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For all girls who love to
make pretty things.
Jane Eayre Fryer

THE
MARY FRANCES
SEWING BOOK
or
ADVENTURES AMONG THE
THIMBLE PEOPLE
By
JANE EAYRE FRYER

Illustrated by
JANE ALLEN BOYER

CAUTION

The entire contents of this book are protected by the
stringent new copyright law, and all persons are warned
not to attempt to reproduce the text, in whole or in part,
or any of the illustrations.
Copyright, 1913, by
Jane Eayre Fryer

BY THE SAME AUTHOR

The Mary Frances Cook Book is the exceptionally clever and fascinating story of a little girl who wanted to learn to help her mother. Only it is much more than a story. It tells in story form how Mary Frances learned to cook. She wants to know what all the kitchen pots and pans are for, so she asks them. And they tell her—the pots and pans talk. The book gives recipes in the simplest, plainest words. It describes every operation clearly—just what Mary Frances did, and how she learned to avoid mistakes. The book stimulates the imagination and creates a desire to follow Mary Frances’ example. 8vo. Cloth, 170 pages. Over 200 colored illustrations by Margaret G. Hays and Jane Allen Boyer.

PRICE $1.20 NET

PREFACE

Dear Girls:

Many of you already know Mary Frances’ old friends, the Kitchen People, and have learned to love them. I hope all of you will do so in time.

This book tells the story of Mary Frances’ new friends, the Thimble People, who helped her spend a delightful summer vacation at her Grandmother’s. It tells how she met Sewing Bird, who was a real Fairy Lady, and the other Thimble People; and how they taught her a lot of fascinating secrets, and finally took her on a long journey to Thimble Land, and brought her back safely, after the most marvelous adventures. Because they proved so helpful and friendly, she wants you to know them, too.

The Thimble People, like the Kitchen People, are peculiar in that they can be of little help to those who dislike them; so that, unless you are prepared to be fond of them, it is best not to seek their acquaintance.

Toward those who show indifference or dislike, they behave in a most contrary manner. For example, Tommy Pin Cushion is a regular porcupine, and bristles right up instinctively at the least inkling of dislike. But if he knows you like him, he will roll over himself to help.

Another thing (and Mary Frances says to be very particular on this point)—if any little girl, who really wishes to learn to sew, will follow the lessons exactly as given by the Thimble People, she can hardly fail to win the Needle-of-Don’t-Have-to-Try for her very own.

In the hope that all will achieve this much-to-be-desired end, this record of Mary Frances’ new adventures is sent out to the girls of America with the best wishes of

The Author.

Merchantville, N. J.

CONTENTS

LIST OF PATTERNS

INSTRUCTIONS

Little Marie has lost her clothes

And can’t tell where to find them;

Let them alone,—and they’ll come home

With all their buttons behind them.

THIMBLE PEOPLE

• Sewing Bird.
• Mr. Silver Thimble.
• Mr. Emery Bag.
• Tommy (Tomato) Pin Cushion.
• Scissors Shears.
• Pen Cil.
• Needle Book.

• BodKin.
• Ma Chine.
• Work Basket.
• Bees Wax.
• Yard Stick.
• Common Ordinary Pin.
• Button-hole Scissors.
• Needle-of-Don’t-Have-to-Try

Chapter I
Sewing Bird

“CHEER—UP!” sang a sweet little voice.

Dick
seldom
sang

Mary Frances looked at the canary; but Dick was very busily preening his feathers, and Dick seldom sang.

“Cheer up!” gurgled again the sweet bird voice.

Mary Frances was certain this time that it was not Dick.

Maybe it was a bird outside!

She looked out of the sewing-room window. No, not a single feather was in sight. All the birds were doubtless in their little nests, or hiding close in the barn to keep themselves warm in such a rain.

“Dick!” said Mary Frances, “Dick, did you speak?”

Dick only ducked his head again for a seed, and snapped off the shell with his strong little bill.

“Peep! Peep! Peep!” sang a bird’s voice, as though inviting Mary Frances to a game.

“I’ll play ‘Hide and Seek,’” thought the little girl.

“Dick, did you speak?”

“Where are you, Birdie?” she asked aloud; and, throwing Angie on the rocking chair, began to search.

