Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-04-11
MY CHILD-LOVE.

MY CHlLD-LOfE.
1t was only a little child's face peep
ing out through some plants that were
IN the window-seat. But it was such a
wee, sweet face, such a quaint child
look upon it, that | could not help it,
but with that nonchala,at Bohemianism
Incidental to artists, l stopped in the
street, drew out my sketch book from
my pocket, and began to sketch it. The
Fates were propitious, for the child kept
charm. With rapid hand | drew in
the surroundings, but when l came to
the sweet child-face, my pencil grew
gentle, l touched tenderly the soft
rounded lines, the little rings of curly
hair, the earnest, wide-open eyes, l
wanted to linger over each line as it
made the likeness more perfect, but |
feared she would move and would lose
it all.
She was just the kind of child that
you want to take in your arms and cud-
die, and talk soft, loving nonsense to.
while the earnest eyes gaze at you until
you could cry.
1t was quiet street in the sleepy old
town where l was spending the sum-
mer, and there were not many passers-
by, so | sketcLed until | had finished
my picture as far as was necessary in
detail then, in sorrow at having to
leave, l turned away. As l went l
kissed my hand TO the child, and she
returned it in quaint little way that
suited her we'll
went on to my lesson, for I was
helping out a very slim purse, and
lengthening my stay in the pleasant
country town, where | had come to re-
Crult my health and paint from nature.
by teaching the noble art of drawing to
class of young ladies, who had not
among them the capacity of an ordinary
dray- horse. However, as they wanted
TO learn, wanted to teach them, ana
SO spent portion of my precious time
every few days, trying to explain to
them that the top of tumbler was not
square, and did not have four corners.
and that books lay fat on table, and
did not usually stand festively on one
corner.
| had taught before with good success,
but l never had pupils like these, never
1 leaned over them explaining and cor
rec:ing their errors, seeing outside the
green trees waving in the sunshine,
making deep, dark shadows within
themselves, and light Pickering, dane
ing shadows on the grass beneath them,
saw cloud and sunshine chasing each
other over the mountains side, knowing
all the thousand and enc beautiful
effects the great painter Light was MAX
ing on his wide canvas of nature, while
| had to stay cooped up in this small
room, losing the outside glories, while l
tried to teach girls what was impossible
for them.
But rejecting that each one of these
lessons enabled me to stay few days
longer in this country place l had SO
longed for, kept me from telling them,
as | was sorely tempted to do, that no
earthly consideration would induce me
ever to give them another lesson. That
would have been proud and happy
moment to me, but fate was stern, and
l could not afford to indulge in it.
1t was particularly difficult to endure
them after l had been sketching that
lovely, old-fashioned child, and it was
only by the force of conscience that
refrained from taking pencil and
doing their work instead of showing
them how.
At last the lesson was over, and was
turned loose upon the beautiful world,
flooded by the golden afternoon sun
shine. Hoping again to see the little
child who had so unconsciously won her
way to my heart, | went home through
the same street. But she was not there.
and did not appear, though l walked
up and down until was ashamed of
myself.
Bafhed in the actual sight l longed
for, went to my room rejoicing in the
knowledge that | had a charm that
would bring her back to me almost as
wildly as her first appearance had been.
L took out a canvas as soon as |
reached my little sanctum, and though
twilight was approaching, spreading nv
palette, commenced to paint 1t was
pleasant task l had set myself, and
worked earnestly, until the darkness
gathered SO thickly that L was obliged
to stop.
The next day was unable to extend
my walk in the same direction, SO /
looked forward to my lessons on the
day after with a zest that had certainly
never felt for them before, and when
the time came, started off with a quick
step that would give me time for loiter-
ing in case found the child at the
window.
She was there and recognized me,
kissing her hand, which pleased me SO
much that l went through my lessons
with a comparatively easy mind, and
though | missed her as l returned,
went back to my painting with fresh