Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-12-29
STITCH PEOPLES CHRISTMAS.
How a Little Oil QueIls the Storm at Time,

1t was extremely careless OF Martha
to leave the cover off of the sewing
machine Christmas night; but that is
what she did, and as result the small
folk who work so busily and amiably
together by day. did not get wink of
sleep all night long, and consequently
were in very i'll humor when the
clock struck six. As the last stroke
died away Miss Needle yawned and
spoke fretfully.
"Well, Pm glad it's morning.
This has been dreadfully long night.
l positively have not closed my eye for
two minutes at time, and 1 shall be
in no condition at all to work to-day, I
can assure you of that"
"Nor I, either" grumbled old Moth.
er Shuttle. "How is anybody to sleep
on cold winter night withouta a cover?
l know I've caught cold, l have q
stitch in my side already, and me with
Little Bobbin to look after, too. Why,
he'd fly clear off the handle if didn't
keep an eye on him."
"That's right! You never give me
any chance to show what can do by
myself" exclaimed little Mr.. Bobbin,
petulantly. "You just keep me tied
to your apron string all the time, and
I'm getting tired of il. I'm a man OF
good habits@"
"Tve seen you reel" giggled Miss
Needle.
You think you're sharp, don't
your snarled Mr.. Thread.
II don't see the point, I'm sure"
said Miss Wheel, plaintively.
"You are all so ill.natured, and
picking at each other! 1 declare, my
head is fairly going around and around
with your Hickering. And beside, /
know that 1, too, have caught cold,
there's actually ringing in my ears"
"It's your band that you hear"
snickered Miss Needle.
Ha.ha!" laughed Mr.. Foot. "They
can't say that there's no point to that,
Miss Needle. I'll stand up for you,
my dear, though, to tell the truth, 1
don't feel very we'll myself; sort Of
run down."
"Your appetite is all right" grum-
bled the feeder. az do nothing but
feed you all day long, and still, you
never seem to get enough. I'm going
to strike! I'm tired OF working as I
do, and yet always being under foot"
"What in the world are you all
fussing about?" exclaimed Capt. Ten.
sion. II never saw such . quarrel.
some lot of people. Suppose that you
did not sleep for one night, neither did
l, but you notice that am always
even tempered"
"You're no better than the rest OF
u.s." snapped Mrs. Thread. "I've seen
you tight"
Well, as said before, I'm going to
strike" remarked the feeder.
"Much good it will do you," shifted
Miss Needle. "Father Clock, over
there, has been doing that for ten
years and has never got figure raised
yet"
"Seems to me that there is q good
deal of friction here" interposed the
oil can smoothly. "Can I be of any
assistancei"
The grumblers were silent, and the
oil can went on blsndly:
al don't believe that this sort of
thing pays. We can never accom-.
plish anything if we continually rub
each other the wrong way. Any sort
OF friction is dreadfully wearing, but
I've a remedy for it in the shape of
three little words. When the mistress
comes 10, l will whisper them into the
ear OF each OF you, and if you will
listen to them and repeat them now
and then, everything will be smooth
and easy again."
And, sure, enough, when the mis-.
tress came in, she took up Mr.. Oil Can,
just as if be knew, and let him whisper
into the ear Of each one; and when he
bad so given bis message. they al set
to work cheerfully and harmoniously,
and there was not another word OF