  One day Margaret and her little friends, the One-Eyes, were talking together about grandparents. “You never had any grandmother or grandfather, did you?” Margaret asked Sir Bodkin. “Of course we had them just like everybody else but we never saw them. They were very funny; you’ll laugh when I tell you their names,” said Sir Bodkin. “Oh! please tell me!” urged Margaret. “Well, thorns and briers were their names!” he said. “Why, how funny, for they grow outdoors “Just so. Yes, our great-grandparents, as I’m telling you, used to grow outdoors. They were the first One-Eyed Fairies. The people who made them lived outdoors, too. Then our grandparents were made of ivory and bone and were cut from bones and tusks. They lasted many a long day, I can tell you. Even to-day when some place is uncovered where people used to live hundreds of years ago, you’ll find a grandparent lying fast asleep with one eye open wide.” “You are a funny man. I never know what you are about to tell me,” Margaret said to him. “Now that reminds me that “Upon my word I do. Just show me where they’re to go and I’ll show you how to put them in,” proudly said Sir Bodkin. Margaret went to get the gift and soon returned with it. “Look here!” she said and held up a piece of white lawn, hemmed on the sides and across the bottom. It was twenty-seven inches wide and several inches longer. “Mother allowed some material for the three tucks,” Margaret explained. “She said each tuck was to be one-quarter inch wide and one-half inch apart. We can baste in the tucks, can’t we? Then Mother will stitch them in on her machine.” Margaret took the tape measure out of her work-basket and the tucking began. “Measure one inch up from the hem top” “Measure one inch up from the hem top and crease the first tuck with your nail then pleat it with your fingers across the bottom of the apron,” Sir Bodkin said. Margaret creased very carefully and every “That looks very even. Now, Baster, you rogue, baste this tuck very carefully,” said the King. Baster was harnessed with basting-thread, with the end knotted and then he waited for his little mistress to begin. “Step along the tuck one-quarter inch from the creased edge. Take medium-sized steps, sir,” ordered Sir Bodkin, “but before you start take a few slides back and forth through the emery to glide in and out easily. Lawn is a little stiff sometimes, My Lady,” he said to Margaret. After Baster was shined as bright in the “Use your tape measure, as you go along, to be sure he keeps his steps in the right track always from the top,” reminded Sir Bodkin. “That one is basted,” cried Margaret at the end of the first tuck. Basting first tuck “And very nicely done, too,” praised the King. “How shall I measure the second one?” asked Margaret. When the second tuck was creased and basted and the third one done the same way, Margaret measured the apron from top to bottom. “Don’t they take up the goods fast? It’s about twenty-seven inches long now,” she laughed. “That’s what tucks do. They always take up twice as much goods as they are wide. We use them for dresses to allow for shrinking. And to allow for children growing, too,” he laughed. “Yes, I know that,” said Margaret, “for Mother is always putting tucks in my clothes then taking them out, I grow so fast.” “Then we use them for trimming, as in this apron. There are wide tucks and narrow tucks and pin tucks. Pin tucks go in babies’ Tucks basted ready for stitching “And what kinds are they?” asked Margaret. “Oh, those fine enough to see through, like lawn and swiss and organdie,” answered Sir Bodkin. “This begins to look pretty. When Mother stitches these tucks on the machine and the bastings are pulled out, then I’m going to gather the top and sew it on a band,” said Margaret. “That’s fun!” cried Sir Bodkin. “I just love to put on bands.” “Good-bye, everybody, and be good,” she laughed running out of the room with the folded apron in her hand. “Step, step, step away, Always jolly and always gay. While my steps may not last, you see, How would things look if it wasn’t for me!” sang Baster, dancing and whirling around the table-top. “He hates himself,” cried some of the other One-Eyed Fairies from the pincushion. Then Baster went on singing: “Laugh, smile, dance away, Enjoy yourself, is what I say. Do your work, then dance for joy, Is the motto I give to each girl and boy!” Sir Bodkin stood watching and laughing at “Now, that’s enough, sir, for to-day,” said Sir Bodkin laughing and holding his sides. “Enough’s enough!” |
|
