“See that, Knit and Knack! You thought Crow Shay Wouldn’t be needed For many a day!”
Crow Shay whispered to the knitting needle twins, who only laughed at him and clicked their heads together.
“Funny Sonny Cried on Monday, Played on Tuesday, Knit on Wednesday, Crowed on Thursday, Shayed on Friday, Smiled on Saturday, Laughed on Sunday,”
recited Crow Shay to them in a low voice.
Crow Shay looked embarrassed, but he knew that he must do as the fairy told him, so he repeated the lines, which set everyone laughing.
“He’s so full of mischief,” said Fairly Flew, “that sometimes he doesn’t know what he is saying.”
Crow Shay began to look very solemn and wise, which made them all laugh again; but they stopped very suddenly as Billy’s voice called:
[Illustration: “I know what you wish to do”]
“GOODNESS, Billy, you made me jump!” exclaimed Mary Frances, running downstairs to meet him.
“Sorry,” said Billy. “I couldn’t find you down here and guessed that you’d be in the sewing room. What keeps you there so long?”
“Oh, I told you, Billy—I am practicing knitting!” Mary Frances replied.
“Well, it must be lots of fun,” Billy said. “It certainly keeps you quiet enough. Come on, and have a game of tennis.”
Mary Frances went to find her hat and jacket.
“When I know how, I shall make myself a sweater,” she thought. “I should like to make one for mother first though—a pink one trimmed with gray.”
“Come on, Mary Frances,” called Billy, “aren’t you ready?”
“Coming,” cried Mary Frances, running out the door.
In about an hour and a half she came back to the room. “Oh, I have been so worried!” she exclaimed. “Dear Knitting and Crocheting People, I forgot entirely to give Mary Marie her bottle.”
“I gave her her pacifier,” said Crow Shay.
“I am glad that he didn’t,” said Mary Frances. “I do not often let her have if for fear it will spoil the shape of her pretty mouth. I must run and give her her bottle now.”
“I thought the little Miss was joking,” Crow Shay said as soon as she had gone. “I never heard of a baby taking a bottle if she was old enough to go to school, did you?”
“Oh, keep still, Crow Shay,” whispered the Yarn Baby. “You know all about it. You know that Mary Marie is only——”
“Mary Marie was sound asleep,” she said, “so I didn’t disturb her. Now I’ll work hard to learn the next lesson,” and she repeated the little verse,