"One at a time, please, one at a time," Esther said. "Suppose, we commence with Jessie. What do you wish to do, Jessie?"
"Oh, I'd like tae dae cipherin' an' readin' an' writin'. I wisht I could read like you, schoolma'am!"
"Could she ever?" questioned Kate Keith, a young English girl.
"Certainly." She showed such belief in them and what they might do that their enthusiasm rose still higher. Then Kate said impulsively:
"I wisht ye'd learn us to sew. I've been wishin' to know how."
She held up her big, coarse hands, looked at them a moment, and laughed as she said:
"I don't know as I could handle such a little thing as a needle."
"You wish to learn to sew? I am so glad."
This was just the turn Esther had been hoping would come. "Every woman," she continued, "ought to know how to sew. I like to sew, myself. What next?"
A comely maid spoke. "My name's Mandy Young. Me an' Marthy thought we'd like ter learn ter write letters an'—"