The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-06-17
Tom.


common than love, or religious mania, or
despair; and aspOOr Tom was well known,
and near akin to many Of our readers, the
history Of his picture and himself
seems to us worth telling, AS for the
picture, it is in execution nothing but u
crude, strong dash or two Of color; only
4 bit Of sandy beach, a dead woman
washed ashore, man keeping watch over
her, aud bird, the solitary living thing
in the world, disappearing in the stormy
sky, leaving him alone with his dead.
But there Is the subtle something in 1t
which touches us, as do all great utter.
ances of truth or human feeling; it Is one
of the inspired words, painted, or spoken,
or written, that are strong as love, or
grief, or death, and share their nature.
There was something about the painter,
too, from the time he was boy, that set
him apart from other men as one who had
a messnge given him to utter. After all,
God does give nowadays to certain men
special errands to their fellows: and
whether it be to make them cry or laugh,
to call them to be heroes or saints, to
show the stupendous joke Of misery or
comfort under lite, or to explain fishes, or,
like Bezaleel, to be "tilled with the spirit
of God in working with iron and brass"
they carry about them the signs of their
commission as PLAN as the shining on Mo-
fes's face when he came down from the
mountains with the tables of stone. Even
as II boy, Tom knew that lie had an errand.
1t might be but petty thing, picture to
paint, or crRyon sketch or two to finish.
But it WAS his work, which no man could
do but himself. lie caught hints of 1t ev-
erywhere in the glass Of water ilickering
in his hand, or the stone under his feet ~
much as the song nObly sung or the life of
some other man greatly loved. 1t was
clear enough to him; but Pickering light
or songs and loves Of others would not
make it clear to the world. There were
times when the desire for its utterance
was so strong upon him that l. he could
have accomplished his work he would
have been ready, shy, hearty, young fel-
low as he was, to cry, "LOrd. now let
Thy servant depart in peace" lie did
not fall into the usual mistake ofgenius ms
to the ease of delivering his message. lie
had sliP.shod dependence on winged
Pegasus to carry him, or draughts from
IlelicOn to give him divine strength. Slow
and incesSant work, and untlinching integ-
rity TO his errand, he knew only would
carry him safely to his journeys end.
and he set out on his career most gal
lantly.
But Tom was poor, and-Tom married;
married woman who thoroughly recog-
nized him and his errand. They lived In
q shabby little house in the suburbs of
New York, where their first baby was
born u house where the roof leaked, and
where the floors were carpetless. But
going there, you found their talk furnished
with such high aud noble thoughts, their
laily lives so rich in love, so gay in jests
and fancieS so sweet and admirable In
temper, that the background of want
seemed only meant to throw into relief
ihese sunshiny figures. Books, too, mu-
SIC, nSture, and art meant SO much more
% them then to other men and women;
hey drew such strength and wealth out
n even the blades Of grass at their gate or
he sunlight on their bare floor, that one
'ould not but envy the rich heritage that
hey would bequeath to their boy. 1t was
lhout this time this picture was painted.
Men found in 1t something of n message
rom the gods struggling to be heard
hey looked curiOusly ut Tom and said,
Presently we shall have q great man
mong u.s." But they did not buy the
'iCture. They did not buy any of Toms
'iCtures.
As years went by this fact forced itself
loser and closer upon the painter. The
nore he fixed his eyes upon the stars the
more his empty pocket took life and gnaw-
d like fox ut bis vitals. He and his
Tiie could have always found food and
oyal clothing for themselves in their con
ciOusness Of their great work for man.
ind, but for their boys they wanted
beef, and potatoes to equal
hose of their neighbor's children across
he way. One day a picture auctioneer
tlered Tom place as "hack.n "Giye up
bis Flemish accuracy and this peculiar
lncy which struggles through all your
york. You can dash me off two or three
old studies day; something to catch
he public eye. Coarse as you please.
'Ou need never put your name to them"
Tie wages offered were a competency.
was an everyday transaction; the man
ad simply to make choice between
overly with his own work and wealth
iithOut it. To Tom, however, 1t seemed
choice between God and MammOn. 1t
to rench soul and body asun.
or. Bnt the children had their hands
pom him. Should they not have their
hare OF the worlds comfort, gentility.
tylel Tom went into the road where all
acks tramp together their treadmill
ound which leads nowhere In life or death.
Ie had meant to be deaf and blind II any
JOicc summoned lin out Of II. But he
ever heard again the heavenly Gall. His
.Ody Is alive yet, goes about, with those
4 his wife and children, well fed and
rell.to.do. Their floors are carpeted
With cheap Brussels, and in their clothes
hey follow the fashions scrupulously aud
,rOmptly. But Tom, finding this old pic
ure exposed for sale the other day,
crawled on It's back, at. A. obiit 1865"
There are so many Toms in studios, in
newspaper offices, in the pulpit, that we
AVE thought it worth while to tell his
tory. We do not know whether he ever
what the loss in his choice has
,een to himself, his children OF the world
mt 1t may not be too late for some OF
hem to pause in theirs, and ask them
elves, "WAs this well dOnel"
A PERSON intimately connected With
'olin S G. Abbott, snys The lFdtchman
md Reflector, assures us from personal