She learned knitting from watching her playmates.

She was healthy and active, quick at everything, and restless with unspent energy.

Therefore she was quite willing, at the age of ten, to go into her father's business as his chief assistant.
As the years went by she developed a decided talent for business, so that her father could safely leave all his affairs in her hands if he had to go out of town.

Her devotion, ability, and tireless energy made her, in time, indispensable.

My grandfather was obliged to admit that the little learning she had stolen was turned to good account, when he saw how well she could keep his books, and how smoothly she got along with Russian and Polish customers.