Another soft little “Peep!” drew her near her grandmother’s work-basket.

“Why!” she cried, “I could easily believe the voice comes from Grandma’s basket!”

“Peep! Peep! Peep! Peep!” the bird voice answered excitedly, as Mary Frances leaned over.

“Why! Why! Why!” she exclaimed. “If it isn’t—if it isn’t Grandma’s Sewing Bird! You dear little thing! Can you talk, too?” lifting her out. “I never thought of you!”

Peep!
Peep!
Peep!

“Set me up

Upon the table,

Then I’ll sing

As I am able,

Chir! Chir!

Chirp! Chirp!”

answered Sewing Bird.

Mary Frances carried her over to the sewing table and fastened her carefully to the edge, just as she had seen her grandmother do.

Throwing Angie in the rocking chair.

The other Thimble People kept perfectly still, wondering what would happen next.

“Do you know—you remind me of the Kitchen Folks, Birdie,” said the little girl.

“The
Thimble
People!”

“The Kitchen Folks! The Kitchen Folks!

Of all the joyous, joyous jokes!

The Thimble People’s nearest kin—

Best friends we are—have always been,”

sang the little bird.

“The Thimble People!” exclaimed Mary Frances; “why, who are they? Are there many Thimble People? And what relation are they to the Kitchen People? Will you tell me all about them? And will they be my little friends?”

“Tut! Tut!

So many questions, little maid,

I cannot answer, I’m afraid—

But I can say, without a joke,

Your friends will be the Thimble Folk.”

Sang the little bird

“Oh, I’m so glad! My, I wouldn’t have missed knowing them for anything. Why, I feel as though I’ve known you for—for—ages!”

‘Except
maybe
a
mouse’

“I was so afraid

You wouldn’t find me!

And then, of course,

You couldn’t mind me,

Chirp!”

“Oh,” said Mary Frances, “wouldn’t that have been dreadful! I was so lonely and dreary that I almost wanted to go home instead of staying here at Grandma’s.”

“Are you alone

In the house,

Except maybe a mouse?

Cheerp!”

asked Sewing Bird.

“No,” said Mary Frances, “Katie’s in the kitchen,—but she’s very busy, and won’t bother with me, and my Grandma is out this afternoon, calling on some old ladies.”

“Katie’s in the kitchen”

“Oh, you poor

Little lonely girl!

It sets my head

In quite a whirl;

Let me sit here

On this table,

And comfort you

As I am able.”

“Billy
is a
first-class
scout”

“Well, you see, Sewing Bird,” began Mary Frances gratefully, “Mother is never very strong, and Father had to go to California on business; and he thought wouldn’t it be nice to take Mother with him. So I’m here at my dear Grandma’s for the long summer vacation; and brother Billy is camping with the Boy Scouts; Billy is a first-class scout, you know.”

“Yes,” said Sewing Bird, pretending to look wise, “they have them in Thimble Land.”

“Have what?” asked Mary Frances.

“Why, Boy Scouts, of course—in Thimble Land!”

“Thimble Land!” said Mary Frances; “my, that must be where the Thimble People come from! Where is it?”

Pretending to look wise

“A long way there—

Perhaps you’ll go

Some day, if you will

Learn to know

That what we teach

Is sew! sew! sew!”

“Sew!
Sew!
Sew!”

“So! So! So!?”asked Mary Frances, looking puzzled, “What’s so?”

“Sew! Sew! Sew!” sang Sewing Bird, looking sharply at her with bright little eyes.

“Sew! Sew! Sew! Sew! Sew! Sew! Sew!”

“Sew!”

“Sew! Sew!” she fairly shrieked.

“Yes,” said Mary Frances wondering at her excitement, “of course it’s so.”

“I mean sew

With a thimble;

I mean sew

And be nimble,”

sang Sewing Bird.

Mary Frances, looking puzzled

“Oh, ho,” laughed Mary Frances. “You mean sew! How lovely! If I only knew how to really, truly sew! I do, just a little.”

“If you’d like to learn to sew;

To baste and bind; tie a bow;

Dress a dolly, head to toe,

We can teach you how—”

“Dress
a dolly,
head
to toe.”

