Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1859-04-02

room, and coming up TO me, put out Ills hanu
with single cold phrase OF welcome. look
ed up into his face as l answered his salute,
and with that look, something that had been
q kind Of hope in me, sank down with quick
short paug. No; | had no recognition for
this Noel Erickson. This cold repeiiaut face
was all strange to me- 1t was small thing
to speak of--a slight disappointment and
yet out of my childs prose life, it was some
thing to lose the sunshine Of one pleasant
memory.
We fell calmly, aud at once, into quiet
regular life. had little education AID few
tastes. | had been accustomed TO spend
hours every day, passively laying stitch to
stitch upon some long monotoneous work.
set a square yard OF canvass now in frame
and with my pattern and my colored wools, /
quickly set to work. The thing when finish.
ed ] said should be cushion for my grand
mother. At which she thanked me, and took
up some humber work herself They were
not rich, and she had other sewing to do than
to make cushions.
We passed our days alone, for Noel Erek-
son, though he did not often leave the house,
had his own work. and his own room to work
in. lie was an artist, aud he laborsG in his
studio early and late. What came Of his la
boring did not often see. Sometimes bis
mother took me to his work room, and made
me look at some completed drawDg-durng
these first months they were generally slight
water color sketches-before it left the house;
but these were all saw, and among thum,
few Of them pressed me much. | used to
tell Mrs Erickson for 1t WAS necessary when
| looked at them to say something) that WAS
no Judge of painting-and that VAS true but
it was also true that in my heart | did not
like'my Cousin Noel's pictures. Ever IN his
slightest drawings there was at all times
something feverish and restless. They might
have power in them did not know-bu.
they had no repose. say did not like nor
understand them; neither did like nor uu-
derstand him. He was shadow in the house
an unsocisble, careworn, silent man. His
presence made & loom 10 place Of sunshine
his aspect chilled me wluter's cold. lie was
unhappy himself, and he brought discomfort
as his companion. was afraid of him lit
ile pitied him much ! liked him not at
all
Yet did not regret coming to my god
mothers house If Noel chilled me, his mo-
ther did not had known so little affection
in my life that the quiet love she presently
began to bestow on me, stole into my heart
like very sunshine. ] returned her what
she gave to me- and in spite of Noel
Erickson, and the gloominess Of the ancient
town, my new home became very pleasant to
me. She said that l mado it brighter TO her,
too: perhaps did. can still remember
the sound Of my merry laughter, as through
the months Of that first winter it used to ring
waking smiles at least to join with it, through
the low rooted rooms Of the old house.
CHAPTER II.
1t was an afternoon of early spring. The
days were long, and the birds had begun to
build their nests under the gables Of the old
church. There were also blossoms too upon
the trees, and pale spring flowers in the old
church. There were blossoms too upon the
trees, and pale sprug flowers in the old gar.
deu sheltered 10y the church wall ! sat by
the window sewing aud singing. 1t was a
pleasant season for me-this bright spring
time. | was not thoug ghtGul-perhaps | un-
derstood only one fraction of its meaning and
its meaning and its loveliness; but it had
spoken to me all my life of youth and hope,
aud was young aud hopeful. The sun shone
warm upon the old church towers; far away
there was 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 tho house to day
and had forgotten it. My godmother
thought it great thing il was not great to
me, it was only this-that Noel had compile
ted the picture that bad been his chief win.
ter's work, and it was to be sent to the "Aca-
deny" to day.
had never seen it yet. | rose at Mrs.
Ericksons invention, and followed her up
stairs. She was excited and glad, and her
pale face was even frightened by flush of
color. l was not glad, nor almost even curl
Gus. An entrance into my cousins studio
had long ceased to be looked upon by me as
even possible pleasure.
He was in the room when we came ID, but
not at his easel. The space about that was
vacant, and upon it stood his framed picture.
We went up aud stood before it.
1t was large picture, divided into two
compartments, both representing the Same
scene-the sea shore, grit to the right by
line of rocks; but in one the water was lying
| calmly under an azure sky, and the spars of
the rocks glittered in sunshine in the other
the sea was lsshed into high cre.ts of foam,
and one red cleft in the heavy thunder clouds
llumed the whole canvas with lsrid light.
| looked at both pictures, but turned from
the second quickly. The warm, soft sunshine,
| the calm blue wator-these things liked
that picture nae rest and beauty aud quiet
light in it. liked it as liked no other ere
alton had ever seen of Noels. | was glad
to be able to speak what felt. | exclaimed
heartily:
This is beautiful"
(Which is beautiful, Ruth ?" Noel sudden.
ly asked.
! looked at him as he came toward ma
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"
"Do you not like the other. thsu!
81 am no judge Of pictures"
perhaps not. But you thnk-what?"
There was an uugeDtle smile upon his lips;
another look would have made me humble.
! but that angered me.
81 think" | answered quickly, "that pic.
lures were meant to make us happy when we
look at them-and that one does not"
Bat 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 sorrow"
"Why need they p answered boldly. "If
they feel sorrow, can they not learn to repress
it? Can they not struggle againt, instead of
giving way to it, and broodlng over it, and
| nursing il as il were some precious thing-as