Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-05-17
wCOBWEBSn y
"Hist ! look there.

pedestrian and sketching expedition, from
the city of Philadelphia. AS he spoke, he
laid his hand on his companions arm.
The person he addressed, looked and saw
a little girl about ten years old advancing
in an old blackberry path. She was brown
as berry, from exposure to the sum- and
her feet and arms were barei but there
was grace about her, as she came trip
ping forward, that princess might have
envied. Just in front of her, spider had
spun his trap across the path and as the
young man spoke, she slightly stopped her
head, and raising her hands, pushed the
cobwebs aside. 1t was artless, natural
movement, which completed the picture.
II should like to paint her." said he
who had spoken.
"What! love at first sight?' answered
his companion, laughing "To think OF
the fastidious Clarence losing his heart to
sun-burnt fairy. You are eighteen, and
she about ten--oh you can afford to wait. )"
This conversation had been carried on
in whispers. The child, still advancing.
had by this time come opposite to the two
Young men. On seeing them, she stopped,
and stared curiously at them, as a young
deer, that had never been hunted, may be
supposed to stop and regard the first
stranger that enters the forest Her bright,
speaking face as she thus stood, gracefully
arrested, was not less beautiful, in its way,
than her 1.-the figure. r
"My dear said the last speaker, would
you like to be made into a picture? My
friend here is painter, and will give you
a dollar if you will let him sketch you"
The child looked from the speaker to his
friend. Something in the lattcrs face
seemed to restore the natural confidence,
which the free and easy air of the other
had, for the moment, shaken. She drew
coyly up to him, as if for protection.
Il have read of pictures y said she, gaz.
ing up into his face, '.but never saw one
Is it a real picture of me you will make?
The artless appealing of the child went
to the young mans heart. He would as
soon have joined in bantering her as in
bantering sister. He took her hand al
he replied:
81 will make as good pictnre of yor
as I can; if you will let me. A picture
like one of these"
And he opened his portfolio, which con
tained various sketches
"Oh how beautiful" !" cried the child
1t was evident that new world had open
cd to her. She gazed breathlessly, a
sketch after sketch, till the last had beer
examined and then heaved deep sigh
"Please sir" said she timidly, at last
will you give me my picture when yo'
have painted it?"
NO." interposed tho other young man
"but we will give you dollar"
She turned to the speaker, let go tn
hand she had been holding, and drew her
self up with sudden haughtiness.
II don't want your dollar" she said
with proud delicacy. She was turning t.
escape, when the artist, recovering he
hand, said soothingly, "Never mind him
my dear. l will paint two pictures, AM
give you one. Come, that will do p
Reassured, the child took the position
indicated to her, and Clarence Harvard
for that was the young artists name, be
gan rapidly painting. Before noon, tw
hasty sketches, in oil were finished.
"There" he said, drawing a long breath
"you have been as quiet as a little mouse
and / am thousand times obliged to yor
take that home" and he handed her tn
sketch, "and may be some of these day.
you'll think of him who gave it to you.
.aThat will, all my life long, artlessl
said the child, rapturously gazing on he
new possession, with an enthusiasm, par
ly born of the artist soul within her, an
partly the result of achild's pride in VIII;
is her own especial property.
"Oh yes" interposed the other you'll
you'll promise to be his wife, some da,
won't you, Miss Cobwebs ?"
The child's eyes flashed as she turue
on the speaker. Her instinct from Il
first, had made her dislike the sneerin