Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-09-08
LILIA'S TOMORROW.

LlLlA>o lU.MUNhVN.
Mrs. Rubens sat by the open window
Of her little sitting room, with an unfin-
ished piece of work in her hands; but her
hands lad dropped idly in her lap, the
white, weary fingers refused to take up
the shining little needle. Tcll-tale tears
stood in her soft blue eyes; but she wiped
them quickly away, as she heard Lila
open the door anu come up the stairs
with light, quick steps.
Lilla-with the summer sunshine in
her hair like waves of gold-with her
soft eyes shining like the tender BIOS
SONS half hidden under the green leaves
of the voilets with the pink bushes
kissing her cheek in loneliness, and
laughter waiting on her red lip. What
wonder that the mothers tired eyes grew
bright again as she watched her darling's
bright young face!
sWhat has happened to y ou, my love?
Your face is as glad as rose!'
sit ought to be glad, since such good
fortune has come!' she said, smiling
"Poor mamma, you've grown tired wait
ing Tor 1t, know.
s'Tell me all about it, or l shall fear
you have dreamed it,' Mrs. Rubens re-
piled, softly.
Lila quickly Invested herself of bon
net and shawl, and, drawing a low stool
to her mothers side, sat down and leaned
her head against her knee.
81 shouldn't wonder if you had forgot
ten that it is the first day of May to-day"
she began, looking up in her mothers
face; "but never forget it when it comes,
for l think it is the sweetest day in the
year!' So, when lessons were over, took
my box of colors and those bits of pine
board that painted white last week, and
went up the Mill to Fairy's Hollow.
And Lila stopped to take one long
breath Of delight, while her mother stoop-
ed to kiss her glowing checks.
"Everything was beginning to bright
en-, mamma. The softest of south winds
crept through the grass with murmurins
caresses; the flowers were coming up in
beautiful clusters all over the hollow and
overhead-in the elm-trees-I do believe
a hundred happy birds were singing. l
shall paint it some day, mamma"
| S'And shall look at 1t and enjoy it,"
said Mrs. Rubeus; 'only you must put
yourself into the picture Lila"
eyes, suppose so, said Lila, doubt
| fully; "but think it would be nicer with
out me. But am coming to the best
part of also listen, mamma. had fin
ished hazy, blue sky, had sketched a
distant hill lying softly against it, and a
lake in the fore ground, half bordercd with
willows. when shadow fell upon my
picture, and looking up, 1 saw funny
little 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 himself
'sl used to do it, too, when l was
young and foolish like YOU
CHOW you know, mamma, dear, nobody
likes to be called foolish, and I suppose
| did look little cross, for he sighed
again, and said, 80 mouInful:
"'I wouldn't hart your tender heart for
the world, child! But don't you see you
have left out the shadows?"
Isl don't see any shadows to put in
| said. It's May-day, and shadows don't
fall in my world on May day.
"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 I 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"
si6ut who is he, Lila? hope you don't
often have such adventures, or I shall be
afraid to LET you ramble about alone. He
may have been crazy
Lila laughed joyously.
mo, no, mammal! He is as sane as
am. He is the gentleman who has
bought the beautiful house on the hill,
and he is an artist; and when am not
| giving lessons to those tiresome little
Dollys, and Mirlams, and Christabels, he
is to give me lessons; and he says he can
sell my pictures for me--all that I will
paint"
"But, Lila, lessons from a great artist
viii cost something; and how can you
pay HING
'sOh that is the best of it. He DON'T
want any pay until he has sold my pic
lures, and he says l shall soon be rich"
Mrs. Rubens hesitated a little while,
but could not long resist the pretty plead,
ing face lifted to her own; ana so the
next week found Lillia taking lessons Of
the stranger artist, and making rapid
progress. Even her mother, who best
knew her enthusiastic temperament, was
surprised to see what she accomplished.
The weeks went by more rapidly than
weeks had everyone by before and Lila
had finished four pictures charming lit
tie landscapes in summer and autumn
! colors. She had been at home week