was discovered, her foster parents took care that she should have
abundant opportunity for cultivating it. A private master was
secured, who gave her daily lessons, and boasted everywhere of his
charming little pupil, whose progress, as he assured her friends,
exceeded anything he had ever before known.

Nothing could exceed the cooper's gratification when, on his
birthday, Ida presented him with a beautifully-drawn sketch of his
wife's placid and benevolent face.

"When did you do it, Ida?" he asked, after earnest expressions of
admiration.

"I did it in odd minutes," she said; "in the evening."

"But how could you do it without any one of us knowing what you were
about?"

"I had a picture before me, and you thought I was copying it, but
whenever I could do it without being noticed, I looked up at mother
as she sat at her sewing, and so, after awhile, I made this
picture."

"And a fine one it is," said Timothy, admiringly.

Mrs. Crump insisted that Ida had flattered her, but this the child
would not admit. "I couldn't make it look as good as you, mother,"
she said. "I tried to, but somehow I couldn't succeed as well as I
wanted to."