t the
kitchen as well as other parts of the house, to quote Aunt Sarah,
"neat as a pin," and did not object to any work, however hard or
laborious, as long as she was not expected to do the thinking and
planning. She was greatly attached to both Aunt Sarah and Mary, but
stood rather in awe of John Landis, who had never spoken a cross word
to her in the three years she had lived at the farm.

Sarah Landis, knowing Sibylla to be an honest, industrious girl,
appreciated her good qualities, thought almost as much of Sibylla as
if she had been her daughter, and treated her in like manner, and for
this reason, if for no other, she received willing service from the
girl.

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.