“Thank you, Miss Mary Frances,” said Sewing Bird,

“Perhaps that little yellow bird

Thought I didn’t know the word;

It’s funny that it seems a joke

When anybody stops to choke—

Ahem! Ahem! Ahem! Ahack!

Pat-me-on-the-back!

Pat-me-on-the-back! Quick!”

“Better?” asked Mary Frances, smiling to herself, and patting the little bird’s back.

After a minute she said, “Excuse me, but is—the next stitch—is the next stitch a fancy one?”