XVIII 



ON THE PLAINS 



0'-^*^/?^ •'^ ^--^^tf J£^- 



useful things, but with 



REPARATIONS for the Christmas, 

 party were keeping everybody busy 

 at the farm. ^Nlany mysterious 

 boxes and bundles kept arriving 

 from the city, but Dr. Roy had in- 

 sisted tliat the young folks should 

 make some of the gifts with their 

 own hands. Olive, who was very 

 deft with her fingers, had little 

 trouble in devising pretty and 

 Dodo and Nat it was a different 

 matter. 



A fine, warm flannel gown was under construction 

 for Rap's mother ; a like one, only of a gayer pattern, 

 was alread}^ finished for ]\Iammy Bun — that is, all but 

 sewing on the buttons. i\Irs. Blake had cut out the 

 various garments, Olive doing the making, assisted in 

 straight seams and easy places by Dodo, to whom sew- 

 ing was a very solemn business. In fact, she held her 

 needle as tight as if she expected it to jump out of her 

 fingers, and tugged at the thread as if it had the strength 

 of a clothes-line, — a habit that caused many knots, 

 broken ends, and, I must confess, tears. 



'' I think Nat ought to sew and help us ; he isn't 



254 



