“You can mend it outdoors,” said her little Fairy friend peeping out of the work-basket. “Sit out in the garden under the trees. We’d just love to get out in the sunshine,” he finished wistfully.
“Oh! you dear little things!” cried Margaret. “How dull for you to be shut up in this stuffy work-basket all the time and never get a peep outside. I’ll take you out now as soon as I change my new dress for my old one.”
When they were in the garden Margaret looked at the damage the nail had done to her dress. There was an ugly, three-cornered tear. The King called Runner to help with the task of making the torn place look like new. With thread the same color as the dress for harness, Runner was soon ready to begin. Sir Bodkin sat on a tiny green vine to direct the work. Margaret took the dress in her left hand, wrong side out, and guided the tiny Fairy with her right hand and the work began with this song:
“O’er left forefinger hold the tear,
And with the right hand mend.
Across and back take running steps,
Beginning at one end.
Draw edges close, but not too tight,
Take short runs round the turn.