The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-02-08
FACES ON THE WALL.
BY HARRIET BEEcHER STOWE.
Aathor Of Uncle Toms Cabin" "Afy Wife and IT,
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 peope
oiessed 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
srasses ana summer sun. see yonder in the glen,
'ne uarng OF our house, the gold geam in her brown
ha chain of daisies in her hand and in her ewes the
roughlsh meditation of kitten weary for an instant
only OF Its play, and thinking slyy of another spring
pack upon the velvet grass she is not resting
ony pausng; from her bright glances to the tips of
her tlny fingers she is wide awake
But now the merry play is over and our pet nestes
younder on the sofacushion, tired at last in earnest
oio"y tne Ids fall and the lingering smile dies out
ou' .he nush in cheek and lip remains like the glow
ai'er 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 other words, two chromos hang upon the wall.
Dewitching chid-heads, in which every mother sees
something of her own dear ones never grown old and
never lost to her, however time or death may have
dealt with them
No'nng pleases more at first sight or gives pleasure
longer than poetical pictures of children "The little
cnho whom Jesus sets in the midst of every family
"A"so SioWS uol Olu anu IaueS 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 EAST AsIeep,,
would give many pleasant hour of companionable
amusement intar tot tl,o
to them in age The pictures that chldrens eyes rest
on as they 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 pct
ured face real companion. Not only in the parlor
or the sitting room would they be an attractive and
hitting 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
porraiture of little Nell that he has had letters from
the farhest regions of the earth speaking of children
who resemble her-so dear, and so early taken! He
who paints one child well, paints thousands. and
speaks to the enderest feelings finnumerabe hearts
of course there is pleasure in possessing an orig
nal painting; but when the question lies between an
oishai ao n'e nuiiureu uoliars and q 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
quiste chromos, only critical examination can dis
tlnguish 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 ehromo-lithography, by which the
successful painting of master be reproduced indie
hney and can enter thousands of homes with its ed
ucating quickening, reforming nfuences
1t is not alone into the dwellings of the great and
wealthy that we follow this pretty pair with antcipa
tions of delight We see them in the cottages of the
poor in log cabin ofthe backwoodsman Frightening
the toll of the hard-worked wife and mother, and
receiving the almost adoring wonder of children who
have never seen pictures before.
God bless the darlings-send the little comforters
fast and far