The Portland daily press., 1872-01-31
FACES ON THE WALL.
BY HARRIET BEECHER STOWE.
Author Of "Uncle Toms Cabin" "My Wife and l."
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 mag-
nation, may sit, as do now In the midst Of falling
leaves and whstling Winds and call back the green
grasses and summer sun. see yonder in the glen,
the darling OF our house. the gold gleam in her brown
hair 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 syly Of another spring
Thrown back upon the vevet grass she is not resting
only pausng; from her bright gances to the tips of
her tiny fingers she is wide awake. + Fl
But now the merry play is over and our pet nestles
FOUNDER on the sofacushion tired at last in earnest
SLOWLY the lids tall and the lingering smile dies out;
Dut tne hush 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 OF dream land disturb the brows perfect
peace. She Is fast asleep. oa .1p ~ -
In other words, two chromos hang upon the wall.
bewitching child-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 pleases more at first sight gives pleasure
longer than poetical pictures Of children sThe little
cmld whom Jesus sets in the midst of every family
Is q 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 ever tires. 8tf =. f.-es
But these pictures besides their constant charm for
grown folks, 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 ewes 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 ances make of the pct
ured face real companion. Not only in the parlor
or the sitting room would they be an attractive and
fitting embelishment, but they charming pair
for the adornment ofa nursery ]
Undoubtedly these two pictures are portraits
There is realistic aithfuness 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 taken! He
who paints one child well, paints thousands, and
speaks to the tenderest feelings ofinnumerabe hearts,
VI course there Is pleasure in possessing an orig
nal painting; but when the question lies between an
original at five hundred dollars and a chrome which
can scarcely be distinguished from it, ten dollars
particularly when has not five hundred to spare
the choice is not very difficult. As to these two ex-
quslte chromos, only critical examination can dis
tnguish 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. .as194t ltE
Blessings upon chrome -lithography, by which the
successful painting of master be reproduced inde-
and av,far fbo,oo ,Ieo Hox