The Portland daily press., 1872-02-13

Aathor Of "Uncle TOMS Cabin" "My Wife and IT,
ence there was very good little girl who, by rea-
son OF her goodness knew where to find strawberries
IN the winter. In the way less perfect people
piessed by the generous fairies of memory and imagi
nation may sit, as do now, in the midst of falling
ieaVes and whstling winds, and call back the green
K grasses and summer sum- see yonder in the glen
tne darling of our house, the gold gleam in her brown
na 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 slyly of another spring.
ihrown back upon the velvet grass she is not resting
only pausing from her bright glances to the tips Of
ner tiny fingers she is wide awake.
But now the merry play is over and our pet nestles
on the sofa-cshion, tired at last in earnest
slowly the lids TALL and the lingering smile dies out
put the flush in cheek and lip remains like the glow
aiter sunset. The gathered buttercups and 4aisies
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 dear ones, never grown DID, and
never lost to her, however time or death may have
dealt with them r.t~Ytf..
Nothing pleases more at first sight or gives pleasure
longer than poetical pictures of children. The little
cniid whom Jesus sets in the midst of every family
Is a JOY that grows not old and fades not.
cage cannot wither, custom cannot stale
Its infinite variety"
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 are such children can understand and
love. Our little sWide Awake" and Fast Asleep
would give many pleasant hour of companionable
amusement and intercourse to the little people akin
to them In age The pictures that children eyes 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 fancies make of the pic
ured face real companion. Not only in the parlor
or the sitting would they be an attractive and
fitting establishment, but they are charming pair
for the adornment of nursery.
Undoubtedly these two pictures are portraits
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 rthest regions of the earth speaking of children
who resemble her-so dear, and early taken! He
who paints one child well, paints thousands, and
OF course there is pleasure in possessing origi-
nal painting; but when the question lies between an
original at Ave 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 not very difficult As to these two ex-
quislte chromos, only critical examination dis
tinguisn between the copies and the originals which
sold for many hundreds-which is certainly more
than be said of the best copies of most pictures
painted by hand.
Blessings upon chrome -lithography, by which the
successful painting Of master be reproduced nde-
ney, and can enter thousands of homes with its ed
ucating quickening, reforming influences!
1t is not alone into the dwellings of the great and
wealthy that we follow this pretty pair with anticpa-
tions Of delight. We see them in the cottages of the
poor in the log cabin ofthe backwoodsman Frightening
/ the toll of the hard-worked wife and mother and
receiving the almost adorng wonder of children who
have never seen pictures before. ..s..srgs M
God bless the darlngs-send the little comforters
fast and fari is1ev, siofo5 Is,5er SOC e