But finally Cousin Margaret came to take John home and Mary Jane was left without a playfellow.

“No use moping around, Mary Jane,” said Grandmother briskly as she saw Mary Jane sitting dolefully and idly on the back steps an hour after John had gone.  “Find something to do as you did before John came and you’ll feel happier.”

“But everything I know to do, needs two to do it,” complained Mary Jane.  “I don’t know any children’s things for just one!”

“Listen to the child!” laughed Grandmother, “when she played the whole day long, all by herself and as happy as could be!  Well, then, dear,” she added kindly, “if you don’t know a children’s thing to do, how about a grown folks’ thing?”

“Oh, Grandmother!” exclaimed the little girl happily, “is there a grown-up folks’ thing I can do?”

“I shouldn’t wonder,” said Grandmother, smiling mysteriously.  “I shouldn’t wonder a bit.”

“But I don’t want to sew,” said Mary Jane, suddenly wondering if her grandmother might be thinking of that, “I don’t feel sew-ish.”

“No, it’s not sewing,” replied Grandmother.  “I haven’t time for sewing this morning because I’m going to make strawberry jam.”

“Then what is it?” asked Mary Jane and she pressed her face up against the screen door in her effort to look inside at her grandmother’s work.

“You come in and wash your hands and face—­wash them good with soap,” said Grandmother, “then bring me one of Grandfather’s big handkerchiefs and I’ll tell you what it is.”

That puzzled Mary Jane and she immediately forgot all about John and her lonesomeness.  She hurried to the bathroom and washed her hands and face the very best she knew how.  Then she reached into Grandfather’s drawer and picked out a handkerchief and took it down to Grandmother.

“Now get me five pins from my basket,” said Grandmother.

Mary Jane got the pins in a jiffy and then Grandmother stopped her work and began to unfold and refold the handkerchief.

“What—­” began Mary Jane as she watched Grandmother’s hands busy folding, “what’s it going to be?”

“A cap,” replied Grandmother, smiling, “a cap for the cook who’s going to get our dinner”; and she set the cap squarely on Mary Jane’s head!

“Me?  Get dinner?  Me?  By myself?” exclaimed Mary Jane, “but I don’t know how!”

“Oh, yes, you do,” laughed Grandmother, “and what you don’t know how, you can learn.  Do you know what potatoes look like?”

“Why, of course,” replied Mary Jane and she giggled at such a funny question for potatoes were her favorite vegetable.  “I’ve seen ’em at home and I’ve seen ’em in your cellar.”

“Sure enough!” said Grandmother, nodding approvingly, “then you’ll know what to do.  Take that pan over there,” and she pointed to the table, “and go into the cellar and pick out six nice smooth potatoes.”

Mary Jane did as she was told and she thought it was lots of fun too, to hunt over the bin as she had seen Grandmother do and pick out potatoes that just suited her.