DAY 15 – A FARMHOUSE CHRISTMAS

 

“Fiddlesticks!” exclaimed Shirley as she realized she should have left an opening in the doll’s side for stuffing instead of trying to do it from the top of the doll’s head. It was an unfortunate error but only a minor setback. She closed the opening on the doll’s head with neat stitches and carefully made an opening in the doll’s side. Then she resumed stuffing the doll with the old stockings she had shredded.

Ina didn’t knit or crochet, so they had no yarn on hand to make the doll’s hair and were at a loss to find a substitute. In the end, Shirley called a neighbor, Mrs. Boehm, and shyly asked if she might have a few hanks of yarn she could spare. Shirley needn’t have felt so timid. Mrs. Boehm said she was glad to share her yarn scraps – pieces too small for any purpose anyway. (And to be sure, the Boehms were glad to have Shirley call on them.)

So, on this windy December afternoon, Shirley walked briskly to the Boehm’s house, just a mile distant, where she was warmly welcomed. Mrs. Boehm presented her basket of yarn pieces, and Shirley chose a light yellow wool yarn – exactly what she needed. After a cup of tea and a sugar cookie, Shirley hurried home, and since she was going right past the mailbox, she picked up the day’s mail – half a dozen Christmas cards. KW