Timothy Crump's Ward: A Story of American Life

the annual remittance for little Ida, had enabled the family not only to live in comfort, but even to save up one hundred and fifty dollars a year. They might even have saved more

. Crump, far enough from vanity, always dressed with exceeding plainness, Ida's attire was always rich and ta

ng, "Oh, I'm an old woman, Ida

not old, mother. Yo

lways playfully evade

ed her above the dangers to which many might have been subjected. Instead of being made vain, she only felt grateful for the many kindnesses bestowed upon her by her father a

t than dress, in which Ida profite

y advantages, we shall not fulfil our duty. We have the means, through Providence, to give her some of those advantages which she would e

, as you always are. Follow the dictates of your

lected private school, where she had the advantage of good

ould have abundant opportunity for cultivating it. A private master was secured, who gave her daily lessons, and boasted eve

on his birthday, Ida presented him with a beautifully-

" he asked, after earnest

inutes," she said;

without any one of us kno

henever I could do it without being noticed, I looked up at mother

it is," said Tim

ld not admit. "I couldn't make it look as good as you, mother," she sa

ifficulty with Aunt Rache

ficulty, supp

t any consideration in this house. I was born to be a martyr, and I expect I shall fulfil my destiny. If my own relations laugh at me, of course I can

ing, Rachel," said the cooper. "I

said was complim

her head in

you draw Aunt Rachel, Ida? I thi

da, hesitatingly, "

se you to improve it. When it's finished, it can be hung up at t

rmly compressing her lips, "not if an

Aunt Rachel, tha

man that I'd trus

o trust," observe

'em. You can't believe what one of 'em says. It would

ld be a hundred years hen

"and I don't know but that would be the best th

emarkably good, and although she frequently expresses herself to the effect that there is little use in living, probably she would be as unwilling to leave the world as any one. I am not sure that she does not derive as much enjoyment from her melancholy as other people from their cheerfu

ess needed the constant care of others, he used, from choice, to relieve his mother of much of the task of amusing the child. He had never had a little sister, and the care of a child as young as

she had at heart, and he never disappointed her. Whenever he could, he would accompany her to schoo

nurse-maid?" asked a boy,

er, but he had a duty to perform, and contented himself wi

er think I shall have to wait till b

ong before you are black

ack," whispered Ida, fearfu

n't leave you; I guess he w

se of the same sort. If he had been wiser, he would have seen a storm gather

o school, Ida saw the same boy dodging r

ter with him, J

blazes, that's all,

l let us alon