Chapter ISewing Bird

Illustrated Chapter Heading.Chapter ISewing Bird“CHEER—UP!” sang a sweet little voice.Dick seldom spokeDickseldomsangMary Frances looked at the canary; but Dick was very busily preening his feathers, and Dick seldom sang.“Cheer up!” gurgled again the sweet bird voice.Mary Frances was certain this time that it was not Dick.Maybe it was a bird outside!She looked out of the sewing-room window. No, not a single feather was in sight. All the birds were doubtless in their little nests, or hiding close in the barn to keep themselves warm in such a rain.“Dick!” said Mary Frances, “Dick, did you speak?”Dick only ducked his head again for a seed, and snapped off the shell with his strong little bill.“Peep! Peep! Peep!” sang a bird’s voice, as though inviting Mary Frances to a game.“I’ll play ‘Hide and Seek,’” thought the little girl.“Dick, did you speak?”“Where are you, Birdie?” she asked aloud; and, throwing Angie on the rocking chair, began to search.Another soft little “Peep!” drew her near her grandmother’s work-basket.“Why!” she cried, “I could easily believe the voice comes from Grandma’s basket!”“Peep! Peep! Peep! Peep!” the bird voice answered excitedly, as Mary Frances leaned over.“Why! Why! Why!” she exclaimed. “If it isn’t—if it isn’t Grandma’s Sewing Bird! You dear little thing! Can you talk, too?” lifting her out. “I never thought of you!”Peep!Peep!Peep!“Set me upUpon the table,Then I’ll singAs I am able,Chir! Chir!Chirp! Chirp!”answered Sewing Bird.Mary Frances carried her over to the sewing table and fastened her carefully to the edge, just as she had seen her grandmother do.Throwing Angie in the rocking chair.The other Thimble People kept perfectly still, wondering what would happen next.“Do you know—you remind me of the Kitchen Folks, Birdie,” said the little girl.“TheThimblePeople!”“The Kitchen Folks! The Kitchen Folks!Of all the joyous, joyous jokes!The Thimble People’s nearest kin—Best friends we are—have always been,”sang the little bird.“The Thimble People!” exclaimed Mary Frances; “why, who are they? Are there many Thimble People? And what relation are they to the Kitchen People? Will you tell me all about them? And will they be my little friends?”“Tut! Tut!So many questions, little maid,I cannot answer, I’m afraid—But I can say, without a joke,Your friends will be the Thimble Folk.”Sang the little bird“Oh, I’m so glad! My, I wouldn’t have missed knowing them for anything. Why, I feel as though I’ve known you for—for—ages!”‘Exceptmaybeamouse’“I was so afraidYou wouldn’t find me!And then, of course,You couldn’t mind me,Chirp!”“Oh,” said Mary Frances, “wouldn’t that have been dreadful! I was so lonely and dreary that I almost wanted to go home instead of staying here at Grandma’s.”“Are you aloneIn the house,Except maybe a mouse?Cheerp!”asked Sewing Bird.“No,” said Mary Frances, “Katie’s in the kitchen,—but she’s very busy, and won’t bother with me, and my Grandma is out this afternoon, calling on some old ladies.”“Katie’s in the kitchen”“Oh, you poorLittle lonely girl!It sets my headIn quite a whirl;Let me sit hereOn this table,And comfort youAs I am able.”“Billyis afirst-classscout”“Well, you see, Sewing Bird,” began Mary Frances gratefully, “Mother is never very strong, and Father had to go to California on business; and he thought wouldn’t it be nice to take Mother with him. So I’m here at my dear Grandma’s for the long summer vacation; and brother Billy is camping with the Boy Scouts; Billy is a first-class scout, you know.”“Yes,” said Sewing Bird, pretending to look wise, “they have them in Thimble Land.”“Have what?” asked Mary Frances.“Why, Boy Scouts, of course—in Thimble Land!”“Thimble Land!” said Mary Frances; “my, that must be where the Thimble People come from! Where is it?”Pretending to look wise“A long way there—Perhaps you’ll goSome day, if you willLearn to knowThat what we teachIs sew! sew! sew!”“Sew!Sew!Sew!”“So! So!So!?”asked Mary Frances, looking puzzled, “What’s so?”“Sew! Sew! Sew!” sang Sewing Bird, looking sharply at her with bright little eyes.“Sew! Sew! Sew! Sew! Sew! Sew! Sew!”“Sew!”“Sew! Sew!” she fairly shrieked.“Yes,” said Mary Frances wondering at her excitement, “of course it’s so.”“I mean sewWith a thimble;I mean sewAnd be nimble,”sang Sewing Bird.Mary Frances, looking puzzled“Oh, ho,” laughed Mary Frances. “You meansew! How lovely! If I only knew how to really, truly sew! I do, just a little.”“If you’d like to learn to sew;To baste and bind; tie a bow;Dress a dolly, head to toe,We can teach you how—”“Dressa dolly,headto toe.”“Can you, really? Really and truly?” cried Mary Frances. “How perfectly dear! Oh, please do, please begin! Angie, poor child, needs so many clothes. When she went to the Tea Party, she spilled cocoa all over herself, and it spoiled all her lovely, lovely dress. It has always grieved me since. She’s so tattered and forlorn. Will you teach me how to sew?”“I will most gladly; and quite true,I’ll tell you what you’d better do—Get your Grandma every dayTo let you have this room for play.”“I will most gladly”“Oh, yes, we’ll have the sewing-room for a play-room, Sewing Bird; and you give me lessons! Mustthey be secret—like the Kitchen People’s lessons? And can you teach me? Oh, how happy I am! I wonder if I can surprise my dear mother. Can I learn to sew for my dolly this vacation?”“Apinafore”“Why, certainly, dear little Miss,You can learn to make all this:A pin-a-fore, some under-clothes,A little ’kerchief for her nose;Kimono, bloomers, little cap,A nightie for her little nap;A dress for morn, for afternoon,A dress for parties, not too soon;A little cape, a little bonnet—Perhaps with roses fastened on it;—A nice warm coat to keep from chill,A dainty sack, in case she’s ill:All this and more we’ll gladly teach,If you will do and follow each—will you?”“I will,” laughed Mary Frances, “but each what?”“Some underclothes”“Each little lesson, one by one,Then, after each hard stitch is done,Remember—‘patience brings reward!’”“What’s ‘patience’?” asked the little girl.“Why, ‘patience’? Patience is Mary Frances’ middle name—Mary P. Frances,—see?”“My, isn’t that a nice name! Mary Patience Frances. And what’s ‘reward’?” laughed the little girl.“‘Reward’? Reward,” said Sewing Bird, “is Angie all dressed up in the things we’ll make.”“Oh, I’d love to begin at once—can’t we?”Sewing Bird gaily nodded her bright, shiny little head.“Goody! Goody! Won’t Mother be surprised?” said Mary Frances. “I’ll run and get my little work-basket that Grandma gave me.”‘Reward’ is Angie all dressed up inthe things we’ll make

