The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-03-14
THE SNOW ANGEL. :
BY r. B. CALL.AwAY.

The moon rising over the NOV
mantled town Of Brattleboro, Vt,
flooded all the streets with mellow
light. Doubtless, Jack Frost had
some unusually fine pictures to ex
ecuta with his silver pencil, and
had requested her ladyship to shine
brightly.
There was another artist, besides
Jack Frost, at work In Brattleboro
that nighAvandsyery RTatefu1 was
he for the moons bright shining
This was little Larkin Meade, who,
after the town was fast asleep, had
.crept no:selessly from his room and
out into the street to work on a
snow figure. His heart was SO full
Of bright, beautiful thoughts, he
did not feel the cold as his little red
hands lieaped together the snow,
and shaped IL 10 suit his fancy.
The moon might wen have shone
that night, if only to light up the
face OF the boy artist, gazing up SO
proudly, rapturously at his work
when finished, for undar his, ahands
the form Of an angel had grown out
of the snow. .h ss.-sy
tt was rude, 70 be sure, but there
wss y holy beauty IN the upturned
face and folded hands, lnajestic
grace in the sweeping wings and
flowing raiment, that betrayed the
hands OF genius "a
The house tops were shining now
like silver, the streets were spark J
ling a. though strswn with powa
dered pearls, and the Angle OF
Snow shone with lustrans splepdor
in the moonlight. Lalka had seen
just such an angel face bending
over him IN his dreams. AS he
gazed upon it. the snowy form
seemed to change into ono of mutt
terable radiance and beauty; the
smiling lips seemed to part. and he
fancied he heard . soft, low voice,
sweet as the echo of silver bells,
thrilling his soul with Joy, kef 4p
Dear cMld," the voice seemed
to say, Nbe glad. I have opened
for you the Gate Beautiful, and
throughit you shall be led to un-
dreamed Of heights Of happiness 2 j
It might have been the whisper
ings OF unseen angels. or ii might
have been only the wind stirring
the icy branches Of neighboring
trees, and ecnoing the longings Of
his own heart. LAB RAb s8a4o 81 s
] The next moment the moon drop
ped behind q cloud and the radiance
departed. A warning clock struck
twelve, and the young sculptor,
startled from his dream, ran home,
and stole in as noiselessly as he
had crept out.
The next morning, the good
people of Brattleboro were amazed
and delighted by the sight of
majestic Snow Angel, Standing at
corner of two Of the large avenues
of the town. The children focked
around it in crowds, and it was the
wonder Of the whole village until it
melted away. "a Jars egfsf
In the meantime, it became whis
pered about that this wonderful
creation was the work Of Larkin
Meade, the son of q prominent law
yer of Brattelboro. The marvellous
story was even talked about in the
In this way it reached the
eye of good old Mr.. sLongworth, of
Cincinnati, man who loved to
native art especially sculp-
Now, what should this good man
do but sit down and write to the
Postmaster of Brattleboro, inquir-
ing about the young artist. Hear
ing q good account of him, he wrote
to Larkin himself, telling him that
Il he were really ambitious to be-
come . sculptor he would gladly
END him . helping hand. One of
The proudest moments in Larkin's
life was when he read that letter at
home. II seemed as ii the Gate
had swung open sure
and he gratefully accepted
he hind, helping hand that was to |
cad him through.
He studied his loved art patiently
md earnestly. The first work he |
produced was q statue OF Ethan |
Allen, which is now standing in the |
,ortico Of the State house ct Mont
,elier. Since then he has studied |
n Italy, and produced several |
works of art. His "Retnrned Sol
lier, OF. Story of the Battle" is the |
most famous. This is a Union |
,oldier with Q little girl upon his |
tnee, leaning on his shoulder in |
,hldlike abandon, while he relates |
he story Of the war.
Little did Larkin Meade dream,
IS his boyish hands modelled the
Snow Angel that moonlight night, |
10 long ago, of the honor he would |
,ne day receive from his country.
lie has now been entrusted to carve |
n enduring marble q monument to !
Ter martyred President, Lincoln. |
This is . trust the greatest sculptor
night feel honored TO receive.
Truly, little beginnings often |
cad to great endings.
FOR PRESERVATION
1 Var Letter from senator Chandler |
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