The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-03-27
Selert STORY.
From Harper's Magazine for april.
AN EASTER CARD.

"What eau girl 10 in our day r ex-
claimed Agnes Clement, petulantly.
The speaker rested her elbows on the
table and gazed at the lamp.
Opposite was sister Anne, calm, matron-
ly, self.,s,tis6ed, mending baby's piuafore.
PLENTY uf occupation may be found in
your profession, il you would seek it, re-.
piled sister Anne, biting of her thread,
and forming a new knot, Painting
china, designing wood-cuts, even coloring
photographs"
Agnes raised her head, with flashing
eyes.
"Oh, why do you not add taking in
washing, or scrubbing down the stairs p
she cried, with scorn aud anger.
"Thnt is the difficulty" continued sis
ter Anne, with unruffled composure.
"You are impatient, and despise the be.
ginning. One can not spring into full
Aedged artist at one bound. Pray, how
did the great European artists commence,
about whom you are so fond Of reading
Very modestly, | promise you
Agnes made no immediate response.
Instead, she rufflcd her blonde hair with
her hands, and stared moodily at the lamp.
The room was plain, and the noise Of the
street below was audible in the tinklng
of n car bell, the rattle Of carts on the
pavement, the distant strnins of a wheezy
organ, blending with the footsteps of late
customers to the shops. Located on one
of the wide business avenues Of the city OF
New York, this modest home of a clerk
with a slender salary held dissimilar ele.
ments united by close relationship. The
very lamp on the table possessed differ
ent significance to the two women seated
beside it. To sister Anne, comely, thrifty
and practical, good wife aud mother, il
was the humble beacon Of welcome to the
absent husband. To Agnes, imbittered
by hard study, overwork, the failures ol
youthful rashness in unfulhlled dreams, il
meant a dull yellow fame, fed by kcro
sene oil, aud burning monotonously in an
ugly room, family redolent of cabbage
and onions. Such a chamber has often
been the cage of genius.
~ could not obtain any of the work
you propose, if | tried" resumed the
young artist. There are more appli
cants than labor in all fields aud in every
land.
"True," sighed sister Anne, mindful
that week of Illness would replace hel
husband at the store by dozen eager
competitors in need Of bread.
A key was inserted 10 a neighborine
door, and the object of her solicitude en-
tered bringing a gust Of keen winter ali
with him. The husband of sister Anne
was brisk little man, with shrewd blue
eyes, fiaxen hair, and spot of red on
either cheek k.bone lie greeted his family
cheerfully while unwinding a silk hand
kerchief from his throat
Ave got something for you in my
pocket, Aggy," he said to his sister.in-law
"The very thing for you"
She looked at him with faint smile.
"Yes, l came on it quite by accident, ]
may say-riding up town in the car" he
pursued, with animation.
Then he unfolded newspaper, an
placed his finger on a paragraph. The
trio read together the following advertise
ment:
DREMIUM offered Of Sl0O for best desigr
Il Of Easter card for the approaching sea
son. Competitors are requested to presen
their applications to Lang AND Co.
Sister Anne read over the shoulder ci
her husband.
"What a chance for you, Agnes !" sh,
said. 81 am confident you would win tht
prize. One hundred dollars, too |"
Lang and Co. are the great lithogra
pliers, you know" supplemented the hus
band. al saw it by the mcrest chance il
a column acknowledgements. Nothing lik,
reading the papers"
Agnes studied the paragraph, and made
no comment. She grew pale, and her eye,
darkened ominously. One would have in
ferred that she had received some affrout
but restrained her indignation. FINAL,
she rose, and took the journal in her hand
"Thank you, aud good night, she said
dryly.
ais she offended p demanded the it'll,
man, puzzled.
"She is very silly" said sister Anne
rather tartly, as she poured cup of te.
and placed some delicate cakes before him
Agnes went to her room, locked th,
door, knelt beside the bed, and burst int,
tears. A prize given by a lithographe
was offered to her competition She hat
dreamed Of fame and artistic excellence
Instead Of the mountain.peak where sh,
had longed to plant her standard, tn,
slough OF the valley Of poverty was des
tined to ingulf her. On, III scorchiul
tears Of Encouragement and Illumination
which fell from her eyes At length ah,
rose aud lighted the gas jet, in order I,
again read the dctested advertisement
Her room was cold and bare, partakiDg 0
the characteristics Of studio rather thai
the abode Of woman. In one corner TIL
iron bedstesd was concealed BY screen
with tiny mirror suspended near IL; op
posite, n stove reached with It's rusty pip
II
to shelf holding several plaster busts
The windows opeued OF a glass-eoyere,
piazza, the sanctuary Of the easel. Her
the artist INDUCED in reveries, or wrOugh
with pencil and brush, forgetful Of Il,
hour Of the MONDAY meal, and oblivion
OF the vicinity Of laundrcss, who EN-
Ployed the next glass.eoyered piazza 70
the purpose Of drying linen--a pracsica
industry which brought IN far more salts
factory returns, in payment, than did ii,
color box Of Agnes Clement. The latte
sought the spot now. and seated herself OF
the sole chair Il boasted mechanically.
large canvas was propped against the wall
representing life-sixe Beatrice 10 Paradis
beekoning to shadowy Dante. Ague