Morning journal and courier., 1884-12-20
MRS. FLAKEWHITE's HATS.
TcoNcLUpED FROM FIRST PAGE.

CT the sight of the objects of my dear wife's uncomplaining labor had nerved my head and hand to unusual effort, or whether haj chanced upon 8 particularly fortunate mo- ment for work, cannot say; but this much I know, difficulties of drawing that had per- plexed and hindered me for days vanished under the strokes of my happy pencil this morning. I touched on many patches of col or that astonished and charmed me with their excellence; half tints of great delicacy and difficulty placed themselves as it were by some magical power not my own in just the right place, while deep, strong shadows flowed boldly from my brush and increased the effect of all the rest.
 Not long after a nasty breakfast on my part Mrs. Flakewhite came into the studio dressed to go out-wearing the same brown stray hat with the pearl colored ribbon, last years style, that had affected me SO un- pleasantly few hours before-for her ha- bitual goodbye kiss, and I threw into my greeting more than usual heartiness and ten derness from a feeling of self-reproach at having been forced to allow so much good ness and 1oveliness to, in measure, disfg- ure itself with such 8 bonnet.
 Goodbye, John, dear; am glad you are painting so well this morning" said she; Eve shall soon see somebody's name well known in tho city and we shall be selling as fast as we can paint, and shall have to double and quadruple our prices and have lots of orders, and we shall have large, handsome studio with & real north light and window so tall -1,o 4or Io11 &n it, and we shall have a new thick overcoat every winter If we like, and we shall go into the country every summer sketching, with our little wife to read to us while we paint, and we shall grow great and famous and go to Europe, may be, and our wife will be so proud of us, and. "-I could not listen anoth- CT instant to her merry talk, but throwing down palette and brushes, my arms closed round her with bear-like hug and I stopped her laughing, rosy mouth with detonating kiss that could have been heard block away, and holding her cheeks with both my hands, softly whispered, ''Please God, Mary, you shall be a true prophetI andif what you have just said ever does come true it will be greatly owing to the cheering help of my own brave-hearted wife"
 John, Sald sne, looK1nR DacK through the half-closed door, 'FI'm going to get lamb chops with sweet potatoes for dinner" and listened while she merrily sang herself down the stairs, nor moved until heard the front door close behind her-Gnd all of earth held most dear.
 was working again interestedly and pro gressing finely with my picture, and felt @ hopeful spirit and quiet peace of mind that had been unknown to me for months-per- haps it was a premonition of the good for tune in store for me-when the same gentle man whe had bought my last picture called again. He said it had been much admired since being richly framed and placed in 8 good light at-his home, and he was kind enough to mention the very terms of en- couraging praise which one of our favorite painters had made use of when looking at it. His name sent the blood surging and tingling all over me with pleasure. My visitor would like companion picture of the same size and took the liberty of advancing me one hundred dollars towards it's price to engage my commencing it at once, promised to call again soon as I could fix date for him to see how was progressing and politely took his leave. After he had gone I sat motion less for some minutes to think over what had passed between us and recover control of my senses, bewildered with too much pleasure. Of course had dreamed oe such interviews with purchasers and had often imagined how
 
 whose pictures were always in demand, to whom such affairs were not unusual; but both dreams and imagination were now quite certainly realized, witness the one hundred dollar bill on the easel shelf, just where my purchaser had laid it.
 It was a new one freshly issued from the Chemical bank and cracked as took it up, and though. I seemed to be looking at it's printed face, my minds eye saw nothing there, but was busy far away with new hat, new winter dress, thick gaiters and warm gloves that intended should be sur prise for Mrs. Flakewhite.
 Hastily pinninga paper on my studio door that stated I should soon return, rushed over into the Bowery to milliner's store where Mrs. F. and I were known; took the woman that waited upon me into partial con- fidence, and quickly suited myself with a hat of good quality, refined and ladylke, besides some other matter, and in about half an hour-which had been thirty minutes of great enjoyment to me-was back again in my studio, the several parcels hid den where they would be safe from observa- tion, and, with an impatient anticipation of Mrs. Flakewhite's surprise in the morning, again addressed myself to work.
 During the evening of the eventful day we walked out together and to Mrs. Flake whites great satisfaction, after her critical examination of seams and Things, button holes and pockets, the coat was decided upon. paid for and worn home. must here dis close to the reader in strict confdence-hav- ing wholesome fear of pulled ears-that several times on our return home, in passing under bright street lamp, was made to walk on few steps in front, that Mrs. F. might again enjoy the excellence of the fit, and admiringly appreciate my new found elegance.
 Pleading fatigue, I retired that night rather sooner than usual and matured in quiet my plan for surprising Mrs. Flakewhite in the morning. As soon ner was truly off into the land of dreams, I stole out of bed into another room, brought out my hidden treasures and commenced fil- ling large sized paper box provided for this very purpose. At the bottom two pairs of gloves and half dozen nice handkerchiefs with colored borders, then as many sets of col lars and cuffs of different shapes-and thought as I laid these in how Mrs. Els deli cate sense of neatness would enjoy wearing theu-next pair of the very best double soled gaiters, over these pearl-colored dress pattern that the clerk who sold it assured me was of excellent quality, and on top of all, the new hat, fit summit to this monument of affection reared in grateful recognition of a wife's devotion and love- On the cover of the box laid an unsealed envelope addressed Mfrs. John F1akewhite, Present,n containing the following note: 'tWil my dear wife accept from her husband the accompanying box and its contents and still continue to oblige the giver by remembering, each time she makes use of the familiar articles, that she has fairly and honestly earned them by her habits of prudence, economy and cheerful labor, under circumstances that have rendered these qualities truly valuable Also, that though the articles in question may wear out and disappear with use and time, I earn estly beg that this letter be preserved and shown to children, grandchildren and to their children as a perpetual honor to her name, and that, telling them the story connected with it, they may be urged to keep forever in the family the virtues which. it commemo- rates, and that the daughters may each in their turn merit such memorial from, and prove herself to be, indeed a crown to, her hus- band. JOHN FLAKEwHITE.
 Having placed the box and letter on the table where Mrs. F. would be sure to see it in the morning as sooE as she got up, stole back again into bed, and-unusual thing for wished for daylight.
 In the morning walked early, as, indeed, I did nearly every hour during the night, fear ing to oversleep, and at once glanced at the