FAIRLY FLEW FLIES IN
NO sooner had the Yarn Baby finished speaking than out of the chest
there flew a fairy!
She was so dainty and beautiful that Mary Frances felt that she would
never dare to touch her.
Her dress was made of some silvery cobwebby stuff and she wore a golden
cap.
“My name is Fairly Flew,” she said, flying over on the table near to
Mary Frances. “I love to help people who try to learn. I am the teacher
of the Crocheting and Knitting People. If I lend you one of my magic
needles, your work will go so fast that you will say that the needle
fairly flew. That is how I came to be called Fairly Flew.”
[Illustration: Never dare touch her.]
[Illustration: Yarn Baby finished.]
“Oh!” whispered Mary Frances, “another wonderful helper from Fairyland!”
“Yes,” laughed the silvery voice of Fairly Flew. “Ready to help, always
ready to help those who try, try, try again. How can I help you?”
“If you please—” began the little girl. “If you please—” but she could
seem to get no further.
Here the Yarn Baby spoke. All the Crocheting and Knitting People had
risen when Fairly Flew arrived. Now, to Mary Frances’ astonishment, the
Yarn Baby, who had always been the limpest of dolls, picked up Mary
Marie’s little rocking-chair which was on the sewing table and placed
it near the fairy.
[Illustration: “Take a seat.”]
“Please take a seat,” she said, “for we need help, dear Fairly Flew, in
making the doll’s shawl.”
“Oh, is that so?” laughed Fairly Flew. Then she put her hand down into
her cobwebby pocket and pulled out a silver crochet hook with a handle
only about an inch long.
She handed the crochet hook to Mary Frances.
“Take hold of its head and its heel, and pull,” she said.
[Illustration: “Always ready to help.”]
Mary Frances was almost afraid to pull, but she was very much pleased
to find that when she did, the crochet hook became nearly as long as
Crow Shay.
“Finish your work with my needle,” directed Fairly Flew.
Mary Frances was astonished at what happened. No sooner did she start
to make a row of stitches than the magic crochet needle darted ahead of
her fingers and finished the row in a twinkle of an eye.
In about sixty twinkles the little shawl was finished.
“Oh,” gasped Mary Frances, “Oh, isn’t it wonderful?” and she held it up
for all to admire.
“Put it away, my dear,” said Fairly Flew. “I do not have very long to
stay. A few hours a day is all the time I have for any mortal. So let
us get everything done that we can.”
[Illustration: “Finish with my needle”]
[Illustration: “Isn’t it wonderful?”]
[Illustration: Her hair began to stand on end.]