The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-12-21
FACES ON THE WALL,
by HARRIET BEEonEn STOWE

Avthor of" Uncle Toms Cabin" minds
ter'S WooiHg," Etc.
Once there was very good little girl, who,
by reason of her goodness, knew where TO
find strawberries in the winter. In the same
way, less perfect people, blessed by the gen.
erous fairies of memory and imagination, may
sit, as do now, in the midst of falling leaves
and whisting winds, and call back the green
grasses and the summer sun. l see yonder in
the glen the darling of our house, the gold
CLEAN in her brown hair, chain of daisies IN
her hand and in her eyes the roguish medita-
ton of kitten, weary for an instant only OF
It's play, and. thinking slyly on another spring
Thrown back upon the velvet grass, she Is
not resting, only pausing; from her bright
glances 10 the tips of her tiny fingers, she is
wide awake.
But now the merry play Is over, and our
pet nestles yonder on the sofa-cushion, tired
at last in earnest. Slowly the lids fall, and the
lingering smile dies out; but the flush in cheek
and lip remains, like the glow after sunset
The gathering buttercups and daisies are
loosely held by the fair little hand; no
shadows, even of dream-land, disturb the
sweet brows perfect peace. She is fast
| asleep.
I'm other words, two chromos hang upon
the wall, bewitching chld-heads, in which
every mother sees something of her own dear
ones, never grown old, and never lost to her,
however time or death may have dealt with
them.
Nothing pleascs more at first sight or gives
pleasure longer than poetical pictures OF chill
dren. "The little child" whom Jesus sets in
the midst of every family is JOY that grows
not old and fades not.
"Ape cannot wither-custom cannot stale
Its infinite variety
For this reason happy picture OF child
brings an enjoyment more lasting than any
other, because 1t Is subject of which no one
ever tires.
But these pictures, besides their constant charm
for grown folks, are such as children can under
stand and love. Oar little ''wiee Awake and
.'Fast Asleep" would give many pleasant hou'
| of communicable amusement and intercourse tC
the little people akin to them in age. The pictures
that chidren's eyes rest on, as they are dropping
Off to sleep or as they awake in the morning. seen
to them like living friends All sorts OF childisl
dreams and fancies make OF the pictured face
real companion. Not only in the parlor or the sit
: ting room would they be an attractive and fttn'
establishment, but they are charming pair 10
. the adornment OF a nursery.
3 Undoubtedly these two pictures are portraits
. There is a realistic faithfuness and truth abou
them that fOrbds the idea of their being fanc
heads They will remind many parepts OF littl
: ones, either here or in heaven. Dickens say
somewhere OF his portraiture OF little Nell that
= has had letter. from the farthest regions Of tn
G earth speaking OF children who resembed her,
n so dear, and so early taken He who paints on
o child well, paints thousands, and speaks to I'll
Q tenderest feelings OF nnumerabe heatts.
) Of course there is pleasure in possessing "a
g original painting; but when the question lies b'
Is tween an original at five hundred dollars and
70 chrome which can scarcely be distinguished fro
' it, at ten dolars-parliculary when one has nj
:; the five hundred to sparc-he choice is not vel
;, difficult. AS o these two exquisite chromos, on
q a critical examination can distinguish betTet
<. the copies and the originals Which sold for maj
ID nundreds-which is certainly more than can
SAID fine best copies oi most pictures painted
hand.
Blessings upon chrome. photography, by whit
the success 'ul painting of master can he repr
IT duced indefinitely ard can eater thousanos
homrs with its educating, quicke ming, Ielorml
influence.
IL IL is not alone INTO the dwellings Of the gre
e. and wealthy that We follow this pretty pair WI
anllcipatiuns OF delight. We see them in the cI
. tage OF the poor, in the log cabin ofthe ackwout
er man, Frightening the toll Of the hard-worki
wife and mother ami receiving the almost adorl
IL wonder Of children who have never seen pIGtuI