The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-02-21
FACES ON THE WALL.
BY HARRIET BEEcHER STOWE.
Author Of "Uncle Toms Cabin" "My Wife and T."
etc.

Once there a 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,
blessed by the generous fairies of memory and ima-
nation, may sit do now, in the midst of falling
leaves and whistng winds, and call back the green
grasses and summer sun. 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
roughsh meditation of Kitten weary for an instant
only Of Its play, and thinking syly of another spring.
1hrown back upon the velvet grass she is resting
only pausing from her bright gances to the tips of
her tiny fingers she is wide awake.
But now the merry play is over, and pet nestes
younder on the sofcushion tired at last in earnest
SLOWLY the lids tall and the lingering smile dies out
tne hush In cheek and lip remains, like the glow
a1ter sunset The gathered buttercups 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,
oewitching child-heads in which every mother sees
something of her 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 gives pleasure
longer than poetca pictures of children "The little
cmid 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"
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 "Wide 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 chdrens rest
on as they are dropping off to Sleep they awake
in the morning. seem to them like living friends. All
sorts of childish dreams and ancies make of the pict
ured face real companion. Not only in the parlor
or the sitting room would they be attractive and
fitting establishment, but they are charming pair
for the adornment Of a nursery.
Undoubtedly these two pictures are portraits
There is realistic fathfulness and truth about them
that forbds 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
portraiture of little Nell that he has had letters from
the arthest 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 tenderest feelings innumerabe hearts
OF course there is pleasure in possessing an origi-
nal palntlug; Dut when the question lies between
original at five hundred dollars and 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
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.
Blessings upon chromo-lithography, by which the
successful painting of master can be reproduced nde
ntely, and can enter thousands of homes with its ed
ucating, quickening, reforming iniuences!
1t is not alone into the dwellings of the great and
wealthy that we follow this pretty pair with anticpa
tions of delight. We them in the cottages of the
poor, in thelog cabinofthe 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. t aa-.s.i-.
God bless the darlings-send the little comforters
fast and far!