The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-04-29
THE YOUNG ARTIST.


The tiny apartment was evidently the
sisters only room; for in the centre, up
on a floor so spotlessly white to make ;
carpet seem like needless luxury Oh
this warm sunny afternoon, stood Z
round table with few dishes upon it
awaiting the lunch which Maudie had
gone out to buy.
Maudie's sisters is an invalid, and i:
now sleeping quietly on the couch
whose snowy pillows are not whittier
than her face.
Like some lovely marble image she
looks; and were it not for the fiuttering
breath, she could easily be mistaken
for one.
But here comes Maudie, with a ligh1
springy step, scarcely heavy enough tc
crush a flower, much less awaken the
sleeper.
She bent above Alta moment, listen.
ing to her quiet breathing; then SHE
lighted spirit-lamp over which hung q
polished copper kettle. 1t was soon
bubbling away merrily, as though
pleased with the good it was going tO
do.
1t reused the sick girl She opened
her eyes and smiled, as Maudie said
brightly:
..Now for a cup of tea, Alta. See
what have brought you-the cunning
est little glass of currant-jelly! They
call it a picnic jar; and it gives relish
to these crisp milk-crackers, and this
nice butter. Just look how yellow it is
like pure gold.''
As Maudie displayed her treasures,
Alta put out her hand languidly fol
the plate which her sister offered her.
By this time tea was made and fill
ing the room with its pleasant aroma.
Maudie took their one precious cup,
which had belonged to her grandmother,
put in just the right proportion of sugar
and cream. then poured the hot OolOng
over it. and coaxed Alta to drink it.
She tasted a few mouthfuls before
she noticed Maudie was not eating.
Then she said:
what has become of your appetite,
Maudie? Has your walk tired you SO
much that you cannot eat?"
No" was the careless answer; II
have had my lunch"
of part of it, Atlas relish for her
ed. Maudie had only eaten few soda
crackers since early morning; and in
spite of her CHEEKY ways, if the project
which filled her mind should prove a
failure, she knew not from whence
would come the next months rent for
their modest room, or the few things
needed for their simple wants.
But she was brave and hopeful, and
that is half the battle. One day while
passing the door of fashionable
stationer, she had stopped a moment
before the window, attracted by the
boxes of tastefully arranged Papeterie.
Some of the packages Of envelopes
were fastened together by bands, bear
ing designs in various patterns-the
intricate Persian. or graceful groupings
of natures pets, the frail wild-fowers,
or, perhaps, the gayer beauties of the
garden.
As Maudie looked, q conversation,
which she had once heard between her
father and another gentleman, came to
her like flash of inspiration.
Artists were employed to originate
these designs, and were sometimes
ai5erally paid, taste not being
common commodity especially joined to
the faculty of perpetuating it in colors.
She was little child when she heard
this, and thought at the time what
pleasant way it would be to earn money;
for even at that age she was quite
proficient in drawing. and loved dearly
to steal away by herself. with pencil and
paper, and copy something in ''still
1ife' which had taken her fancy.
Her talent had been fostered by her
father, who had given her lessons from
the best drawing-masters, though little
thinking that his two girls would ever
be left in such strait as this.
After the idea had once entered her
mind, Maudie did not lose any time in
putting it into execution. She fastened
home to hunt up her box of water
colors, and some remnants of Bristol
board which had remained useless and
unthought-of at the bottom of a packing
trunk ever since they had removed to
their present abode.
Atlas eyes followed her movements
with languid interest as she rapidly
sketched some graceful wreaths and
vines from the originals in memory's
cabinet.
One of them-a delicate cluster of
trailing arbutus-well she remembered
the CAV party who had set out to find
the shy spring beauties in their haunts
under the snow. Smiles and tears con-
tended for the mastery as she worked;
but smiles predomihated, for her dis
position was essentially sunny.
Alta thought it merely a pleasant
diversion for her young sister, for
Maudie had kept the knowledge of their
urgent necessity studiously concealed
from her. She felt such sympathy for
the stricken girl that she was absolutely
motherly in her care of her.
After two or three days of steady in
dustry, Maudie had completed num-
beY of specimen pictures, and, going to
the dealer whose window had first
suggested her plan, she asked for an
interview with him.
He was an old gentleman, with a
kindly face, who so won her confidence
that she made known her errand with
out tremOr.
He listened kindly and courteously
until she had explained her motive in
calling upon him. Then he shook his
head
"Why, child said he, .'the best
artists in the city do not consider it be-
meath their dignity to design for our
trade. An amateur would stand but
little chance"
Maudie's heart was in her throat, but
she said sturdily:
..Before you make up your mind as to
my ability will you please look at
these?'
Yes; but before do so, you must
promise not to feel bad if cannot pass
a favorable opinion. A stranger rarely
finds the merits in our productions that
we do ourselves"
His intentions were kinder than his
words, for he was really attracted by the
fresh young face with its earnest eyes
looking up At him 20 frankly; and he did