  Margaret Allen had just had a birthday. Her auntie had given her a pretty new work-basket for a present. It was lined with pink silk and in it was the dearest little needle-book of pink satin, an emery-bag shaped like a strawberry, a cunning pair of steel scissors, a silver thimble, several spools of black thread and white thread of different numbers, a tape measure, and beeswax shaped like a tiny lemon. “Isn’t it just too sweet for anything!” cried Margaret clapping her hands with delight. “Now if there really were fairies to help us, just as in the story-books, what lots of things I could make. If I knew how I could make clothes for my doll, pretty things for Mother and Auntie, and marble-bags for Jim. Oh!” she cried out of breath, “I just wish I knew how!” Suddenly she felt funny sharp pricks on her hands and arms. Looking down she saw a line of little shining figures, some short and some tall, come dancing and prancing out of her new work-basket. Some had big eyes and some tiny-teensy eyes but each had only one, however. They looked so comical dancing on their skinny legs and waving their skinny arms “You can do it! You can do it! We can always help you sew it! With a piece of thread for harness And your thimble bright to push us!” “Oh! Oh!” cried Margaret her eyes very wide open indeed, “can you really? Who are you?” Then out of the line stepped the largest one of all. He placed his hand on his heart and made a very low bow before her and sang: We’ve come at your command. You wished the help of fairies, We’re the One-Eyed Fairy Band. We hide inside your basket, And keep so very still, Until you call upon us, Then we’ll help you with a will.” “How wonderful! Thank you!” cried Margaret eagerly. “What is your name?” “I am Sir Bodkin. Some call me Tape Needle. Anyway, I’m King of the One-Eyes,” he answered proudly. “I’m the largest of all and not needed so often to help. There are many fine workers among us, I can tell you. Just say the word and we’ll show you what we can do.” “I’m so glad,” said Margaret, “for there are lots of things I want to learn how to make.” “When needlecraft you’d like to know, Just call on us to help you sew. Our stitching steps we love to do, So let us show them all to you.” “You can do it! You can do it! We can always help you sew it.” “Thank you, kind Fairies,” cried Margaret. “I’m so happy. Won’t Mother be surprised! I’m just crazy to begin!” “Your Ladyship, it is fitting that the King should be the first to show what he can do,” said Sir Bodkin standing very stiff and straight. “Oh, of course,” replied Margaret and was about to ask him to tell her what he could do when she heard her mother’s voice outside her door, calling to her. The Fairies sang: “Stick to us, stick to us, Then you’ll never, never fuss. Good-bye, good-bye, we must away, We’ll come again another day.” They slipped quickly off the table and hid in the work-basket. The King waited until the last one was out of sight then he said with a bow, “We’re very glad to know you, My Lady. Just call “Aren’t they just too funny and dear!” laughed Margaret to herself as she put the work-basket on her table and ran off to answer her mother. “Now I must think up something nice to make for my doll,” she said to herself. |
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