The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-06-21


be put in q way to earn better livelihood
than should judge they were able to dc at
present"
Mrs. Hilton was in favor of the proposition,
so, as soon as tea was over. and little Emily in
Tie midst Of pleasant thoughts about Ella and
the peaches, and numerous plans of her own for
the girls future pleasure and comfort, had
dropped asleep, they prepared themselves for IL
walk to Mrs. Selby's.
"This must be the house," said Mr.. Hilton,
stopping in front of one of those cheap tene-
ments built for the express purpose to let to
poor families.
All doubt ON the subject was terminated by
seeing through the window, the curtain Of which
was little drawn aside, the basket of peaches
on q small table. at one side of which sat boy
evidently employed in sketchiug il. He had Il
pale, tn 1uShtfnl face. and earnest with Il,
which was INw litup with glow of enthusiasm,
as could be seen, from time to time, as he
raised his head to look at the basket of fruit he
was drawing. A woman sat near, sewing hy
| the same candle that afforded light to the
| child artist. but her face was turned from the
| window 30 that Mr.. Hilton was not qriio GER
tain that it was his old acquaintance, Catharinc
May Ella stood just back of her lrother's
! chair. her lips parted with SMILE she silent
ly watched his progress.
| "I wish l were an artist" said Mr.. Hilton,
"and l would reproduce this scene on canvas.
| I'll quiet, graceful attitude OF the mother, the
| beautiful and spiritual face of the boy, and
| L
of the same fire in her bosom. which is already
| llindling in hiS), with her unconscious though
| cordial and appreciative smile. would form n
sweet home picture, poor and humble as the
| surroundings
Mr.. Hilton now raped at the door. which
was opened by Ella. She started little at
sight Of him, but at once recovering her self
possession, invited HIM and Mrs. Hilton to
| enter Mrs. Selby rose and went forward to
meet her unexpected visitors. Aglance showed
| Mr.. Hilton that, as he suspected, it was Cath
crime May, the friend and acquaintance of his
| earlier years. The recognition was mutual.
Her history, since they last met was quickly
| told. She married o young and promising
artist, who by his talent and industry had al
| ready secured q competency. when, contrary
| to his better Judgment he was persuaded to
! invest his capital in Eastern lands. These
looked very fair and tempting on paper, but
| when he came to trace out their boundaries
on terra Jtr'na, they proved to have as little
real existence as the mirage of the desert. He
| was not discouraged, for there was one at his
side ever ready to speak words of cheer and
encouragement; but ere by redoubled dill
gence, he had time even partially to recover
from the false step he had taken. he was
| stricken by disease, which i'll q few days proved
| fatal.
1t was now several years since his decease.
and for the last three months, owing to the
severe and protracted illness of Winnie, they
had suffered much from want and priyation.
j "Winnie, said Mrs. Selby, chad employ
ment as an errand boy at the time he was taken
sick, which obliged him to be out in the storm
as well as the sunshine, while he was often
obliged to carry such heavy packages as TO task
his strength too severely. He used, when his
father alive, to sit hours at his side, watching
| the figures on the canvas mOmentarily glowing
| into more vivid life beneath the pencil. 1t was
| thus that the love of art was silently and I'M
perceptibly implanted in his BOSOM"
| 1t was even so. The bud was already CLINT
ing FORTH destined, one day. to expand into the
| flower. AS Ella had said, he loved everything
which was beautiful, and the contemplation of
a star, flower, or even golden sunbeam.
which at a certain hour. peeped over shed
| that stood opposite, and then stole i'll ct the
top of the window, afforded him exquisite de-
| light
The bird sketched with bit Of charcoal was
produced, and Mr. and Mrs. Hilton were sur
prised at the skill of hand and the delicacy OF
| touch which it exhibited.
| A little brown bird which often hovered
| about the back door had served him model.
| Mrs. Selby said, and it proved to be quite a
| faithful likeness on the original.
| "You would like to be an artist. then, said
Mr.. Hilton turning to the boy, after listening
| to these few particulars told him by Mrs Selby.
'Ies, sir" was the quiet answer, but the
sudden flush that overspread his countenance,
and the lighting up of his eyes, showed how
| deeply the question moved him.
Your wish shall be gratifed,' said Mr.
| Hilton. "As soon as you are strong enough
will see that you are placed under an able
| master
Fourteen years, with their burden of care and
sorrow, frightened now and then by a few
| CLEANS of sunshine, have merged into the past.
| There, the light is better here-much bet
ter said young man, removing a picture
| that hung against the wall of a small, elegant
| iy furnished apartment, and placing it so IA TO
avoid the cross lights, which came in from he
| two opposite windows. Don't you think it is
Emily said he, addressing lady who stood
| looking at the picture.
'Yes much better" she replied and as she
| stood with her head little thrown back. the
| light of her violet eyes beaming from beneath
their long. silky lashes, and the rich, brown
| cnrls falling back from her forehead 10 enc
| could have failed to remark tho resemblance
between her and the child of seven years old,
represented i'll the picture. who stood beneath
a peach tree, holding little basket of wicker
work into which fine looking gentleman was
dropping some Of the fruit gathered fiom The
boughs over his head.
Another child whose appearance formed
striking C 'ntrast to hers, stood near the gar
| den fence, the tears which still hung on her
eye-lashcs frightened with smiles.
But what have YOU here, Edwin, so care
| fully coyered?" said Emily
"A companion for the picture we have been
| looking at. l made rude sketch Of it when
was only ten years old, which, il compliance
with your fathers request, / have recently
| transferred to canvas
| He removed the cloth thlt covered it, and
revealed the home picture, which Mr.. and Mrs.
| Hilton had many years previously gazed upon
| through the half-curtained window of Mrs.
| Selby's humble domicie.
! 81 should know those large, earnest ewes
anywhere, said Emily, indicating boy Who
was sitting at the table, sketching lasket of
peaches. "But in every other respect you
have altered, if except that somewhat proud
curve of the upper lip"
II little thought, said he, las sat there,
with my piece of coarse paper and Lit OF
charcoal, that hidden among the fruit l was
| copying, was golden key which would open
to me so bright vista in the future. How
sad would have been my destiny-how
sad that of my mother and sister, if she who is
now my wife, had not obeyed the warm i'm
pulses of her generous nature. Truly, the
angel stirred the waters of the fountain at the
right moment"