Illustrated Chapter Heading.Chapter ISewing Bird

Illustrated Chapter Heading.

“CHEER—UP!” sang a sweet little voice.

Dick seldom spoke

Dickseldomsang

Mary Frances looked at the canary; but Dick was very busily preening his feathers, and Dick seldom sang.

“Cheer up!” gurgled again the sweet bird voice.

Mary Frances was certain this time that it was not Dick.

Maybe it was a bird outside!

She looked out of the sewing-room window. No, not a single feather was in sight. All the birds were doubtless in their little nests, or hiding close in the barn to keep themselves warm in such a rain.

“Dick!” said Mary Frances, “Dick, did you speak?”

Dick only ducked his head again for a seed, and snapped off the shell with his strong little bill.

“Peep! Peep! Peep!” sang a bird’s voice, as though inviting Mary Frances to a game.

“I’ll play ‘Hide and Seek,’” thought the little girl.

“Dick, did you speak?”

“Where are you, Birdie?” she asked aloud; and, throwing Angie on the rocking chair, began to search.

Another soft little “Peep!” drew her near her grandmother’s work-basket.

“Why!” she cried, “I could easily believe the voice comes from Grandma’s basket!”

“Peep! Peep! Peep! Peep!” the bird voice answered excitedly, as Mary Frances leaned over.

