A few days after this, Mrs. Gray sat busily sewing, while Frankie made a barn with his blocks, in which to put up the pedler's cart, and Nelly was undressing her doll. The sleeve did not come off easily, and as she pulled it roughly it tore. The little girl was angry, and began to cry.
"What is the matter?" asked her aunt.
"Dolly's dress is ugly, and it's all torn."
"Should you like to have a needle, and mend it, my dear?"
"O, yes, aunty."
"May I sew some too?" asked Frankie.
"Yes, darling, you may mend this stocking." She then threaded a needle for the little girl, and showed her how to put the stitches through, and afterwards gave Frankie a darning needle with some yarn. He had often sewed before, and he liked the business very much. There was no knot in the thread, and so he pulled it through and through. But he thought it was sewing for all that.
Nelly sat steadily at her work for a minute; but at last she threw it on the floor, and said, "I hate sewing, it's so hard."
"Let me see it, dear," said aunty.
Nelly picked it up, and put it into her hand.