Marjories New Friend | Page 2

in such a way as to conceal all the
seams. But instead of that, not only were all the seams on the outside,
but only the wrong sides of the pretty materials showed, and turn and
twist it as she would, Marjorie could not make it come right.
Her mother could have shown her where the trouble lay, but Marjorie
couldn't consult her as to her own surprise, so she sat and stared at the
exasperating bag until Kitty came.
"Come in here, Kit," called Midget, and Kitty carefully squeezed
herself inside the screen.
"What's the matter, Mopsy? Oh, is it Mother's--"
"Sh!" said Marjorie warningly, for Kitty was apt to speak out
thoughtlessly, and Mrs. Maynard was easily within hearing.
"I can't make it turn right," she whispered; "see if you can."
Kitty obligingly took the bag, but the more she turned and twisted it,
the more obstinately it refused to get right side out.
"You've sewed it wrong," she whispered back.
"I know that,--but what's the way to sew it right. I can't see where I
made the mistake."
"No, nor I. You'd think it would turn, wouldn't you?"
Kitty kept turning the bag, now brocaded side out, now lining side out,
but always the seams were outside, and the right side of the materials
invisible.
"I never saw anything so queer," said Kitty; "it's bewitched! Maybe

King could help us."
Kingdon had just come in, so they called him to the consultation.
"It is queer," he said, after the situation was noiselessly explained to
him. "It's just like my skatebag, that Mother made, only the seams of
that don't show."
"Go get it, King," said Marjorie hopefully. "Maybe I can get this right
then. Don't let Mother see it."
So King went for his skatebag, and with it stuffed inside his jacket,
returned to his perplexed sisters.
"No; I don't see how she did it," declared Marjorie, at last, after a close
inspection of the neatly-made bag, with all its seams properly out of
sight, and its material and lining both showing their right sides. "I'll
have to give it to her this way"
"You can't!" said Kitty, looking at the absurd thing.
"But what can I do, Kit? It's only a week till Christmas now, and I can't
begin anything else for Mother. I've lots of things to finish yet."
"Here's Father," said Kitty, as she heard his voice outside; "perhaps he
can fix it."
"Men don't know about fancy work," said Marjorie, but even as she
spoke hope rose in her heart, for Mr. Maynard had often proved
knowing in matters supposed to be outside his ken.
"Oh, Father, come in here, please; in behind the screen. You go out,
King and Kitty, so there'll be room."
Those invited to leave did so, and Mr. Maynard came in and smiled at
his eldest daughter's despairing face.
"What's the trouble, Mopsy midget? Oh, millinery? You don't expect
me to hemstitch, do you? What's that you're making, a young

sofa-cushion?"
"Don't speak so loud, Father. It's a Christmas present I'm making for
Mother, and it won't go right. If you can't help me, I don't know what
I'll do. I've tried every way, but it's always wrong side out!"
"What a hateful disposition it must have! But what is it?"
Marjorie put her lips to her father's ear, and whispered; "It's a bag; I
mean it's meant to be one, for Mother to carry to sewing society. I can
sew it well enough, but I can't make it get right side out!"
"Now, Mopsy, dear, you know I'd do anything in the world to help you
that I possibly can; but I'm afraid this is a huckleberry above my
persimmons!"
"But, Father, here's King's skatebag. Mother made it, and can't you see
by that how it's to go?"
"H'm,--let me see. I suppose if I must pull you out of this slough of
despond, I must. Now all these seams are turned in, and all yours are
outside."
"Yes; and how can we get them inside? There's no place to turn them
to."
Mr. Maynard examined both bags minutely.
"Aha!" he said at last; "do you know how they put the milk in the
coconut, Marjorie?"
"No, sir."
"Well, neither do I. But I see a way to get these seams inside and let
your pretty silks put their best face foremost. Have you a pair of
scissors?"
"Yes, here they are."

Mr. Maynard deftly ripped a few stitches, leaving an opening of a
couple of inches in one of the seams of the lining. Through this opening
he carefully pulled the whole of both materials, thus reversing the
whole thing. When it had all come through, he pulled and patted it
smooth, and, behold! the bag was all as