Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1871-11-25
AIEGAM COUNTY, MARYLAND SATURDAY, NOVEMBER

ago in ashes, the whole world of her
warnings long buried, leaving only the
| duty of living and the hope of heaven.
| AS she sat down, took up her spectacles
and knitting and closed the Bible, she
began pleasantly to talk to us of the
warm, bright autumn nights, of Smith S
work, and then of my own profession,
and of her niece, Sarah Jane. Her
genuinely sweet spirit and natively
gentle manner were very beautiful, and
far overbalanced all traces # rustic
birth and mountain life.
o that unquenchable Christian fire,
how pure the gold of its result 1t
needs no practiced elegance, no social
greatness, for its success only the warm
human heart, and out of it shall come
a sacred calm and gentleness, such as
no power. no wealth, no culture may
ever hope to win. No words of mine
would outline the beauty of that plain,
weary old woman, the sad, sweet pa
| tience of those gray eyes, nor the spirit
of overtlowing goodness which cheered
and enlivened the half hour we spent
| there.
| ii. &. might perhaps be pardoned for
showing an alacrity when the door
| again opened and Sarah Jane rolled,
might almost say trundled in, and was
introduced to me. Sarah Jane was an
essentially California product, as much
| so as one of those vast potatoes or mas
sive pears; she had a suggestion of
| State fair in the fullness OF her ply
sique, yet withal was pretty and mod,
est. If | could have rid myself of a
fear that her buttons might sooner or
later burst off and go singing by my
ear, | think | ight have felt as II. &.
did, that she was ga magnificent fe-
male" with her smooth, brilliant skin
and ropes of soft, brown hair.
II. g., in presence of the ladies, lost
something of his original flavor and rose
into studied elegance, greatly to the
comfort of Sarah, whose glow of pride
as his tale ran on came without show of
restraint.
The supper was delicious.
Bu. Sarah was quiet, quiet to II. g.
and to me, until after tea, when the old
lady said: You young folks will have
to excuse me this evening"" and with
drew to her chamber.
More logs were then piled on the sit
ting-room hearth, and we three gather
ed in semi-circle. Presently II. G. took
the poker and twisted it about among
Goals and ashes, prying up the oak
sticks, as he announced i'll a measured.
studied way: An artists wife, that is,
he explained, "an academician's wife,
orter, we'll, she'd orter Sobe the beauti-
full and take her regular aesthetics and
then again." he continued in explana-
tory tone, "she'd orter know how to
it's rough like furt off, fore feller gets
his name up. But then when he does,
though, she's got salubrious old time
of it. It's touch little bell he press
ed the andiron top to show us how the
thing was done), "and Brooks, the NOR
ming paperr Open your regular Herald:
"' ART NOTES. - Another of II. G.
Smiths tender works, entitled "Of the
Grade" so full of out-of-doors and sub
tie feeling of nature, is now on exhibit
ton at Goupil's.'
"Look down little further
"' italian OPERA.-Between the acts
all eyes turned to the distinguee Mrs. II.
G. Smith, who looked then turning
to me, and waving his hand at Sarah
Jane, leave it to you if she don't"
Sarah Jane assumed the pleasing color
of the sugarbeet without seeming in
wardly unhappy.
SITS only question of time with
H. Co." continued my friend. cart is
long, you know, derned long, and it
may be year before | paint my great
picture, but after that Smith works in
lead harness."
He used the poker freely, and more
and more his flow of hopes turned
sha e of sentiment to Sarah Jane, who
smiled broader and broader, showing
teeth of healthy whiteness.
At last | withdrew and sought my
room, which was II. G.'s also, and his
studio. ! had gone with candle
around the walls, whereon were tackled
studies and sketches, finding here and
there a bit of real merit among the pro-
fusion of trash, when the door burst
open and my friend entered, kicked off
his boots and trousers, and walked up
and down at q sort of quadrille step,
singing:
Yes, it's the cottage of me love:
You bet. it's the cottage of me love;
and what's more, I'll. q. has Just had his
genteel goodnight kiss, and when and
where is the good old bar.keep ?"
Slowly from this atmosphere of art l
passed away into the tranquil land of
dreams.-1tlahtic MonthW.