THE MAGIC RHYME
MARY FRANCES, who wanted to laugh, too, pretended not to notice, and
picked up a ball of pink yarn.
[Illustration: A ball of pink yarn.]
“If only I had Fairly Flew’s magic needle!” she said, “I could get the
slippers finished very soon for my poor baby’s cold feet.”
She started to pick up Crow Shay.
[Illustration: “Wait a moment!”]
“Wait a moment! Wait a moment!” exclaimed the little fellow who was
himself again. “Don’t you want to call the fairy teacher?”
“If I only knew how to, I certainly should call her, Crow Shay,”
replied Mary Frances. “You help me a good deal, but——”
“Oh, I know!” said Crow Shay. “I can’t do what Fairly Flew can do for
you, but I can do this much; I can tell you how to summon her.”
“Will you please tell me?” begged Mary Frances.
[Illustration: “Indeed he will.”]
“Indeed he will,” spoke up the Yarn Baby, who forgave very quickly. “We
all love you because you are so anxious to learn our lessons. Begin,
Crow Shay.”
“All right,” said Crow Shay. “When you want the fairy Fairly Flew
during our lessons, just whisper this little rhyme:
“‘Fairy Fairly Flew,
Please come, for I need you.’”
“That’s easy!” cried Mary Frances, repeating the rhyme:
“Fairy Fairly Flew,
Please come, for I need you.”
[Illustration: “Here I am, little girl.”]
She had scarcely finished speaking when there came the light rustle of
wings; and a tiny voice of silvery sweetness said, “Here I am, little
girl. I always come to help those who try to learn their lessons. They
may not always see me, but I put magic into their needles after they
practice what they learn. They may not be able to work quite as quickly
as you do when I am with you, but they can work pretty fast—so fast
that people may say that the needles fairly flew.”
“How glad I am that you help other little girls, too,” said Mary
Frances, taking the magic needle which the fairy held out. “Thank you
for coming to me, dear Fairly Flew!”
Then she started to make the slippers—and you know how quickly they
were finished.
[Illustration: “Aren’t they beautiful?”]
“Aren’t they beautiful?” cried Mary Frances. “Now my dolly’s feet will
keep warm.” And she put them on Mary Marie’s little feet.
[Illustration: “Footies nice and warm.”]
“Footies nice and warm,” gurgled Mary Marie; “footies hidin’ away from
Jack Frost,” and went on playing with her ball.
[Illustration: “Won’t that be splendid?”]