The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-02-09
FACES ON THE WALL,
BY HARRIET BEEcHER STOWE.
4athor Of "Uncle Toms Cabin" "hy Wife and II
etc.


Once there was very good little girl, who, by rea-
son of her goodness knew where to find strawberries
In the winter In the same way less perfect people.
blessed by the generous fairies of memory and imag
nation, may sit, as do now in the midst of falling
leaves and whstling Winds and call back the green
grasses and summer sun. see yonder in the glen.
the darling of our house, the gold geam in her brown
hair chain of daisies in her hand and in her ewes the
roughish meditation of Kitten weary for an instant
only OF its play and thinking syy of another SPRING
Thrown back upon the velvet grass she is not resting
only pausng from her bright gances to the tips of
her tiny fingers she is wide awake
But now the merry play is over, and our pet nestes
FOUNDER on the soacushon tired at last in earnest
Slowly the lids tall, and the lingering smile dies ont.
but the flush in cheek and lip remains like the glow
after sunset. The gathered buttereups 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.
In other words, two chromos hang upon the wall,
bewitching child-heads in which every mother sees
something of her own dear ones never grown old and
never lost to her, however time or death NAV have
dealt with them. E
Nothing pleases more at first sight or gives pleasure
longer than poetica pictures of children The little
cmld whom Jesus sets in the midst of every family
Is JOY that grows not old and fades not
cage cannot wither, custom cannot stale
Its infinite Variety $4,000
For this reason happy picture of child brings an
enjoyment more lasting than any other because it is
subject of which no one ever tires.
But these pictures, besides their constant charm for
grown folks, such children can understand and
love. Our little ''Wide Awake, and .Fast Asleen,,
would give many pleasant hour of companionable
amusement and intercourse to the little people akin
10 them in age The pictures that chdrens ewes rest
on as they are dropping off to Sleep or as they awake
IN the morning seem to them like living friends All
Sorts OF childish dreams and ancies make of the pict
ured lace real companion. Not only in the parlor
or the sitting room would they be an attractive and
fitting establishment, but they are charming par
for the adornment of nursery.
Undoubtedly these two pictures are nortraits
There is realistic faithfuness and truth about them
that forbids the idea of their being fancy heads.
They will remind many parents of little ones either
here or in heaven. Dickens says somewhere of his
portrature of little Nell that he has had letters from
the arthest regions of the earth speaking of children
VINO resemble her-so DEAR and so early taken! He
who paints one child well, paints thousands and
speaks to the tenderest feelings ofnnumerable hearts
VI course there is pleasure in possessing an orgi-
nal painting; but when the question lies between an
original at five hundred dollars and a chrome which
can scarcely be distinguished from it, at ten dollars
particularly when has not five hundred to snare
the choice is not very difficult As to these two ex
quislte chromos only critical examination can dis
tnguisn between the copies and the originals which
sold for many hundreds-which is certainly more
than can be said of the best copies of most pictures
painted by hand.