Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-03-01

are developed much sooner than
those of boys. They are women
and often accomplished women, a,
m age when We arc but overgrowu
children. Our poor mother, before
she died, said to Rosalie: BE q
mother to your brother Neve,
was a charge better kept. This
young girl Immediately consecrated
her whole life to me. My welfare
and my education became the sole
interest of her life.
"How badly have l recompensed
such love. But let me say to you
not 70 justify, but to explain my
conduct-that Rosalie was wrong
in not recognizing my growth and
in considering me child when
was all ready to 60 to college. She
was-I will not say impcrious-but
disposed to assume authority over
those who surrounded her."
"Ingrate that I was! Instead oi
making the best Of her character,
and Of the circumstances which
would in due time have allowed me
to govern myself and finally to gov.
ern others-I revolted. thought
| it preposterous that a young girl
should rule me. Especially l could
not bear to have her correct me be.
fore company, and when she did so,
I replied with the most unwarrant.
able impertinence."
81 think, my good Merry, that in
your place, I should have been per-
haps less patient than yourself"
81 ought, at least, to have repre-
scntcd to her, with frmness but
with affection, that was no longer
a child, and prayed her not to treat
me as such. But did not do it a,
the right moment, and when l wish.
ed to it was too late.
"My progress in my studies was
not very brilliant. took little in
terest in anything except the great
battles in Roman history and in
fragments of Virgil, which I had
learned. My time, as you may de-
vine, was spent in sketching teach.
ers, pupils, comrades, old trees, sea
views and even clouds. What
bloody battles, what Hannibals,
what Scipios, what Didos! This
conduct displeased all my profes.
sors except one, who was a man OF
more elevated and enlarged views.
"'This young man. said he, SIS
born an artist. These sketches arc
not mere daubs and caricaturcs, but
pictures full of life and truth. Dc
not spoil his vocation; send him to
the school Of fine arts, at Paris
"But my uncle, my nominal
guardian, and Rosalie, my real one,
would not listen to that advice
Merchant my father was and mer
chant I should be. For to me be-
ionged the honor of continuing as
partner Of my uncle-the house Of
Merry q Co. This was the ipten
ton of my parents"
"Rosalie, young as she was, held
to the truth of the old proverb:-
Poor as a painter and thought il
embraced that vocation I wouli
finish my career, after squandering
all my patrimony, by dying Of hun
ger in q hospital. 1t was useless t
| cite to her the numerous examples
Of painters who had found in theil
brushes instruments of ease an6
even Of fortune. Admitting it tt
be true,' said she, they were mo-
| all dreamers like Andrew. They
were men Of the world, and created
patrons for themselves. He viii
never have the energy to do that
For him art is passive, not an &C
tive state-a lattice, not a ladder
To it he devotes merely his hour.
Of leisure
my hours Of leisure! One day .
week to that work which had be
! come my passion-my life! To pass
shut up behind the bars Of count
ing house, those beautiful days o
spring, when nature, always prodi
gal to her adorcrs, smiles hel
sweetest.
Sometimes, I know, threatened
to leave home without q cent, bu
my friend, the Professor, seeing my
anger and despair, always endea
vored to quiet me. 1T is only :
matter Of time and PATIENCE h,
would say. In two or three year,
you will have attained your MAORI
ty. While waiting, enter your un
cls's store and perform with fidelity
all the duties imposed upon you.-
Perhaps before that time expirel
you will find you are not irresistably
called to the profession Of artist
aud that you could, without pain
conform to the wishes of your fami
ly. Ifin the end you find yourself
possessing that energy and perse
vsrence which alone will insure
your final success, very we'll. You
will still be young enough to enter
the profession of tho fine arts, es
pec,ally if you have devoted you,
spare time in the meanwhile to Sc
rious study
II took his advice, more easy
perhaps than frank. Poor Rosalie
She thought she had gained the
day, and never was she kinder Of
more thoughtful for me.
'In witness Of her satisfaction
she fitted me up studio-brushes
paints, rest, canvas, everything
complete; furnishing me, rs it were
| arms against herself.
II commenced my apprenticeship
to the business of > merchant, but
could never overcome my extreme
disgust to it, and only prevented
myself from being ennmied beyond
endurance by painting in every leis
ure moment could find.
| SST o<hou ,.,:cl,oI %ha< Do,al:<