“Why! Why! Why!” she exclaimed. “If it isn’t—if it isn’t Grandma’s Sewing Bird! You dear little thing! Can you talk, too?” lifting her out. “I never thought of you!”

Peep!Peep!Peep!

“Set me upUpon the table,Then I’ll singAs I am able,Chir! Chir!Chirp! Chirp!”

“Set me up

Upon the table,

Then I’ll sing

As I am able,

Chir! Chir!

Chirp! Chirp!”

answered Sewing Bird.

Mary Frances carried her over to the sewing table and fastened her carefully to the edge, just as she had seen her grandmother do.

Throwing Angie in the rocking chair.

The other Thimble People kept perfectly still, wondering what would happen next.

“Do you know—you remind me of the Kitchen Folks, Birdie,” said the little girl.

“TheThimblePeople!”

“The Kitchen Folks! The Kitchen Folks!Of all the joyous, joyous jokes!The Thimble People’s nearest kin—Best friends we are—have always been,”

“The Kitchen Folks! The Kitchen Folks!

Of all the joyous, joyous jokes!

The Thimble People’s nearest kin—

Best friends we are—have always been,”

sang the little bird.

“The Thimble People!” exclaimed Mary Frances; “why, who are they? Are there many Thimble People? And what relation are they to the Kitchen People? Will you tell me all about them? And will they be my little friends?”

“Tut! Tut!So many questions, little maid,I cannot answer, I’m afraid—But I can say, without a joke,Your friends will be the Thimble Folk.”

“Tut! Tut!

So many questions, little maid,

I cannot answer, I’m afraid—

But I can say, without a joke,

Your friends will be the Thimble Folk.”

Sang the little bird

“Oh, I’m so glad! My, I wouldn’t have missed knowing them for anything. Why, I feel as though I’ve known you for—for—ages!”

‘Exceptmaybeamouse’

“I was so afraidYou wouldn’t find me!And then, of course,You couldn’t mind me,Chirp!”

“I was so afraid

You wouldn’t find me!

And then, of course,

You couldn’t mind me,

Chirp!”

“Oh,” said Mary Frances, “wouldn’t that have been dreadful! I was so lonely and dreary that I almost wanted to go home instead of staying here at Grandma’s.”

“Are you aloneIn the house,Except maybe a mouse?Cheerp!”

“Are you alone

In the house,

Except maybe a mouse?

Cheerp!”

asked Sewing Bird.

“No,” said Mary Frances, “Katie’s in the kitchen,—but she’s very busy, and won’t bother with me, and my Grandma is out this afternoon, calling on some old ladies.”

“Katie’s in the kitchen”

“Oh, you poorLittle lonely girl!It sets my headIn quite a whirl;Let me sit hereOn this table,And comfort youAs I am able.”

“Oh, you poor

Little lonely girl!

It sets my head

In quite a whirl;

Let me sit here

On this table,

And comfort you

As I am able.”

“Billyis afirst-classscout”

“Well, you see, Sewing Bird,” began Mary Frances gratefully, “Mother is never very strong, and Father had to go to California on business; and he thought wouldn’t it be nice to take Mother with him. So I’m here at my dear Grandma’s for the long summer vacation; and brother Billy is camping with the Boy Scouts; Billy is a first-class scout, you know.”

“Yes,” said Sewing Bird, pretending to look wise, “they have them in Thimble Land.”

“Have what?” asked Mary Frances.

“Why, Boy Scouts, of course—in Thimble Land!”

“Thimble Land!” said Mary Frances; “my, that must be where the Thimble People come from! Where is it?”

Pretending to look wise

“A long way there—Perhaps you’ll goSome day, if you willLearn to knowThat what we teachIs sew! sew! sew!”

“A long way there—

Perhaps you’ll go

Some day, if you will

Learn to know

That what we teach

Is sew! sew! sew!”

“Sew!Sew!Sew!”

“So! So!So!?”asked Mary Frances, looking puzzled, “What’s so?”

“Sew! Sew! Sew!” sang Sewing Bird, looking sharply at her with bright little eyes.

“Sew! Sew! Sew! Sew! Sew! Sew! Sew!”

“Sew!”

“Sew! Sew!” she fairly shrieked.

