Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-05-28
4 LIFE LESSON.
BY ANNA NORTH

giving 41tt46 toucneS here and there, little,
caresslng, final strokes to her pretty, spir-
Ited Sketch-a startled rabbit peering out
from thIcket of fern leaves. Her port
1Olo was hlIed with studies from nature.
gathered through the summer. with refer
ence to a beautiful birthday surprise for
her mother; and in one of the bookcase
drawers lay pile of heavy sheets with
gllded edges upon which was wrought
out her winters work, the perfected re-
suits OF her summer studies, waiting now
only for a title-page and the final picture
which was to be a likeness of her lovely
little sister, before going to the binders
Tor rich leather covers, silkIined and
! golden-clasped.
Not even Lily could be trusted with her
| secret so when she heard her singing
CANCEL, sweet angel, l pray thee'-in the
| hall below Kate fastened to lay away
! her latest picture over the robin on her
nest which had been uppermOst for more
| than week, and when Lily had put her
! little face close to the key-hOle, half
| laughing, half-singing leave the beau
! tifuI gates aiar," and Katie said "COme
| in" she found her working away on a
| flower piece for her friend Esther Brad
! ford, which had served as a blind for
some weeks.
| The sisters were very unlike. Kate, in
! her artists blouse, dark and bright, the
very picture OF health, but LiIy's face
wore that look Of extreme delicacy one
! hardly likes to see. The faint tinge of
! pink on her cheek was the highly priced
| but sadly evanescent reward of summer
after summer of country living, with
winters OF the most careful guarding
against exposure, judicious and regular
| exercise, and every possible device for
! strengthening the fragile little frame.
Her long, dark eyelashes added to the
/ delicacy Of expression, and the sweet lit
| tie face was framed by tendril-like rings
of pale golden hair. Guests were ex-
pected, and Lily was dressed for dinner
in soft white merino, with a full sllken
sash of pale blue. She stood watching
! her sisters work, making little, hesitat-
ing motions now and then, evidently
| with something on her mind, and doubt
| full how to introduce the subject.
! "Well, little white angel what is it ?'
asked Kate, at length, smiling, and lean
! ing back in her chair.
why, how do you know want some
| thing?" coming closer and putting her
arm around Katie's neck.
ooh, l am a regular Yankee at guess
ing some things" said Kate, turning to
kiss the earnest little face. whats
wanted, pettie?"
"SisteT, wish you would paint me a
picture"
Why, what kind of a picture, little
sister?''
ooh, something real pretty" cried
| Lily, " for mammals birthday; [ can buy
a beautiful frame and cord with tassels.
! Won't you, Katie?" and here both arms
were clasped around Katie's neck and
the sweet face looked pleadingly into
| hers.
81 shouldn'twonder, dearie,' - said Kate,
kindly; but isn't there something you
would rather have than that?'
ooh, no, sister; | have thought and
! thought, and / would rather have one of
| your pictures than anything else"
every well,'' said Kate; and selecting
fresh sheet of her best paper she com
menced indicating in faint lines with her
sketching pencil design which, when
! finished, would be a glowing group of
opening mossrose buds, pansies rich in
purple and gold, a dropping cluster of
fiery-tongued fuchias and graceful hon
eysuckle sprays, but which, to LilY's eyes,
! looked like the shadow of nothing in par
ticular.
"There," said Kate, as she finished her
rapid touches, cit is growing dark and l
must dress for dinner; We'll begin the
COlOring some other day." and Lily ran
off very light-hearted indeed.
How the time went by for the next two
or three weeks! The days fairly flew,
and it seemed TO Kate that her work grew
before her. She had many interruptions
the skating-park was in splendid con-
ditiOn-there were guests in the hOuse-a
severe headache cost her one precious
day, and then-her title-page! She made
three separate designs, and actually
finished one, ivy sprays twined around
the inscription in illuminated lettering,
"TO dear mother, from Katie,'' only to
lay it aside for suggestion from her
portfolio, a curVing stem of hOneysuckle
with humming. bird darling his beak
into one of its coral tubes, finished now
except the lettering. Lily had coaxed a
little for her picture, but Kate said :
" Next week, Lily; I am too busy; you
mustn't ask me now" Toward the last
everything went smoothly; Lily sat pa
tiently for her portrait, promising not TO
tell; and one morning, two days before
the work must 90 to the binders, Kate
| sat looking smilIngly into the face of her
finished picture. 1t was perfect sue
cess, sweet in expression, pure in color,
the most beautiful thing she had ever
painted. She was absently filling her
brush to retouch the lips a little when
Lily came running n, crying, GIVE got
nv frame, sister-see-isn't it lovely"
Stumbling over footstool in her eager
ness she fell against Hates arm and
dashed the brush, charged with vermilion,
into tn lovely, delicate, pictured facet
Kate turned white with CONSERVATION,
but sprang promptly to wash off the un-
slightly blot with clear waterfall in vain :;
she worked nervously and fast but the
fair white forehead was hOpelessly
marred by a dark, muddy-looking stain.
She gave it up at length and hid her face
in her hands. Lily stood by holding her
breath and wringing her hands
ooh, Katie, Katier" she sobbed, 81
couldn't help 1t! l didn't mean top
At the sound of her voice Kate sprang
up, her eyes flashing angriIy, thrust the
frame into Lily's hands and hurried her
with no gentle force to the door. Don't
come into my room again, Lily Rey
burnr' cried she, passionately; q don't
want to look at you again!' slammed the
door and turned the key. All day was
she locked up in her room hard at work,
resolved to copy the ruined picture IN the
two days left her. Lily came several
times and knocked softly; getting. no
| answer, she called to sister Katie III a
| trembling voice that showed she had
been crying bitterly, begging her to
forgive her and love her again;
but Kate only set her lips closer
and worked away with angry perse-
verance. At last she came softly and