to be used in any other manner.  Professor Schmidt calls this a ’Prayer Rug.’  He said:  ’This rug, fashioned of various bright-hued silks of orange, purple and crimson, a bright maze of rich colors, without any recognizable figure or design, reminds me of the description of the ‘Prayer Carpet’ or rugs of the Mohammedans.  They are composed of rich-hued silks of purple, ruby and amber.  ’Tis said their delicacy of shade is marvelous and was suggested by the meadows of variegated flowers.’  But this is a digression; you wished directions for making the rug.

“Use tiny scraps of various bright-hued silks, velvets and satins, cut about 3-1/2 inches long and about one-half inch in width.  Ends should always be cut slanting or bias; never straight.  All you will require besides the silk scraps, will be a ball of common cord or twine, or save all cord which comes tied around packages, as I do, and use that and two ordinary steel knitting needles.  When making her rug, Aunt Cornelia knitted several strips a couple of inches in width and the length she wished the finished rug to be.  The strips when finished she sewed together with strong linen thread on the wrong side of the rug.  She commenced the rug by knitting two rows of the twine or cord. (When I was a girl we called this common knitting ‘garter stitch.’) Then, when commencing to knit third row, slip off first stitch onto your other needle; knit one stitch, then lay one of the tiny scraps of silk across or between the two needles; knit one stitch with the cord.  This holds the silk in position.  Then fold or turn one end of silk back on the other piece of silk and knit one stitch of cord to hold them in place, always keeping silk on one side, on the top of rug, as this rug is not reversible.  Continue in this manner until one row is finished.  Then knit once across plain with cord, and for next row lay silk scraps in and knit as before.  Always knit one row of the cord across plain after knitting in scraps of silk, as doing this holds them firmly in position.  Of course, Mary, you will use judgment and taste in combining light and dark, bright and dull colors.  Also, do not use several scraps of velvet together.  Use velvet, silk and satin alternately.  Should any scraps of silk be longer than others after knitting, trim off evenly so all will be of uniform size.  When her rug was finished, Aunt Cornelia spread it, wrong side uppermost, on an unused table, covered it with a thick boiled paste, composed of flour and water, allowed it to dry thoroughly, then lined the rug with a heavy piece of denim.  This was done to prevent the rug from curling up at edges, and caused it to lie flat on floor; but I think I should prefer just a firm lining or foundation of heavy burlap or denim.”

“Thank you, Aunt Sarah, for your explicit directions.  I cannot fail to know just how to knit a silk rug, should I ever care to do so.  I think the work would be simply fascinating.”

CHAPTER XIII.