XVIII 



ON THE I'LAIXS 



.Iil<:i'ARATIONS for the Christmas 

 party were keeping everybody busy 

 at the farm. Many mysterious 

 )>oxes and bundles kept arriving 

 trom tlie city, but Dr. Roy had iu- 

 Msted that tlie 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 

 useful things, but with Dodo and iS'at 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 already finished for Mammy Bun — that is, all but 

 sewing on the buttons. Mrs. 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 al the thread as if it had the strength 

 of a clothes-line, — a habit that caused man}^ knots, 

 broken ends, and, I must confess, tears. 



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



254 



