 Potter usually tested a new work on an audience by writing the tale into an exercise book , pasting a few watercolour or pen and ink illustrations into the volume , and presenting the whole as a gift to a child . In the case of Mrs. Tittlemouse , Potter wrote the tale in a small leather @-@ covered notebook 150 by 85 millimetres ( 5 @.@ 9 in × 3 @.@ 3 in ) with twenty @-@ one pages of text and eight watercolours as a New Year 's gift for Warne 's youngest daughter , Nellie . Its inscription read , " For Nellie with love and best wishes for A Happy New Year . Jan. 1 . 1910 " . 
