Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-04-04
THE ONLY PUPIL.

olG hlGtI LIlc Ct1CI ucI cllicI ,o1obOto
had married and left home; and Lizzie
kept house for her widowed father and
forgot the lapse of time.
The two old servants considered her
mere child, and she was always the
youngest at the rare family reunions.
Her father had advised, praised and
scolded her as though she had been in
her teens to the last.
He was so old when he went quietly
to sleep for the last time that people
had thought Elizabeth would be ''pre-
pared for her loss;'' but she was not,
and after the first great grief and the
shock OF leaving the old home, when
the property was divided and the house
sold, she found that another change had
befallen her.
She was no longer Miss Lizzie, the
youngest daughter still" at home, but
middle-aged spinster living in q board
ing house.
Often when she had hurried up stairs
and shut the door of her room she
had thought to herself that she could
not endure this condition of things
much longer, but, after all, she dreaded
to make change.
She was exactly in the condition to
jump at anything which offered occupa-
ton and interest, when the postman
one day brought her a circular, gilt
edged and rose-tinted, bearing these
words:
"Mr. Buckle respectfully desires to
make known to the public the fact that
he is about to reopen his class in water
color painting, English school, next
Monday. Terms most reasonable.
Early application desirable, as the num-
Der of pupils will be limited. Studio
No.-,-street."
1t was an attractive looking card, and
as Miss Elizabeth read it an idea came
into her mind. Why should she not
take lessons in water-color painting?
She would enjoy the work. She
could afford it. It would pass the time.
She could, perhaps, sketch from nature
next summer
A little thrill ran through her at this
thought. She got her bonnet and man.
tilla, her parasol and her gloves, and,
taking the card with her, hurried to
make application for a place in the class
before it was too late, for it was now
Saturday afternoon.
She found the number easily. A
large building with muny rooms, and
at the very top Of the house four en-
gravers, lady designer on wood" and
Mr.. Buckles name on neat door
plate.
Miss Elizabeth, quite breathless by
this time, applied her knuckles to the
panels, and after a little delay and
some creaking of boots on q bare floor
the door opened and q middle aged
gentleman with few gray hairs in his
whiskers and bald spot on his head,
appeared, with palette on his thumb
and brush in his hand, and bowling
politely, requested the lady to enter.
"Mr. Buckle?" Elizabeth asked with
an interrogative infection.
The gentleman bowed again.
II received your card" said Miss
Elizabeth, II think should like to
join your class, if it is not full"
'It is mot, full as yet, madam" re-
piled Mr. Buckle, ''and 7 should be de-
lighted to receive you as a pupil"
He opened portfolio as he spoke.
my work" he said; "perhaps you'd
like to look at it,"
The portfolio was full of sketches in
water-color of English scenes, cottages,
lanes, old women gathering faggots,
ladies walking in old parks.
They were not great, but they were
very good. Miss Elizabeth was de-
lighted.
"How kind of you to take GLASS;"
she said, beaming.. "Such TN artist as
you are"
Mr.. Buckle bowed again. He evil
dertly preferred bowling to speaking.
"I'm sure I've. seen your pictures in
the Academy {, " she sai2 "and admired 'di,'
Mr.. Buckle blushed violently and
bowed again. g 49, s-* T5s
Glow modest" thought Miss Eliza
beth. s,..-.-* ~ .-,.rs X Ill.,.
She inquired his terms. They were
very reasonable. She paid it on the
spot, received little List Of necessary
paper, colors, &C., and went away. (,
Sunday past slowly, despite its three
episodes of church going, she awaited
her first lesson with such Impotence.
q At last the hour came She climbed;
the stairs again, and entered the door
of the room on which the name Of
Buckle appeared. A long pine table
and six cane-bottom chairs, an easel,
and some canyases and portfolios, fur
nished the room. A South American
hammock was twisted into q coil and
hung over some pegs. A blanket por
/ there hung on a rod within the door.
But there was no one there but Mr..
Buckle. s5ts=zs III .s.ss..
Am I too early! Elizabeth asked,
| glancing at her watch. I see Lam the
first. IS.
Oh no, indeed, 9 replied Mr.. Buckle.
cit is the other pupils who are too late,
We won't wait for them. = b
He began his lesson at once, and Miss
Z Elizabeth was absorbed in her work.
An hour passed two.
The lesson was over. No pupils had
arrived.
Ladies' are seldom as prompt as yon
are, said Mr.. Buckle. ANY time will
do to begin; any time. They delay.
They procrastinate. It's q pitt =
e. is surprising to me that they are.
"a r. arafra nf1rio11s to avail themselves AZ