Sibylla, a swift worker at all times, never finished work so quickly as on Wednesday and Saturday evenings, when she “kept company” with Jake Crouthamel.  “Chake,” as Sibylla called him, was a sturdy, red-faced young farmer, all legs and arms.  He appeared to be put together loosely at the joints, like a jumping-jack, and never appeared at ease in his ill-fitting “store clothes.”  He usually wore gray corduroy trousers and big cowhide boots, a pink and white striped shirt and red necktie.

Sibylla did not notice his imperfections, and thought him handsome as a Greek god.

Jake, an honest, industrious young fellow, worked on a near-by farm, owned his own carriage, and had the privilege of using one of the farm horses when he wished, so he and Sibylla frequently took “choy rides,” as Sibylla called them.

Jake Crouthamel was usually called “Boller-Yockel,” this name having been accorded him on account of his having delivered to a purchaser a load of hay largely composed of rag-weed.  The man called him an old “Boller-Yockel,” and the name had clung to Jake for years.

CHAPTER XI.

“New Colonial” Rag rugs.

Several days had elapsed since that on which Mary’s Aunt had planned to use the contents of her trunk to such good advantage, when Mary, coming into the room where her Aunt was busily engaged sewing, exclaimed:  “Don’t forget, Auntie, you promised to teach me to crochet rag rugs!”

[Illustration:  A “Hit-and-miss” Rug]

“Indeed, I’ve not forgotten, and will make my promise good at once,” said Aunt Sarah.  “We shall need quantities of carpet rags cut about one-half inch in width, the same as those used for making rag carpet.  Of course, you are aware, Mary, that heavier materials should be cut in narrower strips than those of thinner materials.  You will also require a long, wooden crochet needle, about as thick as an ordinary wooden lead pencil, having a hook at one end, similar to a common bone crochet needle, only larger.  For a circular rug, crochet about twelve stitches (single crochet) over one end of a piece of candle wick or cable cord; or, lacking either of these, use a carpet rag of firm material; then draw the crocheted strip into as small a circle as possible, fasten and crochet round and round continuously until finished.  The centre of a circular or oblong rug may be a plain color, with border of colored light and dark rags, sewed together promiscuously, called ‘Hit and Miss.’

[Illustration:  A brown and tan rug]

“Or you might have a design similar to a ‘Pin-wheel’ in centre of the circular rug, with alternate stripes, composed of dark and light-colored rags.”

“I’d like one made in that manner from different shades that harmonize, browns and tans, for instance,” said Mary.