The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-02-06
FACES ON THE WALL.
BY HARRIET BEEcHER STOWE
A1f"or Of "Uncle Toms Cabin" my Wife and !"
etc.

ence there was very good little girl, who, by rea-
son OF her goodness knew where to find strawberries
m the winter In the way less perfect people,
Dressed by the generous fairies of memory and mag-
hation may sit, as do now, in the midst of falling
ieaVes and whistling 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
nar chain Of daisies in her hand and in her eyes the
roughish meditation Of kitten weary for an instant
only OF its play, and thinking slyy of another spring.
back upon the velvet grass she is not resting
ony pausng; from her bright glances to the tips of
her tiny fingers she is wide awake.
out new the merry play is over and our pet nestes
yonder on the sofacushon tired at last in earnest
Slowly the lids tall, and the lingering smile dies out;
put tne Hush in cheek and lip remains like the glow
aiter sunset. The gathered buttercups and daisies
are loosely held by the fair little hand no shadows
even Oh dream land, disturb the sweet brows perfect
peace She is fast asleep
In otner words, two chromos hang upon the wall,
pe~itcnmg child-heads, in which every mother sees
soetning Of her own dear ones never grown old and
never lost to her, however time or death NAV have
dealt with them.
Nothing pleases more at first sight or gives pleasure
longer than poetical pictures Of children The little
cnid whom Jesus sets in the midst of every family
Is a Joy that grows not old and fades not.
"Age cannot wither, custom cannot stale
Its infinite variety"
For this reason happy picture of a 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, are such children can understand and
love. Our little "Wide Awake" and FAST Asleepr
would give many pleasant hour Of companionable
amusement and intercourse to the little people akin
70 them In age The pictures that children ewes rest
on as tney are dropping off to Sleep they awake
IN the morning. seem to them like living friends All
sorts OF childish dreams and fancies make of the pct
ured lace real companion. Not only in the parlor
or the sitting room would they be an attractive and
fitting establishment, but they are a charming ,air
for the adornment of nursery
Undoubtedly these two pictures are portraits
There Is realistic faithfulness and truth about them
that forbids the idea Of their being fancy heads.
They VIII remind many parents of little ones either
mere or IN heaven. Dickens says somewhere of his
portrature of little Nell that he has had letters from
the farthest regions Of the earth speaking of children
who resemble her-so dear, and SO early takenl He
who paints one child well, paints thousands, and
speaks to the tenderest feelings onnumerable hearts
O course there is pleasure in possessing an origi-
nal paintiug 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 one has not five hundred to spare
the choice is not very difficult. As to these two ex-
quislte ehromos only critical examination can dis
tnguish 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.
Blessings upon -lithography, by which the
successful painting of master be reproduced nde-