The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1857-07-17

come, give us bid"
twenty-five cents"
"Did | hear straight! Bnybody
here so small as thatl Got a con-
science! We'll, must start it at some
price; twenty-five, five, thirty, five,
five, forty-look at it gentlemen,
look at that maiden's arm and cheek
hone Of your pale beauties a
man of you but would give a fortune
for a wife like that--buy her for a
pattern, gentlemen forty, forty,
five, five, no whalebone or wad.
ding here"
Fifty" lisped |, thinking the
frame and glass surely worth that
for in the dim obscurity could not
see the picture.
"Fifty, fifty, fifty-who bids, who
bids, bids, bids fifty, fifty--going,
going, gone"
| was the owner ofthe old picture,
and when it was handed over, found
it without glass, and scarce worth,
as then thought, the carrying home;
it was so soiled and WON. "Sold,
mother!" said John with mischiev-
ous chuckle. 'Toodles, coffins again
"l'll get fifty cents ont of in ex-
perience." said |, as we retreated to
the rockaway.
The picture and mothers bid were
duly laughed at and the "old thing"
put away out Of sight, on the top of a
cupboard in my sleeping ROOM
And while it takes a years rest, |
will describe it as it appeared to me
than. A colored French engraviny
of large size. representing a robust,
healthy looking girl in her working
dress and sun. bonnet, with brawny
bare arms, bearing a basket full OF
fruits, and An apron Of flowers, while
she stands with her right hand up
raised, knocking with her bare knuck
les at an humble cottage door, and
whispering in Grench, "Only me. !"
So much | recognized in the picture;
nothing more, and had often threat
ened to take it down and put in its
place in the frame a favorite litho.
graph.
The other day "our Maggie" took
it from its resting place, and left it
sitting opposite my bed against the
wall, where the morning sun would
gid it with his earliest rays. Fer
be it known to you, reader, the sun
has to look up to greet us in the morn
and we always leave a blind open
that we may see him in his majestg
as he rolls himsclfout ofhis prairie
bed, ani then bathes his hot looking
face in the turbil Mississippi, setting
them all agiow ere he travels upward
N his journey. He rises in Illinois;
we live on a hill in Missouri.
awokc this morning, mot before sun.
rise and looking out, the old pic
ture sprung like a beautiful vision,
iul! upon me gildci with the soltest
sunlight, and smiling q new revela.
ton to my restless spirit.
How could l.have failed to see
its beauty and read lis moral be,
fore? Must the heart be in tune ere
the angels play harmones upon the
sounding keys; and the eye in sym.
pathy with the heart to see light and
truth where once was only scroll.
As the sun light up the features
ofthe maiden, they became life.lillc
and almost heard the whisper from
her parted lips: ut is only me.
am Labor. Do you not know me-
open the door and let me in. See
| bring you health, strength ant
cheerfullness--l bring you the fruit.
and the flowers. 1t is 'only me.''
Ali the artist has brought out 6
beautiful thought, and embodied il
in that cheerful girl, who has passeC
by the place OF wealth in the bach
ground to come in the early morn
ing hour to the humble cottage with
her rich treasures; her apron brim
ming with natures choicest and best
and her basket filled to the top with
simple fruits Of the field and thu
wood.
wish my picture could stand il
a thousand bed chambers; and, look
Iing.into the faces of those who hav,
sought in idleness to be happy, teacl
them each morn the lessons whicl
sons which | have read, painted or
that dingy convass by the artist
pencil.
!, "Only me-" says Labor, as sh
|, knocks at the door of the langui
. maiden whom wealth has pampere
into disease and and ennui. "Onl
, me2 Let me lead you forth to tn
= fields and wood, and we will pic
the berries together from the hillside
3 and gather the flowers from the mos
t sy bank, and from the margin OF tn
running brook, and the sleeps of tn
: hillside. | will show you how t
= draw down the grapes from the tre
. tops, and the wild cherry and plur
9 from the bending boughs. All,
= you will bat take the hoe and tn
! trowel, l will teach you the secre,
0 of the earth; how the seeds answe
= the prayer OF the sower, and labor i
faith to perfect themselves for th
t uses Of God, and how each living il
a own true life gathers its part OF tn
q earth, and the air, and the sunshine
3 without Paintings or repiuings.
"Only me! Poor discontente
Q child Of dissipation and folly, let IN
o in | pray you, that | may turn a
5 that restless activity that is no.
y wearing away thy life prings
q transgression, into channels the
: lahall do UOod In tkv onn haark nm