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“Now he’s harnessed and ready to begin,” said Sir Bodkin. He told Margaret to put her silver thimble on the middle-finger of her right hand and push Baster, while her thumb and forefinger held him round the waist. Baster then hopped on the seam one-half inch from the edge. He took quick long steps singing:

“Ha, ha, ho, ho, I’m gay and free,

Basting is the sport for me.

With skip and slide I hurry on,

My work is short, just like my song.”

Basting

Both seams of the simple dress were soon basted.

“Now, Runner,” said Sir Bodkin, as Baster slid back to his place on the table.

Margaret harnessed Runner, a medium-sized One-Eyed Fairy with a small eye, using number 60 thread, the proper length and the same color as the dress, but no knot this time. Runner took tiny running steps right in Baster’s tracks. But before she began to run she took three back steps, where the seam began, to fasten the thread. She sang:

“I run along, neat and fast,

And sew the seam so it will last.

In and out the thread goes, too,