“How do you do, My Lady, We’ve come at your command. You wished the help of fairies, We’re the One-Eyed Fairy Band. We hide inside your basket, And keep so very still, Until you call upon us, Then we’ll help you with a will.” [Illustration] “How wonderful! Thank you!” cried Margaret eagerly. “What is your name?” “I am Sir Bodkin. Some call me Tape Needle. Anyway, I’m King of the One-Eyes,” he answered proudly. “I’m the largest of all and not needed so often to help. There are many fine workers among us, I can tell you. Just say the word and we’ll show you what we can do.” “I’m so glad,” said Margaret, “for there are lots of things I want to learn how to make.” The Fairies danced faster and faster in their joy at finding such a dear little girl for a friend and mistress. They sang: “When needlecraft you’d like to know, Just call on us to help you sew. Our stitching steps we love to do, So let us show them all to you.” [Illustration: “You can do it! You can do it! We can always help you sew it.”] “Thank you, kind Fairies,” cried Margaret. “I’m so happy. Won’t Mother be surprised! I’m just crazy to begin!” All the Fairies waited breathlessly to know who would be the first to show Margaret what he could do. “Your Ladyship, it is fitting that the King should be the first to show what he can do,” said Sir Bodkin standing very stiff and straight. “Oh, of course,” replied Margaret and was about to ask him to tell her what he could do when she heard her mother’s voice outside her door, calling to her. The Fairies sang: “Stick to us, stick to us, Then you’ll never, never fuss. Good-bye, good-bye, we must away, We’ll come again another day.” They slipped quickly off the table and hid in the work-basket. The King waited until the last one was out of sight then he said with a bow, “We’re very glad to know you, My Lady. Just call my name when you need help.” Then he, too, slipped away from off the table and into the work-basket. [Illustration] “Aren’t they just too funny and dear!” laughed Margaret to herself as she put the work-basket on her table and ran off to answer her mother. “Now I must think up something nice to make for my doll,” she said to herself. CHAPTER II SIR BODKIN STEPS IN AND OUT [Illustration] “Sir Bodkin! Sir Bodkin!” called Margaret next day to the King of the One-Eyed Fairies, who lived in her work-basket. “I’m coming, My Lady!” she heard a tiny voice answering from the needle-book. Margaret looked very much excited, for this was the first time she had called her wonderful new friends, the One-Eyed Fairies, to help her.