“Yes,” said Mary Frances wondering at her excitement, “of course it’s so.”

“I mean sewWith a thimble;I mean sewAnd be nimble,”

“I mean sew

With a thimble;

I mean sew

And be nimble,”

sang Sewing Bird.

Mary Frances, looking puzzled

“Oh, ho,” laughed Mary Frances. “You meansew! How lovely! If I only knew how to really, truly sew! I do, just a little.”

“If you’d like to learn to sew;To baste and bind; tie a bow;Dress a dolly, head to toe,We can teach you how—”

“If you’d like to learn to sew;

To baste and bind; tie a bow;

Dress a dolly, head to toe,

We can teach you how—”

“Dressa dolly,headto toe.”

“Can you, really? Really and truly?” cried Mary Frances. “How perfectly dear! Oh, please do, please begin! Angie, poor child, needs so many clothes. When she went to the Tea Party, she spilled cocoa all over herself, and it spoiled all her lovely, lovely dress. It has always grieved me since. She’s so tattered and forlorn. Will you teach me how to sew?”

“I will most gladly; and quite true,I’ll tell you what you’d better do—Get your Grandma every dayTo let you have this room for play.”

“I will most gladly; and quite true,

I’ll tell you what you’d better do—

Get your Grandma every day

To let you have this room for play.”

“I will most gladly”

“Oh, yes, we’ll have the sewing-room for a play-room, Sewing Bird; and you give me lessons! Mustthey be secret—like the Kitchen People’s lessons? And can you teach me? Oh, how happy I am! I wonder if I can surprise my dear mother. Can I learn to sew for my dolly this vacation?”

“Apinafore”

“Why, certainly, dear little Miss,You can learn to make all this:A pin-a-fore, some under-clothes,A little ’kerchief for her nose;Kimono, bloomers, little cap,A nightie for her little nap;A dress for morn, for afternoon,A dress for parties, not too soon;A little cape, a little bonnet—Perhaps with roses fastened on it;—A nice warm coat to keep from chill,A dainty sack, in case she’s ill:All this and more we’ll gladly teach,If you will do and follow each—

“Why, certainly, dear little Miss,

You can learn to make all this:

A pin-a-fore, some under-clothes,

A little ’kerchief for her nose;

Kimono, bloomers, little cap,

A nightie for her little nap;

A dress for morn, for afternoon,

A dress for parties, not too soon;

A little cape, a little bonnet—

Perhaps with roses fastened on it;—

A nice warm coat to keep from chill,

A dainty sack, in case she’s ill:

All this and more we’ll gladly teach,

If you will do and follow each—

will you?”

“I will,” laughed Mary Frances, “but each what?”

“Some underclothes”

“Each little lesson, one by one,Then, after each hard stitch is done,Remember—‘patience brings reward!’”

“Each little lesson, one by one,

Then, after each hard stitch is done,

Remember—‘patience brings reward!’”

“What’s ‘patience’?” asked the little girl.“Why, ‘patience’? Patience is Mary Frances’ middle name—Mary P. Frances,—see?”“My, isn’t that a nice name! Mary Patience Frances. And what’s ‘reward’?” laughed the little girl.“‘Reward’? Reward,” said Sewing Bird, “is Angie all dressed up in the things we’ll make.”“Oh, I’d love to begin at once—can’t we?”Sewing Bird gaily nodded her bright, shiny little head.“Goody! Goody! Won’t Mother be surprised?” said Mary Frances. “I’ll run and get my little work-basket that Grandma gave me.”

“What’s ‘patience’?” asked the little girl.

“Why, ‘patience’? Patience is Mary Frances’ middle name—Mary P. Frances,—see?”

“My, isn’t that a nice name! Mary Patience Frances. And what’s ‘reward’?” laughed the little girl.

“‘Reward’? Reward,” said Sewing Bird, “is Angie all dressed up in the things we’ll make.”

“Oh, I’d love to begin at once—can’t we?”

Sewing Bird gaily nodded her bright, shiny little head.

“Goody! Goody! Won’t Mother be surprised?” said Mary Frances. “I’ll run and get my little work-basket that Grandma gave me.”

‘Reward’ is Angie all dressed up inthe things we’ll make

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