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

There was low, timid knock at Mr.. Hilton
back door, which, after some little delay, was
opened by girl who was busy in the kitchen
preparing tea She felt in no good humor at
the interruption, and her feelings of ill-temper
were not aneiorated when she saw, standing
on the doorstep, Ii tie, poorly-clqd girl. from
whose face suffering and want had blotted out
all that freshness and bloom which always give
certain charm to the features of childhood,
even when they have no pretensions to beauty,
or to delicacy of outline.
81 expected to find a beggar at the door, and
Gin't disappointed said Minda, the girl who
opened the door. "What do you want y she
inquired, in a sharp, angry voice.
4 quick blush passed over the child's face,
and there was deprecating look in the dark
mournful eyes, which were raised to Minda's.
L thought that, perhaps, you would give
me one of those fine peaches for my brother"
said she. pointing to a tree which grew near
the garden fence, and whose boughs were
bending beneath their burden of luxurious
fruit, now glowing in the light of the evening
sunbeams.
at is mighty modest request for beggar
to make" said Minda. "If you want piece
thought of giving beautiful ripe peaches to
such as yOuY
"Winnie is sick and has been begging of
mother all day to buy him peach, but she
hasn't penny in the word, so | told her that
perhaps SOMEONE would give me one for him"
During this cnhoquy child seven years old,
her head covered with soft. brown curls, and
her blue eyes uncon,ciouSly filling with tears,
stood at the door, which opened into the
kitchen, earnestly listening When she heard
what the little girl last said. she darted up
stairs and entered the room where her father
who had returned home half an hour earlier
than usual, YVES reading the newspaper to her
mother while waiting for tea. She approached
her mother softly, and whispered som0 request
Mrs. Hilton gave smiling assent and the child
With joyous bound lad already nearly reached
the door, when her father looked up from his
paper and said
"What is it. my daughter?"
There is a little girl at the back door, who
wants peach for her sick brother, and Emily
wishes to give her one" said Mrs. Hilton.
"Mav ~ said Emily, addressing her father
eyes. Dozen if you please"
"Then I'll ill my little willow basket with
them. 1t will hold full dozen. know it will
If could only reach some of those large ones
at the top of the tree, that look SO ripe and
mellow"
81 believe I must lend you helping hand"
said Mr.. Hilton, laying aside his newspaper.
"Oh, can hear AIinda shutting the door now
She has turned her away. But never mnd-I
can overtake her."
The next moment Emily stood at the outer
door of the kitchen. The little girl, with a
dropping, sorrowful look, and tear stains on
her pale cheeks, was Just closing the gate.
"Cnme back" said Emily, "and YOU shall
have plenty of peaches for your sick brother
and for yourself, too. L have got leave to give
you this basket heaped up full"
Have you?' said the girl, in a quick, earnest
voice, which was full of joyful surprise.
4" Yes, and father is going to gather me some
Of the largest and ripeSt ones"
Mr. Hilton, at this moment, made his appear
ancc and placing garden chair beneath the
tree, to enable him to reach the higher limbs,
the little willow basket was not only soon filled,
but plenty of them which had accidentally
ly tta Et,,ilt it,
the meantime, had selected some sprays of the
bright green peach leaves, which she quickly
arranged among the glowing fruit, heightening
by contrast the rich, delicious hues, and making
it appear more tempting.
There, said Emily, handing her the bas-'
koF, II want you 10 carry it home just as it
Is nov, because the peaches look 80 beauti-
lully among the green leaves, it makes them
taste better.'
The look of sadness was now all gone from
the little girls eyes, and instead, they sparked
with delight, as she placed the basket on her
arm, dropped courtesy, and murmured her
thanks.
Mother loves to look at whatever is beauti-
ful,' said she, "and so does Winnie. He always
smiles. when he sees the ray of golden sunshine
stealing in at the top of the window. He drew
a bird one day with piece of charcoal, and he
Is going 10 draw another, as soon as he can get
piece of paper"
"Stop one minute, and take some peaches to
eat Dy the way Heres plenty or them and
Emily put as many into the little girls hands as
they would hold.
"Won't you tell us your name my little girl,
before you leaveus," said Mr.. Hilton, approach
ing her,
. Ella Selby, sir"
''And you have brother who is sick?"
"Yes, sir, he has had fever, and don't seem
ge- over it"
"How old is hep"
"He will be ten next month"
Mr.. liilton's next care was to ascertain where
the girl lived which he wrote down on blank
leaf in his pocketbook
" There's something strangely familiar
,bout that child's face" said Mr.. Hilton, when
he had returned to the room where his wife
was.
What is it?' she inquired.
+" can hardly tell, though if these large,
dark eyes of hers had been in company with a
pair of rosy cheeks, l should saw that she re-
sembled Catherine May, who used, before was
married. to live in the neighborhood of my old
home.'
"Was she ever married this Catharine Nav
you speak OFF,"
81 don't know. 1t is now many years since l
lost sight of her. At any rate, was much in
terested in the child who came to the door to