She wouldn't like it." "But she is ever so much older than you, mother," persisted the child.
Once Rachel heard a remark of this kind, and perhaps it was that that prejudiced her against Ida.

At any rate, she was not one of those who indulged her.

Frequently she rebuked her for matters of no importance; but it was so well understood in the cooper's household that this was Aunt Rachel's way, that Ida did not allow it to trouble her, as the lightest reproach from Mrs.Harding would have done.
Had Ida been an ordinary child, all this petting would have had an injurious effect upon her mind.

But, fortunately, she had the rare simplicity, young as she was, which lifted her above the dangers which might have spoiled her otherwise.

Instead of being made vain and conceited, she only felt grateful for the constant kindness shown her by her father and mother, and brother Jack, as she was wont to call them.
Indeed it had not been thought best to let her know that such were not the actual relations in which they stood to her.
There was one point, much more important than dress, in which Ida profited by the indulgence of her friends.
"Martha," the cooper was wont to say, "Ida is a sacred charge in our hands.