f for weaving carpet. When
crocheting circular rugs, occasionally stretch the outside row to
prevent the rug from curling up at edges when finished, as it would be
apt to do if too tightly crocheted. If necessary, occasionally add an
extra stitch. Avoid also crocheting it too loosely, as it would then
appear like a ruffle. The advantage of crocheting over a heavy cord is
that the work may be easily drawn up more tightly if too lose."

CHAPTER XII.

MARY IMITATES NAVAJO BLANKETS.

On her return from an afternoon spent at Professor Schmidt's, Mary
remarked to Aunt Sarah, "For the first time in my life I have an
original idea!"

"Do tell me child, what it is!"

"The 'New Colonial' rag rugs we have lately finished are fine, but I'd
just love to have a Navajo blanket like those owned by Professor
Schmidt; and I intend to make a rag rug in imitation of his Navajo
blanket."

"Yes," answered her Aunt, "I have always greatly admired them myself,
especially the large gray one which covers the Professor's own chair
in the library. The Professor brought them with him when he returned
from 'Cutler's Ranch' at Rociada, near Las Vegas, New Mexico, where he
visited his nephew, poor Raymond, or rather, I should say, fortunate
Raymond, an only child of the Professor's sister. A quiet, studious
boy, he graduated at the head of his class at an early age, but he
inherited the weak lungs of his father, who died of consumption.
Raymond was a lovable boy, with a fund of dry humor and wit--the idol
of his mother, who, taking the advice of a specialist, accompanied her
boy, as a last resort, to New Mexico, where, partly owing to his
determination to get well, proper food and daily rides on the mesa, on
the back of his little pinto pony, he regained perfect health, and
today is well, happily married and living in Pasadena, California, so
I have been told by Frau Schmidt, who dearly loves the boy."

"But Mary, forgive an old woman for rambling away from the subject in
which you are interested--Navajo blankets. Ever since we planned to
make a rug with a swastika in the centre, I nave been trying to evolve
from my brain (and your Uncle John says my bump of inventiveness is
abnormally large) a Navajo rag rug for the floor of the room you
intend to furnish as Ralph's den, in the home you are planning. Well,
my dear, a wooden crochet hook in your deft fingers will be the magic
wand which will perform a miracle and transform into Navajo