Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-06-09


than the smartest of them.
n Dan went on with his photo
graphing for several weeks. He
n learned to take very good picture, bu
he was far from satisfied. He grew
thoughtful and almost melancholy
and went about more careless of his
looks than ever. His fingers were
| always stained black and brown with
acids that he could not wash off, and
his clothing always gave out the
peculiar scent Of "collodion. "
Dams mother began really to be
anxious. The boy was growing up 4
loose Jack at all trades, but without
any peculiar turn for one profitable
calling. 1t was necessary that he
should begin to earn money pretty
soon, and she was anxious that he
should choose some business and sticI;
to it. She took the boy in hand and
expostulatel with him. Dan looked
distressed.
"l'm trying to do something, moth
er. Pm just getting hold of it now, I
guess. | only want a little more
time"
This was about as long speech as
Dan was in the habit of making at
one time. His mother was paciiied,
and for the present let him alone
Two Or three more weeks slipped
by, Dan made pictures of everybody
he could get before his camera. He
photographed the cat and her kittens,
He photographed his ''den" and all its
miscellaneous trumpery. He photo
graphed the boys in the street, and he
photo grapheA buildings, fences and
trees.
Still he did not succeed to his mind.
His pictures lacked the peculiar sha-
ding or "tone'' that he wanted. His
dream was to achieve this, which he
believed would not only make them
very beautiful, but give him a large
and profitable custom.
He labored inccssantly now trying
this plan, and now trying tha.. but
without any perfect result
In the course Of his experiments
out of his garnet window, Dan made
street pictures Of fpeople both near and
remote, in divers attitudes, and at
nearly all hours of the day. Dan
took them in single figures and in
groups he took them looking up and
looking down; making gestures or
sitting still he took them as they
stood in windows and as they walked
below him or rode past in carriages
Many Of the photographs were clear
and good, but still the subtle finish
WAS wanting. Dan could not realize
his dream. Finally his mother beg
ged him to stop his amusement Gas
she called it) and go into q store, or
some business where he might sup
port himself.
Dan shook his head.
"Cant, mother
"But, Dan, [ cannot afford to give
you much more money for the acids
you want"
"Ah !" said Dan. lie shook his
head once more and looked very de
jected.
He was at his wits end He believ-
ed he was on the very verge of an i'm
portant discovery, He only wanted a
little more money. Where should the
money come from
This was trying question. He
could not imagine that any one would
ever loan him enough OF cash to carry
out his projects, aud be did not think
Of any way to earn Il sufficient sum-
He went to his "den," and sat down |
in the midst of his bottles and rub
bish, feeling uncommonly blue There
was his camera upon its three long
legs, with its black muller drawn
carefully over it, and with its brass
nose pointed out into the cold air.
The boys thoughts pointed the
same way. He must go out in the
cold and find something to do, or
some day he might have to stay out
in the cold. He decended to the
street, and wandered about the town
moody and distressed.
About this time a trial was in pro.
gress at the court. A man was charp-
ed with passing a forged check at the
bank. The teller who paid the money
fully identified the prisoner, describ-
ed his movements and related what
was said between, them at the time