The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-02-05
FACES ON THE WALL.
BY HARRIET BEEcHER STOWE.
Author Of "Uncle Toms Cabin" ''lfy Wife and T."
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 people
blessed by the generous fairies of memory and imag
nation, may sit, as do now in the midst of falling
leaves and whistlisg winds, and call back the green
grasses and summer sun. 1 see yonder in the glen
the darling Of our house. the gold CLEAN in her brown
har chain of daisies in her hand and in her ewes the
roughish meditation of kitten weary for an instant
only OF its play and thinking slyy of another spring
Thrown back upon the velvet grass she is not resting
only pausng from her bright glances to the TIPS Of
her tiny fingers she is wide awake
But new the merry play is over and our pet nestes
FOUNDER on the sofacushion tired at last in earnest
SLOWLY the lids tall and the lingering smile dies out
Dut the flush 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 OF dream land, disturb the sweet brows perfect
peace. She is fast asleep.
In other words, two chromos hang upon the wall.
bewitchng chld-heads, in which every mother sees
something Of her own dear ones never grown old and
never lost to her, however time or death NAV have
dealt with them.
Nothing peases more at first sight or gives pleasure
longer than poetical 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 ewes
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 fances make of the pct
ured face real companion. Not only in the parlor
or the sitting room would they be an attractive and
fitting establishment, but they charming pair
for the adornment of a 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
portraiture 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 takeni He
who paints one child well, paints thousands. and
speaks to the tenderest feelings ofnnumerabe hearts
Of course there Is pleasure in possessing an origi-
h paintlug; Dut 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 has not five hundred to spare
the choice is not very difficult. As to these two ex-
quiste chromos, only critical examination can dis
tinguish 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 -hthography, by which the
successful painting of master be reproduced indie
fnte and can enter thousands of homes with its ed
ucating, quickening, reforming infiuences :.
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 the log cabin frightening
the toll of the hard-worked wife and mother, and
receiving the almost adoring woder Of children who
have never seen pictures before. 3
God bless the darlings-send the little comforters
fast and far! A'a l .. D..