[OPLINLIST] patron w/story stumper

[Teresa Calderone OH0183]

Hi Everyone,
I am hoping that someone will be able to help me with a title and author for 
the following scenario: 

A young girl thinks that she is going to die when the last ivy leaf falls 
off of the plant. Her neighbor permanently paints a leaf on the wall to 
alleviate her fears. Later, the artist neighbor dies. 

This patron believes that this story is by the same author as the following 
story: 

A young girl cuts her hair to buy a watch bob (?) and then her father or the 
man sells the watch bob. 

The patron thinks that these books were written in the 1920's.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Please reply to me offlist at
calderte@oplin.org
Thanks in advance
Teresa Calderone
TLCPL
Happy New Year,