Just then, an elegantly-dressed lady appeared at the threshold.
Smiling, radiant with happiness, Mrs. Clifton seemed, to the
cooper's family, almost a being from another sphere.
"Mother," said Ida, taking her hand, and leading her to Mrs. Crump,
"this is my other mother, who has always taken such good care of me
and loved me so well."
"Mrs. Crump," said Mrs. Clifton, "how can I ever thank you for your
care of my child?"
My child!
It was hard for Mrs. Crump to hear another speak of Ida in this way.
"I have tried to do my duty by her," she said, simply; "I love her
so much."
"Yes," said the cooper, clearing his throat, and speaking a little
huskily, "we all love her as if she was our own. She has been so
long with us that we have come to think of her as our own, and--and
it won't be easy at first to give her up."
"My friend," said Mrs. Clifton, "think not that I shall ever ask you
to make that sacrifice. I shall always think of Ida as only a little
less yours than mine."
"But you live in Philadelphia. We shall lose sight of her."
"Not unless you refuse to come to Philadelphia, too."
"I am not sure whether I could find work there."
"That shall be my care. I have another inducement. God has bestowed
upon me a large share of this world's goods. I am thankful for it,
since it will enable me in some slight way to express my sense of
your great services to Ida.
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