The store-keepers were anxious to have her custom.

Those who had money to lend were always very ready to let her have it, if at any time she wished to make up a sum for a new investment: and all the ladies of the village were willing that their daughters should go out to her little farm to visit Bella, and to have Bella visit them in return.

Thus Mary Erskine found that she was becoming quite an important personage.
Her plan of teaching herself and her children succeeded perfectly.

By the time that she had thoroughly learned to write her own name, she knew half of the letters of the alphabet, for her name contained nearly that number.

She next learned to write her children's names, Bella Forester and Albert Forester.