The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-04-19

fated to encounter in his future life.
lie had, moreover, described il to Sib-
billa Vernon, and had promised this
sole contidante of his aspirations that
he would bring it over some time and
let her see it. But Sibbilla lived two
miles away, and as her parents were
also strict members of meeting, who
regarded every work of art az profanity,
this would have to be managed with due
caution.
Richards first impulse, therefore,
was to secure the picture. But his
father had double cause OF displeas-
ure, and his anger was deep. He had
agreed to give Richard fourth share
In the profits of the farm this year, and
not only was this painting business an
ungodly amusement, but also waste of
precious time and loss of money. 1t
mnst be stopped.
=" Pll put it where it deserves to 90,
and whore thee will follow unless thee
turns thy steps from the world and it's
follies. But the fire that thou wilt
meet will be that which is not uuenched,
and where the worm dieth not"
With these words, which Friend
Harris spoke slowly and with that
slight chanting intonation which char
acterizes the u'terances Of the speakers
in meeting, the solemnity of which was
further increased by the use OF the
formal "thou" instead of the usual
thee" he stepped to the kitchen
fireplace, where goodly wood fire was
burning under the crane, and striking
the picture against the corner of the
mantelpiece tore rugged split through
Its center and threw the whole into the
flames. In moment it was shriveled
cinder.
There are certain natures whose in
herent strength can only be developed
by violent shock. Full of latent power,
their weakness comes from a native
humility. They distrust themselves
through genuine admiration of others.
Such was Richard Harris. But the
necessary shock had come. He gazed a
moment at the cinder, his face Grim
soned, but the severe discipline of the
Society and the family exercised the
sway that it usually does even on the
very young among Friends.
Father" he said, in low and even
tone, 81 repeat what 1 have often told
thee; have no light that there is evil
in painting; but as thee thinks there is.
l shall bid thee and mother farewell
to-day, and seek employment else.
where. shall not ask thee for any
share in thy estate"
Taking his hat from the window-sill
he passed out of the kitchen door, leav-
ing his father speechless with amaze
ment at this rebellious utterance, and
his mother-a poor weak woman, con-
stantly in misery between carrying out
the severe rule of her husband whom
she feared, and yielding to her tender
ness for her boy whom she loved
wiping her tears without emitting any
sound, either word or sob. AS for his
two sisters they sat demure and motion.
less through the whole scene, at heart
rather pleased at it, as they had no
sympathy with their brothers. taste for
forbidden arts, and thought him queer,
wasteful, uncomfortable member of the
household. Moreover, though younger
than he, they were not too young to
see at once the pecuniary advantage to
them of his renunciation of his share
of the estate.
Richard went toward the barn and
took seat in nook of the corn fodder
stack that was built along the side of
the barnyard. He did not feel the cold
raw all. of the carly morning. His mind
was too full OF the step he was about to
take and what had led up to it. Now
or never he must quit the farm, re-
nounce the teachings of the Society,
throw aside the coat with standing col
lar and the quaint road-brimmed black
hat, give up the plain language, reject
the counsels Of the venerable facers of
meeting who would surely be appointed
to visit him, and prove recreant to the
revered precepts of Fox and Barclay.
All this was meant by pursuit of his
strong bias for art.
Why was he born with itp Whence
came itP These questions he had often
asked himself. For six generations his
ancestors had never touched brush or
palette; not painting nor a statue nor
a musical instrument nor any drama or
work of fiction had been allowed in
their houses. How had he been created
with passion for color aud form, with
a love of poesy and music, which neither
the dreary farm work nor the colorless
life, nor all the frigid, deadening dis
cipline of the Society could quench?
Going back to his earliest memory
he could recall that when four years
old he was left for few hours at the
house of Mike Wallis, an Irish tenant
on neighboring farm, and that Mikes
wife had kept him in the utmost bliss
by showing him colored print of the
Virgin and the Infant, and telling him
the pathetic history as it had pictured
itself in her warm Irish heart But what
was the horror of, his parents next day
when he toddled into the room when
they were at dinner and called;
Mudder, mudder, come see God"
His parents ran to the door to see
what this strange appeal meant, and lol
there, on the floor of the front porch,
chalked in rude but faithful outlines,