Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-09-06
Bread on the Waters.


late spots, rocks whose hoary heads over
looked beautiful river, depths of for
ests, which stretched away to an almost
unknown distance, long reaches where
human homes were few and far apart
One of these lonely recesses was the
chosen haunt of a young artist, who was
spending the autumn in neighboring
village.
The sun was going down, but still
Raymond Morse fingered, putting the
last touches to picture which he in
tended to place on exhibition, in one of
the great art galleries of the distant
city.
The scene before him was an appro-
pirate one for an artists pencil, for the
recess was beautiful enough for the tlr-
ingroom of the queen of Nature. Trem-
ulous, feathery ferns, formed yielding
carpet of gold and bronze; the grim
rocks that stood on guard by the dimp-
ling river, were softened by clinging,
silver moss; all around was displayed
the exquisite handiwork of the great
Nature painter-that cunning workman
the frost; blood red and purple form
ed superb contrasts, gold and saffron
stood out in startling relief againt dun,
somber colors, and above all rivaling the
glory of the earth, was the royal tinted
sunset sky.
The soft summer wind lightly lifted
the heavy masses of hair that waved
away from the white, uncovered fore
head of the artist; his hand moved rap
idly, but otherwise the graceful, irm-set
figure was like that of statue, so in
tently was he engaged on the object of
his attention.
Raymond Morse finished the picture,
and was holding it from him, surveying
it with critical eye, when the sound of
a deep drawn breath, close by him, as
sured Morse that the bold eminence on
which he sat, rising round and hoary in
the deepening twilight, had another oc-
cupant.
Morse glanced hastily yOver his shouI-
der and saw just barefoot, peeping at
the picture with look of intense long
ing in his eyes. Seeing that he was
discovered, the boy turned away. cow
ed look coming into the tanned face.
"Hello youngster, come back !''
The boy stopped at the cordial tones
and glanced covertly at the artist. He
saw the eyes glowing with radiant kind
ness, the nameless charm of the face, so
he came slowly to Morse's side.
"What is your name, my boy?"
"I'm only Bob, farmer Rowe's bound
boy"
"Well, Robert, tell me what you
think of it" and the artist put the
picture carefully into the boys hand.
Morse watched the boy as he gazed
on the picture.
1t was as if some subtle magnetism
was at work, playing in brightness and
beauty over the bronzed features of this
wanderer of twilight. Finally the boy
gave the picture back merely remark
ing:
81 wish could do that" but min
3 gled with the hopelessness of the tones,
l was an undercurrent of unconscious pow
: er.
Actuated by some influence, Raymond
Morse put his hand under Bob's chin,
q and raising the downcast face, gave it a
: piercing look. Great eyes of purplish
t darkness met his, in whose depths was
foreshadowed the power of latent gen
4 ius.
o Removing the hand he gave the boy
I pencil, and an unused leaf of his
Il sketch book.
Bob worked away for few moments
>, and then the leaf lay before Morse
; sketched with such fidelity to Nature
# that the artist was astonished.
d "When did you learn to draw likt
+ that?" he questioned.
81 never learned. 1t always cam,
= handy and before found this pencil''-
e it was about an inch in length-"I uset
o to mark on birch bark with coal.
!. have drawn great many things tha
way. But I've got to hurry back will
those cows or old Rowe will give me
beating, and his beatings amt nothin,
. to laugh at" and the boy shivered.
q The artist arose. I'm going to leav
+ Action tomorrow. If you ever come t.
j. the city of M come and see me. Her
J is my address, giving Bob a card
y which the boy hid carefully away
"Good bye, Bob"
y, "Good bye, sir" and the artist wa
- alone.
=
o "Well Ray, what does this mean ?"
l. Good morning, Will. Find a sea
f. if you can"
y Morse's usually charming studio wa
in state of confusion hard to be dc
't scribed."
: The luxurious sofas and loungin
n chairs were filed to overfowing wit