresses.
It took Mary Frances some time to fold the goods and pin the pattern on most carefully. So anxious was she to begin cutting out that she didn’t notice Scissors Shears looking at her most beseechingly.
“If only―” he whispered―“if only―” but Sewing Bird Fairy Lady gave him an indignant push with her bodkin wand.
“The little lady must learn how,” she said.