The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1878-10-16

and little lake in the foreground,
half bordered with willows, when
shadow fell upon my picture,
and looking up, I saw a funny lit
tie old man leaning on a stick and
looking at my work. He laughed,
and then sighed, and said, just as
if he'd been talking to hiaself:
"'I used to DO it, TOO, when I
was young and foolish like you
':Now you know, mamma, dear,
nobody likes to be called foolish.
and 1 suppose l did look a little
cross, for he sighed again, and
said, so mournfully
: "I wouldn't hurt your tender
heart for the world; chiId!, But
don't you see you have left ont
the shadows 2
~ don't see any shadows to
put -in,' 1 said. It's May-day,
and shadows don't fall in my world
an -MAa5g-day:'
""rhat's just it, he said, sigh
ing again. as if Ao saw nc:aiiin c,.aing
but shadows. That's just it, my
child. You are young and gay.
hearted, and all The world looks
bright to you but the brightness
faded for me before you were
born
"When ! came to look at him,
he didn't look so very old, either,
not more than forty years old :;
but he did look as if he had had
some great sorrow to bear
"But who is be, Lila? l hope
you don't often have such adven-
lures, or ! shall be afraid to let
you ramble about alone. He may
have been crazy"
Lila laughed joyously.
"No, no, mamma! He is as
sane as I am. He is the gentle
man who has bought the beautiful
house on the hills and he is an
artist and when Lam not giving
lessons to those tiresome little
Dollvs, and Miriams, and Chris
labels, he is to give me lessons
and he says he can sell my pic.
lures for me-all that | will
paint"
"But,. Lila, lessons from a great
artist will oost something; and
how can you pay him ?" &C.,
"Oh, that is the best of it. He
don't want any pay until he has
sold my pictures, and he says |
shall soon be rich"
Mrs. Rubens hesitated a little
while, but could not long resist
the pretty, pleading face lifted 10
her own and so the next week
found Lila takingSlessons Of the
stranger-artist, and making rapid
progress: Even her mother, who
best knew her enthusiastic tenn
permanent, was surprised to see
what she accomplished.
The weeks went by more rapidly
than weeks had ever gone by be-
fore; and Lila had finished four
pictures-charming little land
scapes in summer and autumn
colors. She had been at home
q week assisting her mother,
who had not been as we'll as
usual, and had not touched
her pencils, though she did look
longing gly up ths. bright hill-path
almost every day-when one day
q servant from the house on the
bill came to the cottage with a
letter for Miss Lila Rubens.
Letters were not with Lila ev-
ery-day occurrences; and she pull
ed open the envelope with spark
ling eye and glowing cheek. The
color did not fade in her beautiful
cheeks when four rustling bank
notes dropped out from the folds
of thick, satiny paper.
Her mother picked them up in
silent astonishment, while Lllla
read the letter.
When she had finished the last
lire, she tossed it into her mothers
lap with a little cry of delight.
"One hundred dollars, mamma,
for my pictures! What happy TO-
morrows we will have some day!
We will have a home of Our own,
where you shall preside in all your
own sweet dignity, and never be
tired or careworn any more. And
we will make little summer excur-
sions out into the world and see
the beautiful places that l have
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