“Can you, really? Really and truly?” cried Mary Frances. “How perfectly dear! Oh, please do, please begin! Angie, poor child, needs so many clothes. When she went to the Tea Party, she spilled cocoa all over herself, and it spoiled all her lovely, lovely dress. It has always grieved me since. She’s so tattered and forlorn. Will you teach me how to sew?”

“I will most gladly; and quite true,

I’ll tell you what you’d better do—

Get your Grandma every day

To let you have this room for play.”

“I will most gladly”

“Oh, yes, we’ll have the sewing-room for a play-room, Sewing Bird; and you give me lessons! Must they be secret—like the Kitchen People’s lessons? And can you teach me? Oh, how happy I am! I wonder if I can surprise my dear mother. Can I learn to sew for my dolly this vacation?”

“A
pinafore”

“Why, certainly, dear little Miss,

You can learn to make all this:

A pin-a-fore, some under-clothes,

A little ’kerchief for her nose;

Kimono, bloomers, little cap,

A nightie for her little nap;

A dress for morn, for afternoon,

A dress for parties, not too soon;

A little cape, a little bonnet—

Perhaps with roses fastened on it;—

A nice warm coat to keep from chill,

A dainty sack, in case she’s ill:

All this and more we’ll gladly teach,

If you will do and follow each—

will you?”

“I will,” laughed Mary Frances, “but each what?”

“Some underclothes”

“Each little lesson, one by one,

Then, after each hard stitch is done,

Remember—‘patience brings reward!’”

“What’s ‘patience’?” asked the little girl.

“Why, ‘patience’? Patience is Mary Frances’ middle name—Mary P. Frances,—see?”

“My, isn’t that a nice name! Mary Patience Frances. And what’s ‘reward’?” laughed the little girl.

“‘Reward’? Reward,” said Sewing Bird, “is Angie all dressed up in the things we’ll make.”

“Oh, I’d love to begin at once—can’t we?”

Sewing Bird gaily nodded her bright, shiny little head.

“Goody! Goody! Won’t Mother be surprised?” said Mary Frances. “I’ll run and get my little work-basket that Grandma gave me.”

‘Reward’ is Angie all dressed up in
the things we’ll make

Chapter II
Sewing Bird Begins to Teach

THEN Sewing Bird began:

“Little fingers, thin and nimble,

Fit to one, a little thimble;

Right hand—finger, number two—

Put the hat on,—that will do.”

“Put
the
hat on”

Mary Frances put her thimble on the second finger of her right hand.

“I knew that much, Sewing Bird,” she laughed.

“What else do you know,

If that much is so?

Chur! Chur! Chur!”

sang Sewing Bird, hopping up and down on one leg.

“Why, I know how to thread my needle,” said Mary Frances, to whom the talking of Sewing Bird seemed just as natural as the talking of Tea Kettle and the other Kitchen People.

Sang Sewing Bird, hopping up and down.

To
thread a
needle

“I know, too, that you should put the end of the thread broken off next the spool through the eye of the needle, so that it will not kink.”

“Very good,

And very true;—

What in your basket,

Pray, have you?”

asked Sewing Bird.

Then Mary Frances answered, “These are the articles needed, my Grandma said,

1.—To Outfit a Work Basket

1. Spools of cotton, white, Nos. 36, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80; also one of red, No. 50. One spool of basting cotton.

2. One little strawberry emery bag to brighten and sharpen needles.

3. Pins.

4. A piece of beeswax.

5. A tape measure.

6. A pair of scissors.

7. A paper of ground-down needles, Nos. 5’s—10’s.

8. Some unbleached muslin.

9. Thimble.

To Outfit a Work Basket

and, oh, look! here is a large piece of Java canvas, and a package of blunt tapestry or zephyr needles, No. 19, and some red D. M. C. working cotton, No. 8, that Grandma put in here yesterday.”

Zephyr
needles
and
working
cotton.

“Good,” sang Sewing Bird,

“Oh, that is fine!

Is fine, indeed!

The zephyr needle

Is what we’ll need.”

“Oh,” laughed Mary Frances, “I can thread that—you turn the thread over the needle, double, because a fuzzy end would not go through even this long eye. Then hold it tight between the thumb and finger, and push the needle over the double thread—this way. Mother taught me that.”

“Needles and pins! Needles and pins!

This is where your lesson begins!