'nough left fer the rest of the week, countin' hash an' soup an'
all. Asia says she's goin' to hide it, so as I can't give no more
away. By the way, do you notice what Asia's doin'?"

Lucy went to the window, where Asia was busily working. This
taciturn little girl, with her old, solemn face and clever fingers,
was her favorite of the children.

"What are you making?" she asked, as the child dipped a brush into
one of three cans which stood before her.

"She's paintin' a picture," announced Mrs. Wiggs, proudly. "Looked
like she was jes' crazy 'bout picture painting, an' I said, 'Well,
Asia, if you have made up yer mind to be a artist, guess you'll
have to be one.' Seems like when folks kin do pianner playin' an'
picture paintin' it ain't right to let 'em wash dishes an' clean up
all the time. So I went to a store an' ast fer some paint to make
pictures with, and they wanted seventy cents fer a little box full.
Ain't that a mighty heap, Miss Lucy, jes' fer plain paint, 'fore it
's made up into flowers an' trees an' things? Well, anyway, I couldn't
git it, but I come home an' got me three tin cans an' took 'em
'round to Mr. Becker's paint-shop, an' he poured me a little red an'
yaller an' blue, an' only charged me a nickel, an' throwed in a
brush. Asia's painted a heap with it. I'll show you some of her
things."

It was not necessary, for in every direction Lucy looked her eyes
were greeted with specimens of Asia's handiwork. Across the
foot-board of the bed was a spray of what might have passed for
cauliflower, the tin boiler was encircled by a wreath of