Marjories New Friend | Page 3

it should be, and there
remained only the tiny opening he had ripped in the lining to be sewed
up again.
"That you must cat-stitch, or whatever you call it," he said, "as neatly
as you can. And it will never show, on a galloping horse on a dark
night."
"Blindstitch, you mean," said Marjorie; "yes, I can do that. Oh, Father,
how clever you are! How did you know how to do it?"
"Well, to be honest, I saw a similar place in the lining of the skate bag.
So I concluded that was the most approved way to make bags. Can you
finish it now?"
"Oh, yes; I've only to stitch a sort of casing and run a ribbon in for the
strings. Thank you lots, Father dear. You always help me out. But I was
afraid this was out of your line."
"It isn't exactly in my day's work, as a rule; but I'm always glad to assist
a fair lady in distress. Any other orders, mademoiselle?"
"Not to-night, brave sir. But you might call in, any time you're
passing."
"Suppose I should pop in when you're engaged on a token of regard and
esteem for my noble self?"
"No danger! Your Christmas present is all done and put away. I had
Mother's help on that."
"Well, then it's sure to be satisfactory. Then I will bid you adieu,
trusting to meet you again at dinner."

"All right," said Marjorie, who had neatly; blindstitched the little ripped
place, and was now making the casing for the ribbons.
By dinner time the bag was nearly done, and she went to the table with
a light heart, knowing that she could finish her mother's present that
evening.
"Who is the dinner for this year?" asked Mr. Maynard, as the family sat
round their own dinner table.
"Oh, the Simpsons," said Marjorie, in a tone of decision. "You know
Mr. Simpson is still in the hospital, and they're awfully poor."
It was the Maynards' habit to send, every Christmas, a generous dinner
to some poor family in the town, and this year the children had decided
on the Simpsons. In addition to the dinner, they always made up a box
of toys, clothing, and gifts of all sorts. These were not always entirely
new, but were none the less welcome for that.
"A large family, isn't it?" said Mr. Maynard.
"Loads of 'em," said King. "All ages and assorted sizes."
"Well, I'll give shoes and mittens all round, for my share. Mother, you
must look out for the dinner and any necessities that they need.
Children, you can make toys and candies for them! can't you?"
"Yes, indeed," said Marjorie; "we've lovely things planned. We're
going to paste pictures on wood, and King is going to saw them up into
picture-puzzles. And we're going to make scrap books, and dress dolls,
and heaps of things."
"And when are you going to take these things to them?"
"I think we'd better take them the day before Christmas," said Mrs.
Maynard. "Then Mrs. Simpson can prepare her turkey and such things
over night if she wants to. I'm sure she'd like it better than to have all
the things come upon her suddenly on Christmas morning."

"Yes, that's true," said Mr. Maynard. "And then we must find
something to amuse ourselves all day Christmas."
"I rather guess we can!" said King. "Well have our own tree Christmas
morning, and Grandma and Uncle Steve are coming, and if there's
snow, we'll have a sleigh-ride, and if there's ice, we'll have skating,--oh,
I just love Christmas!"
"So do I," said Marjorie. "And we'll have greens all over the house, and
wreaths tied with red ribbon,--"
"And mince pie and ice cream, both!" interrupted Kitty; "oh, won't it be
gorgeous!"
"And then no school for a whole week!" said Marjorie, rapturously.
"More than a week, for Christmas is on Thursday, so New Year's Day's
on Thursday, too, and we have vacation on that Friday, too."
"But Christmas and New Year's Day don't come on the same day of the
week this year, Marjorie," said her father.
"They don't! Why, Father, they always do! It isn't leap year, is it?"
"Ho, Mops, leap year doesn't matter," cried King. "Of course, they
always come on the same day of the week. What do you mean,
Father?"
"I mean just what I say; that Christmas Day and New Year's Day do not
fall on the same day of the week this year."
"Why, Daddy, you're crazy!" said Marjorie, "Isn't Christmas coming on
Thursday?"
"Yes, my child."
"Well, isn't New Year's Day the following Thursday?"
"Yes, but that's next year. New Year's Day of this year was nearly
twelve months ago and was on Wednesday."

"Oh, Father, what a sell! of course