Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-03-29
Gales ano Sktttbes.
THE QUAKER ARTIST.
By d. 81. BRINToN
Confined from Yesterday.


trade of Barlow knife for box of
paints. MANY an hour Of JOY had they
given him, hiding himself in the garrett of
the old house. in the back part of the hay
NOW near the dusty gable window. or in a
little hut he had built in the woods. But
his prying little sister BETRAYED him one
day. and not only was his treasure confis-
Gated. but he himself was tied to the bed
post BY his mother aud given such a
whipping as would have discouraged most
youthful artists.
Later in life, when he was too old for
such vigorous measures. many lectures
had he received on the frivolity of such
tastes and the wickedness of ministering
to them.
These scenes passing through his MEM
orv convinced him that it was vain to
battle with such infiexible rules. and that
to be free he must leave the farm and all
its associations.
There was but one which had really
held him. This was Sibbilla Vernon. The
daughter of rigid parents. her mother
even public friend" whose voice at
monthly and quarterly meetings was
familiar to all members of the Society,
Sibbilla was a not unusual type Of the adj
vanced thought of her sect. Calm, self
possessed, clear-headed, she had announced
when but fifteen to her family that her
own conscience was her guide, and that in
all essential matters she should follow it.
From childhood she and Richard Harris
had delighted to play and talk together
and though no word of love, no kiss and
no caress had ever passed between them,
both their families and themselves consid-
cred their union merely y matter OF time
and money. Nor did this absence of the
usual passages of love seem to any con-
cerned strange circumstance. They
Were accustomed to the repression OF all
outward show of feeling. In neither house
hold had the children ever seen a kiss eX-
changed among its members. young or old.
Though devoid of any passion for art
herself. Sibbilla understood and respected
the forbidden tastes of her love. She look
ed upon his peculiar abilities As gifts OF
God for use in life, and she quietly but
firmly put aside the traditions of her sect,
which condemn them indiscriminately.
wilt thou presume to deny the many
testimonies of Friends. both in England
and America, against these sinful arts ~
her mother would ask; being public
friend Of considerable local fame, she
never employed the incorrect nominative
thee" even in family life.
Mother replied the daughter, they
spoke for their day. must act in mine
by the light have. not by the theirs
Her mother wisely avoided argument,
trusting that the Spirit would enlightel
her daughter in time.
Leaving the fodder. stack Richard walk
ed across the bare fields toward the plain
brick house which was Sibbila's home.
His mind was made up. He would 90 to
New York and devote himself to the study
of art. He had saved since his majority
about $500 dollars. He had youth strength.
talent. love-was not that enough Would
Sibbila approve of it? Would she make
the serious sacrifice it invOlvedp
As he approached the house it was about
10 o'clock, and all the males were out at
work He knocked at the front door. in
stead of the side door as usual. and Sib-
billa herself opened it and gazed mt him
with considerable surprise in her hazel
eyes, quickly changing to an expression
of pleasure. which Richard did not fail to
note, and which filled him with both iov
and anxiety.
why. Richard. what brings thee here
at this hour ." was her exclamation.
.'Sibbilla. he said. "Iwish to see thee -
and stepping in he closed the door. and
they both stood in the wide hall, obscure
" lighted ny the transoms at each end
He paused 4 moment to recover his con-
troll. and then spoke in low. vibrating
tone: u am going to leave the farm in
order to study art. shall have to give
up my membership in the Society. as thee
knows. Father SAYS he will leave me
nothing if do. and know thy mother
agrees with him. But | not afraid.
All ask is that thee approve of my deci.
sion and will become my wife as soon rs
! am able to offer thee home
At that supreme moment of resolve all
the strength which for generations had
been nurtured by the noble Quaker theo.
ries of self-reliance. all the passion which
for generations had been mufiled ana
smothered under the narrow Quaker sys
tenn of formality and repression. burs
| forth and were expressed in the face o
Sibbilla Vernon. She seemed to rise il
stature, and looking him full IN the eyes
laying one hand on his arm and passing
the other arm around his neck. she said
| Richard. will come to thee then, or
! will 30 with thee now
| The tone was low and the words with
out haste, but he who heard it felt in hi
Utmost soul that no oath could be strong
| er.
| Thank God and thee" he uttered an,
for the first time in their lives each fel
the magic meaning of kiss of love-
Seated on the wooden ''settee," whic
is the common furniture of the countr,
hall. he told her his fathers words an
action and his own unalterable determin
alton to seek his future in art. 1t wa
agreed that they should be married by
magistrate as soon as Richard should hav
an income of seven hundred dollars
year.
| Full of quiet JOY he went home. an
nounced his intended marriage and imme
date departure. packed his trunk. an
told Nose TO have the dearborn ready a
six O'Clock in the evening to take him t
the station. After the five o'clock suppe
the members of the family maintained al
most entire silence. his mother quietl
CRYING. his father reading the Book o
Discipline" his favorite literature
The dearborn drove up with Nose, VIII
had been TO the station with the milk, AN,
stopping at the country store which wa
also the post-office. had brought lette
for Richard. 1t was rather unusual 70