The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-01-13
MINIS TO.NorToW.
Dec. 9th 1873.

IIiin's To-Norrow.
Mrs. Rubens sat by the open window
Of her little sittipg.room, with an untn.
sbed piece Of work in her hands but her
hapds had dropped idly in her lap, the
Shite, weary fugers refused to take up
the shining little needle. Tell tale tears
stood in her soft blue eyes but she
wiped them quickly away as she heard
Lila open the door and come up the stairs
with light quick steps.
lila with the summer sunshine IN
her hair like waves Of gold--with her
soft eyes shining like the tender blossoms
malt hidden under the green leaves OF the
vioets--with tho pink bushes ki,sing
rer check iuto loyeliness, nnd laughter
waiting on her red lip. What wonder
tha, the mothers tired eyes grew bright
again as she watched her darlng's bright
young face?
What has happened 10 you my love ?
Your face is us glad as rose ?
1T ought to be glad, since such good
fortune has come! = she said smiling
Poor mamma, you've grown tired waiting
for it, know
Tell me all about it, or shall fear
you have dreamed IL Mrs Rabens re.
piled, softly
Lila quickly dives.fd herself Of bonnet
and shawl, aud drawing stool to her
mothers side, sat down and leaned her
head against her knee.
Il shouldn't wonder If you had forgot
ten that it is the iirst day Of May today
she began, looking up in her mothers
face but never forget it when II comes,
for | think it is the sweetest day in the
year. So, when lessons were over. took
my box of colors and those bits Of pine
boards that | painted white last week and
went up the hill to FAIRIES Hollow
And Lila stopped to take one long
breath OF delight, whilo her mother stoop.
ed to kiss her glowing check.
Everything was beginning 10 brighten,
mamma. The soitest Of south Winds
crept through the grass with murmuriDg
caresses the flowers were coming up in
beautiful clusters all over the hollow and
overhead-in the elm trees-I do believe
a hundred happy birds were singing ]
shall paint it some day, mamma =
And l shall look at it aud enjoy it,
said Mrs. Rubeus. only you must pu
yourself into the picture Lila
Yes, suppose so,' said Lila. doubt
fully; but | think it would be nice'
without me. But sm coming to th'
best part oft now-so listeu mamma.
had finished hazy, blue sky; hat
sketched distant hill lying softly agains
it. and little lake in the foreground, bal
bordered with willows. when Il SHADOW
fell upon my picture, and, looking up,
saw funny little old map leaning on
stick and locking at my work. He laugh
ed and then sighed, and said
.. just as if he was talking to him
self, i used to do it, too, when | Wa
: young and foolish like you Now 70
know, mamma dear, nobody likes to b
called foolish, and | suppose | did look
little cross, for he sighed again, and sal
80 mouruGully, i wouldn't hurt your ter
: der heart for the world, child 81
!. dent you see you have left out the sha.
It owsf' i don't see any shadows to pu
. in I said. It's May on May day
n That's just it, he said. sighiug again, 9
ID if he had seen nothing but shadow;
That's just it, my child. You are your
and gay hearted, and all the world looI
bright to you; but the brightness fade
n from me before you were born When
I came to look at him be didn't look
U very old either; not more than Tor
St years old; but he did look as it he h'
y some great sorrow to bear
Il. But who is he, Lila? | hope "
70 don't often have such adventures, or
y, =. shall be afraid to let you ramble abo
" alone. He may have been crazy. lii
- laughed jOyfully.
A No, no, mamma He is as sane as
\, He is the gentleman who has bought d
beautiful house on the hill, and he is |
artist, and when | am not giving lesso
to those troublesome little Dollys, a
Miriams, and Christabels, he is to gi
g me lessons and no says he can sell q
- pictures for me-all that | will paint.
But. Lila. lessons from a great art
D., will cost something, and how are you
pay him I?
'Oh, that is the best OF it. lie do
want any pay uuti he has sold my p
lures, and he says shall soon be rich.
Mrs Rubens hesitstcd little viii
but could not long resist the pretty plei
ing face lifted to her owu aud SO
nest week found Lila taking lessons
3 the stranger artist, and making ra
progress. Even her mother, who
knew her enthusiastic temperament !
surprised TO see what she had accompli
ed.
The wccSs went by more rapidly 4
week had ever gone by before; and L
had finished four pictures-charmipg
tie landscapes 10 summer and autumn
ors. She had been at homo a week b
ing her mother, who had not touched
pencils, though she did look longing