New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-09
NrW ORIRANs REPUBLICAN SUNDAY JANUARY g. 1876.

duction to the farm, when his father, the
genius of the fsmiIy-poor, luckless. sbor
tive, rustic genius, We have ell seen such
succumbing finally to strong drink and dis
appointment, left nothing behind him but
fretful wife and sturdy boy. He could 90.
tending the widow while she lasted)
patient always of her peevish plants
pinching his girls to buy Bob books, and
putting the lad to Exeter school flor thu
son of genius must have advantages), ant
at last throwing up in his turn the hare
task of living. And then Ruth, mere girl
not seventeen yet, with . big, barren farm
ill -stocked and mortgaged. with . little els
ter on her hands, taking up the burdel
quietly and singly bob should never tore
20 his college and the chance of fsi
career), wrineing from those reluctant acre.
independence and comfort, and even profit
Was it not q fine, brave thing, he thought
and could heart Of man wish more generOu
cOmrade, or he!pmate more efficient AM
true2 And Cousin Ruth had waited fO
him all those yeare, and now he was cOm'
home to marry her. They would be mar
ried at once. That, at least, was certain II
an uncertain wOrld-fxed and certain al
that he would finish Miss Tyrrells picture
and forward it as per contract, within
week.
dare say it incommoded Ruth to sacri
fee her capaciOus etore-rOOm, which, hap
pening to open from Bob's bed chamber ane
to possess skylight, was at once promoted
to the function OF atelier; but she proceeded
cheerfully to transfer her household stuff
slowing it away in hooks and pigeon holes
merely craving permission to leave some
str1r gs of dried apples which depended from
the rafters. She could not lind it IN bel
heart, however, to rebuke the kitchen maid
who bewailed Justify the con6scatiOn of bel
clothes hOls SO (sO she termed q drying frame J
and probably Ruth condemned in secret the
perversiOn Of that machine to art purposes
But she esteemed it her plain duty to further
Bob's wishes, and forestall them if che
could, SO when he had rugged tolerabie
easel and got fairly to work, Ruth enjoined
the utmost quiet on her subjects, and strove
to compass the deathlike silence which she
presumed congenial to aesthetic toll.
1t was q shock, therefore, to the we'll
meaning girl, when she stole in on tip toe to
announce the mid day meal, to lind Nellie
at Bob's elbow, giggling and prstt'lng right
noisily, and dau6 bling a strip of canvas with
enthusiasm. Ruth disliked to scOld, but
some reprimand seemed necessary.
why will you be go thoughtless, Nellf''
abe said. Look at all that fine paint
wasted! How can Bob keep his wits with
such din!"
20, let her stay" said the artist. Talk
ing don't tease me, rather helps this sort OF
work"
Does it," said Ruth, astound.d, and be-
ginning to find small difference between
such " ork and play. why. Mr.. Greathead
the Baptist minister, locks himself up for
DAYS when he writes sermons.'
9TH Uhaf mQkpa them mustv. "
es;d profsne Bob. "But come here, Ruth
what do you think of this9" and he pointed
to Mise Tyrrells portrait.
II think she's lovely" protested Nellie,
who had bestowed close attention on the
young lady's toilet. See how she does up
her hair; and the ruff round her neck-l
wish had one" -.
"A comedy face, but dreamy looking"
said wide. awake Ruth, and picks up land
scape with more interest.
That's q view in the Morena,' explains
Robin, 1.-The region you're always hearing
Of in Don Quixote."
Il don't remember said his bethr othed,
obviously. ut seems q billy country
What breed Of sheep is that!-such curly
wool and twisted horns. Mine are common
stock, but clipped 200 pounds last shear
ing
We'll 90 and inspect them. dear. after
tea" said Bob, who was LOOKING lOrWard
eagerly to the evening walk.
"Oh. come here, shouted Nell, and made
her sister look at some jnnketings in the
ryrol-a pretty scene enoughIwhere the
bright costumes of the women had caught
The damsel's eye. "It's too sweet che
tenderly; "how ! should love to
oe therew
But Ruth opined they were barbarous
creatures, of tbriftless habits. and probably
Roman Catholics. Il guess there's more
lancing than blowing over there" she said
md marshaled Bob and Nell down to din
ler
In the busiest households the evening is
season of leisure and refreshments; but
.fter shutdown Squire Allen must needs
troll over from the mill and shake Bob's
land, and take Ruth aside to disclose no.
able project for supplying the Notch House
With eggs and butter. The sagaciOus house
wife diecerned much promise in that scheme,
orthwith got out pens and paper, and was
presently deep N figure S, renouncing ut
erly tor that occasion such frivolities as
moonlight walks.
"Nellie will co." she said; and accordingly
aoblB, who would have preferred, perhaps,
o drink in solitude the spirit of the billie,
vas attended by that vivaciOus young per
on, and RECALLED with divers histories Of
ewing -beee, spelling matches, maple
grapes and sleigh rides which had signal
zed the previous winter.
Nor am sure when the times were more
and NO grsveF cares baked the
communion of lovers, that Ruth and Robin
we're often betrayed into the rhapsOdies of
troDg emotion, or developed very fervent
y mpathy. You see their attachment was
10 giddy impulse, or brief heyday of the
flood; it had withstOOd the test of years,
md approached ION one side, at least, the
aim beatitude of what welded fOndness
which invariably las you know, madam.
nee with the dear object. You might have
discovered many tokens Of that serene atfec
ion, if you had followed them in their
ambles and marked how inevitably the
converse of this pair drifted away from the
lreamland of sentiment to the homely
opics of domestic life.
Look, Ruth, what q site for painters
lome!" cried Bob, on one occasion, when
hey had walked out along the Bartlett
Dad to point where Mount Washington
tself looms grandly against the northern
,erge shouldering a way between Mount
franklin and Mount Monroe.
You can't mean," said practical Ruth,
you would exchange the old farm for such
orthless ground! The view is very pretty
,ere, and know our house lies in hollow,
nut the soil is ten times richer down the
ALLEY. Why, the country hereabouts is
carce fit to Craze over, and even buck
v heat would starve in land like that" And
he pointed to field where the stones
we're, no doubt, diseouragingly numerous.
but we don't intend to 60 on farming"
Robin plaintively. II was only
blinking of the summer months, and what
PARADISE we might make of this quiet hill
ide, ringed with forest and river and set in
he eye Of that glorious scene. We need
know nothing Of it's bleak winter, for then
We should be in New York. thought you
dear Ruth. Didn't tell you l
,ad taken studio in towns"
"New York !" cried Ruth, almost broken
hearted by this disclosure. "Give up the