“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.  I own a neat brick house in a quiet street, which you will find more comfortable than this.  Just before I left Philadelphia my lawyer drew up a deed of gift, conveying the house to you.  It is Ida’s gift, not mine.  Ida, give this to Mr. Crump.”

The child took the parchment, and handed it to the cooper, who was bewildered by his sudden good fortune.

“This for me?” he said.

“It is the first installment of my debt of gratitude; it shall not be the last,” said Mrs. Clifton.

“How shall I thank you, madam?” said the cooper.  “To a poor man this is, indeed, an acceptable gift.”

“By accepting it,” said Mrs. Clifton.  “Let me add, for I know it will enhance the value of the gift in your eyes, that it is only five minutes’ walk from my own house, and Ida will come and see you every day.”

“Yes, mamma,” said Ida; “I couldn’t be happy away from father and mother and Jack, and Aunt Rachel.”

“You must introduce me to your Aunt Rachel,” said Mrs. Clifton, with a grace all her own.

Ida did so.

“I am glad to make your acquaintance, Miss Rachel,” said Mrs. Clifton.  “I need not say that I shall be glad to see you, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Crump, at my house very frequently.”

“I’m much obleeged to you,” said Aunt Rachel; “but I don’t think I shall live long to go anywhere.  The feelin’s I have, sometimes warn me that I’m not long for this world.”

“You see, Mrs. Clifton,” said Jack, his eyes dancing with mischief, “we come of a short-lived family.  Grandmother died at eighty-two, and that wouldn’t give Aunt Rachel long to live.”

“You impudent boy!” exclaimed Miss Rachel, in great indignation.  Then relapsing into melancholy, “I’m a poor afflicted creetur, and the sooner I leave this scene of trial the better.”

“Let us hope,” said Mrs. Clifton, politely, “that you will find the air of Philadelphia beneficial to your health.  Change of air sometimes works wonders.”

In the course of a few weeks the whole family removed to Philadelphia.  The house which Mrs. Clifton had given them, (sic) excceeded their anticipations.  It was so much better and larger than their present dwelling, that their furniture would have shown to great disadvantage in it.  But Mrs. Clifton had foreseen this, and they found the house already furnished for their reception.  Through Mrs. Clifton’s influence the cooper was enabled to establish himself in business on a larger scale, and employ others, instead of working himself, for hire.  Ida was such a frequent visitor, that it was hard to tell which she considered her home—­her mother’s elegant dwelling, or Mrs. Cooper’s comfortable home.