Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-03-19
THE ONLY PUPIL.

Miss Elizabeth Hill was still pref
ty little woman, with nice hair and a
tidy little figure, when her father died.
One after the ether her elder sisters
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
a 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.
lie was so old when he went quietly
to sleep for the last time, that people
had thought Elizabeth would le pre-
pared for her loss" but she was not,
and after the first great grief and the
shock of leaving the cid home, when
the property was divided and the houao
sold, she found that another change
had bcfallen her.
She was no longer Miss Lizzie, the
youngest daughter still at home but a
middlc-aged spinster living in a 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 occu-
patton 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 classes in
water-color painting, English school,
next Monlay. Terms most rca5ona-
ble. Early application dej!rabie, as
the number 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 watcr-color paint
ing?
She would enjoy the work. She
could afford it. 1t 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
mantilla, her rarasol and her gloves,
and taking the card with her, hurried
to make applica ion for place in the
Glass before it was too late, for it was
NoW Cdtuluuy alltlnOOll.
She found the number easily a
large building with many rooms, and
at the very top of the house four en-
gravers, a lady designer on wood"
and Mr.. Buckles name on neat door
plate.
Miss Elizabeth. quite breathlcss by
this time, applied her lsnucliles to the
panels, and after little delay and
creaking Of boots on Il bare floor. the
door opened, and amiddle.aged gentle
man, with few gray hairs in his
whiskers and bald spot on his head,
appeared, with palette on his thumb
and a brush in his hand, and bowling
politely, requested the lady to enter.
"Mr. Buckle?' Elizabeth asked with
an interrogative infection.
The gentleman bowed again.
81 received your card" said Miss
Elizabeth. 81 should like to Join your
class, if it is not full"
ut is not full as yet. madam" re
piled Mr.. Buckle" and I should be de-
lighted to receive you as apupil."
He opened portfolio rs he spoke.
"My work. he said; perhaps you'd
like to look at
The portfolio was full of sketches
N water color of English scenes, cot
tages, lanes, old women gathering fag-
gots, 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 a class
she said, beaming. "iSuch an artist as
you are
Mr.. Buckle bowed again. lie eyi-
IDENTIFY preferred bowing to speaking,
"I'm sure I've seen your pictures in
the Academy" she said, "and admired
them"
Mr. Buckle blushcd violently and
bowed again.
"How modest" thought Miss Eliza
beth.
She inquired his terms. They were
very reasonable. She paid it on the
spot, received little list of necessary
:,aper, colors, &C., and went away.
Sunday passed slowly, despite its three
episodes of church-going. She awaited
her first lesson with much impatience.
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