The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-12-30
STRIKING OUT FOR HERSELF.

Smith" not particle :"
" Oh, pa |" said Mrs. Smith.
" Let her stick to the dressmakinsr
oracularly added Mr.. Smith; "there's
money in that
But it's hard-earned money, pa" urged
Mrs Smith "and il isn't as if Jacintha
was very young girl that couldn't be ex-
pected TO know her own mind. Jacintha il
twenty -four"
" Old enough to know better" said Mr.
Smith, curtly "And there's John Jacob
Finlay has as good as said that he won't
have nothing to say to girl that goes
careering of to the city, and obtrudes her
self upon the public where she amt wanted
nor won't be appreciated"
Mrs Smiths meek blue eyes grew round
with mingled terror and apprehension.
" Oh, pa, don't talk SO dreadful !" was all
that she could say.
Truth is truth" said Mr.. Smith, "and
can't make nothing else outen it And
Jacintha may just make up her mind wheth.
er she'd rather be good fore-handed farm.
er's wife, or one of those dmggle-tailed
artists that are always being turned out of
their rooms on account of rent not paid"
The Smiths were generally most peace,
able and harmonious family. Mr.. Smith
liked to dictate, and Mrs. Smith was willing
to obey but to-day the tides of argument
ran high. Jacintha, Mr.. Smiths sister, one
Of the womankind whose duty he considered
Il to listen and obey, had actually presumed
to have an opinion of her own She had
| got tired of dish-washing, butter-making
and the endless cooking of dinners. She
wanted to become-an artist
" Painting !" echoed Mr.. John Jacob Fin
lay, who, although very worthy young
man, was rather narrow in his ideas
painting why, it amt woman's bust
ness, climbing up on ladders, and hanging
on by scarf-foldings, besides the whitehead
being poisonous to breathe"
g 1t amt that, Mr.. Finlay,n said Mrs.
Smith, anxious to make the best of things.
"it's painting pictures in studio. Pic.
lures, you know, such as you put in
| frames"
"Oh !" said John Jacob,
g 1t amt much better, according to my
ideas," gruffiy observed Mr.. Smith.
:" oh, pa" said his wife, deprecatingly.
WE'LL" said Mr.. Finlay, "why couldn't
you have said artist, instead of painter ?p
Where's the difference Pr growled
Smith.
Whichever way 1t is, it won't suit me-
said Finlay. There's o deal too many
artists in New York as il is, and it's wo-
her husband save money %
But gently interposed Mrs. Smith,
wouldn't il be just as well if she could
earn instead of saving ~
Mr.. Finlay shook his head.
I" 1t amt in the nature of things ~ said
he, while the less ceremonious Smith grum-
bled out
Earn, indeed I'm willing TO eat every
sixpence she earns for the next ten years at
| picture painting
" Oh, pal" said Mrs. Smith.
But Jacintha had her way. Jacintha was
bright-spirited girl who was not inclined,
like her meeker sister-in-law, to bow down
| 20 the will of the men-folks."
" 1t may be that 1 shall not succeed
said she, :" but ! intend to risk it. I've
saved little money, and choose to lay il
out in this WY. And il John Jacob does
not like it-why he can lump it!n
! Mrs. Smith looked with admiring terror
at Jacintha.
81 don't see" said she, how you dare
to be 80 positivew
Because Jacintha returned, al know
Pm in the right"
Mr.. Smith openly opposed. Mrs. Smith
tremulously discouraged. John jacob Fin
lay set his face, like flint, against the
whole proceeding, but Jacintha persisted
and went to New York with her little trunk
and her gigantic antioipations.
AZ wash my hands of It ALL" said Mr..
Smith, " and want you to have nothing
more whatever to do with that girl,
Phebe."
"Oh, pa" twittered the little matron,
shes your own sisterl"
"I don't recognize no woman for sister
that don't hear to reason" said Mr.. Smith,
sternly.
| Jacintha Smith cheerily went to work.
She lived economically, slept on sofa be-
hind cbintz curtain in her studio, and
rose at daylight to cook her own breakfast
over kerosene stove, and got to work
early. And she had not been in New York
week before her first order came,-to
paint portrait of child whom her land
lady had Just lost. Her only guide was a
battered photograph, but Jacintha made a
success of IL. She idealized the whole sub
| ject. She put the figure of the little child
ON daisy-strewn bank, with brook in
front, and tangle of hazel bushes in tho
background. The poor mother burst out
sobbing at the sight.
~Oh, how beautiful it isl" she cried.
"Oh, l love to look at him 80. Perhaps
he's playing just that way with the angels
In heaven at this very minute!p
The landlady was only poor woman,
but she knew plenty Of people who were
better off. In her business of lodging-let
ting she came across a wide variety of the
human species, and the little picture with
the glittering shining ripples Of the brook,
.he green gloom of the hazels, and the burn.
ished CLEAN Of the child's long fair hair,
was admired far and wide. More orderi
came in. Some were paying, and otherl
we're not-but Jacintha was kept tolerably
busy. In the midst Of II all, she made time
to paint up pretty sketch of an old ruined
mill-wheel outlined again red sunset sky,
which was hung on the walls Of the Spring
Exhibition.
| After that, Jacintha had no more doubts
nor fears. She knew, now, that he was go
ing TO succeed.
Mrs. Smith had not quite kept faith with
her husband. Now and then express parcels
Of spring chickens, new butter, delicious
red apples, jars of homemade mince-meat,
would make their appearance at the studio,
and more than once the good soul sat up
late TO write laborious letter to Jacintha,
fallsufy oil tho bnpoa aud ht,.fs.,ss that