AT Lady Hollyhock’s all visitors were treated alike. Those who came in
rags were just as welcome as any.
Here is one pair, Mr. and Mrs. Dry Goods, who came all in rags even to
their faces. Indeed, they appeared so well that one hardly thought of
their garb until attention was called to it.
They were just as neat and clean as could be, though every part of
them, from bodies to bonnets, had come out of the rag-bag.
These rag people were made by first taking a small wad of cotton wool
for the head of each and covering it with thin brown silk drawn tightly
together at the back, where knots of black thread were made to look
quite like hair.
The features were drawn with a sharp pencil on each brown face while a
stitch of white thread between the lips did very nicely for teeth. A
small stitch of white was used in each eye, also.
Tight rolls of cloth served for the bodies, arms, and legs. When these
were sewed securely together, the little rag couple were ready to be
dressed.
As real people in dressing put on stockings and shoes first, these rag
people did the same. The stockings they wore were cut from worn-out
black silk gloves and sewed neatly up the back. The shoes and mittens
were made from old kid gloves and fastened on with a few stitches.
Then the rag couple were dressed quite like other dolls, very neatly,
of course, for the little Wests did everything neatly.
[Illustration: A RAG COUPLE]