Very soon they had printed, in old English type, "Charles Stuart, 1640," and in a neat script, "Allan Wallace, 1880." The Prince decided he would rather have the treadle press than anything he had yet seen.
Meanwhile Jessie was doing her best to entertain the Princess Mary, who had watched all of these wonders in her quiet way, holding Jamie by the hand lest he should get into mischief. After the gas-lighting she was more careful of him than ever, fearing some harm might befall the baby brother in this new world of strange ways.
But shortly after this a sharp cry made them all start; Jamie had caught his busy, plump little hand in a wheel; he could not release it, and was screaming with fright. Princess Mary ran to his relief.
"What may this be?" she asked, when Jamie was soothed again. "Is it a spinning-wheel?"
"Indeed no," said Jessie; "I should be very glad to see one; but this is a sewing-machine."
"A what?" exclaimed her guest.
But Jessie, for answer, had opened the cover, and taking two strips of cloth from a drawer, began to stitch a seam at a flying speed. She was very proud of this accomplishment, having but just learned. "I can play better on this than on the piano," she remarked. The swift wheel whirled while she talked, and the long seam flew from under the needle, and in an instant was done. The trio stood in amazement, little Jamie being spell-bound by the flying wheel.
"Wonderful! wonderful!" cried Prince Charlie; "this is magic."
The Princess asked, eagerly, "May I try it?"
Jessie rose at once. The little lady daintily drew aside her satin robe, and put her small shoes on the treadle. With the help of Jessie the wheel was soon spinning briskly. The low hum and whir grew rapidly louder. "What!" cried the Prince, "a tune?" and, wondering, Allan heard the swift humming change to a lively measure. Louder and clearer it rose, till the leal old Scotch ballad, "Wha'll be King but Charlie?" rang out right gayly. The Prince seemed overjoyed, and directly began a merry whistle to the loud swift music of the wheel.