Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-05-07

1t was an afternoon of early Spring. The
days were long, and the birds had begun to
build their nest under the gables of the old
church. There were blossoms. too, upon the
trees and pale spring flowers in the old garden
sheltered 10y the church wall. L sat by the
window sewing and singing. 1t was pleas
ant season to me-this bright spring time
was not thoughtful-perhaps L understood
only one fraction of its meaning and its love
illness but il had spoken to me all my life of
youth and hope, and was young and hopeful.
The sun shone warm upon the old church
towers, far away there was a sound of JOY
bells. / stopped my singing at times to listen
TO them-it was a right glad sound for this
spring day.
Ruth will you come? 1t is ready" Mrs
Erickson said.
| turned quickly from the outer sunshine
with a momentary feeling of conjunction {:
something was happening in the house to-day,
and had forgotten it. My godmother thought
it great thing it was not great to me- it
was only this-that Noel had completed the
picture that had been his chief winters work
and it was to be sent TO "the Academy" to-day.
1t had never seen it yet. | rose at Mrs.
Erckson's invitation, and followed her up
stairs. She was excited and glad. and her pale
face even frightened by flush of color.
| was not glad nor almost even curious. An
entrance into my Cousins studio bad long
ceased to be looked upon by me as even pos
sible pleasure.
He was in the room when we came in, but
not at his easel. The space about that was
vacant and upon it stood his framed picture.
We went up together and stood before it.
1t was a large picture, divided into two
compartments. both representing the same
scene-the sca-shore, girt to the right by
line of rocks; but in one the water was lying
calmly under an azure sky, and the spars of
tln lie ulif N N fba nj
the sea was dashed into high crests of foam,
and one red cleft in the heavy thunder clouds
illumined the whole canvass with lurid light
| looked at both pictures, but turned from
the second quickly. The warm, soft sunshine
the calm, blue water-these things | liked;
that picture had rest and beauty and quiet
lightin it. | liked it Us | had liked no other
creation had ever seen of Noel'sl was glad
to be able to speak what felt. l exclaimed,
heartily:
This is beautiful
Which is beautiful, Ruth?p Noel suddenly
asked
/ looked at him as he came towards us
there was slight contemptuous scorn in his
face that for moment irritated me. | knew
the answer that he expected, and | gave it to
him half defantly.
The first "
You do not like the other. then?''
81 am no judge of pictures"
"Perhaps not. But you think-whatg'
There was an ungentle smile upoa his lips;
another look would have made me humble
but that angcred me.
Il think" ! answered quickly, ''that pic
lures were meant 10 make us happy when we
look at them-and that one does not"
"But pictures cannot only be painted when
men are happy, Ruth, my godmother said;
land if they are unhappy, their pictures will
show signs of their sorfuw."
"Why need theyg' | answered boldly. III |
they feel sorrow can they not learn 10 repress |
IL, Can they not struggle against, inst al of |
giving way To 10, and brooding over il, and |
nursing II as II Il were some precious thing |
AZ Noel doesIh
1t was "A sudden impulse that made me |
speak. The thoughts had come impatiently |
into my mind many time before, but never |
before had given utterance TO them. Ispoke |
them hOtly now, confident in my wisdom and |
common sense. When | ceased, my cousin |
met me with this answer:
WHO told you, Ruth" he calmly demand |
ed. "that sorrow was Ho precious thing
How do YOU know how much strength lies in |
il-how weak many heart aud hand might |
b. II IL were cast away. My cousin. you are |
young. aud you Judge all people by yourself, |
and would have all the world such as you are. |
Take my advice, and In future condemn only |
what you understand, lest YOU chance 10 con- |
demn some things that are UNNECESSARILY |
above you
lie waited for no answer when be had spo-
ken. In u few moments after be Was again /
engaged at the occupation he had left, and /
was silently on my way down stairs
went back alone TO the room, and took the
seat that had left. My cheek Was hot, but /
took ap my sewing again, and worked IL /
was drawing towards evening then; worked
I'LL the sun set. | was still alone, and only |
when twilight began 10 come did lay my /
y ork aside.
IL was very quiet The evening brightness
was stealing softly through the narrow lights
,f the accustomed windows, and the church
vas growing dark against the sky. began
% think how il stood there, night by night,