The Portland daily press., 1886-06-04

that what you DOZEN with? 1t seems to be
running over"
Miss Lydia started 1t was the gas kettle
to which Mr.. ThaXter alluded, and 1t was
boiling over and sending stream OF not wa
ter in dangerous proximity to her BACK
She turned the gas off, explained, made
Mr.. Thaxter a cup of tea, of which he par
took, and listened to description OF the last
illness of the departed Mrs. ThaXter, set the
hour for the sitting, and then heard him plod
down the stairs, and sat down alone by the
window.
''What strange things do come aboutp she
said to herself, and fell into a reyerie.
The next day the sitting commenced ana
crous, Mr.. Thaxter's attempts at attitudes OF
despair might have upset her gravity; put
Lydia was grave as a deacon. In the inter
ests of art, she fist draped Mr.. ThaXter IN a
piano-cover; but as drapery outside a coat IS
seldom a success, and, as he observed, ne
didn't wear table-cloth no other time, ana
folks would think he was meant for an an
GEL she gave up the idea. Finally, she de,
cided to model him looking into his hat and
leaning on the ordinary grave-stone. This
met his approval, and the work began.
Poor Lydia, like many people to whom art
is sealed book, had dreadful power OF
making likeness. The object she slowly
produced was very like ,petrliled SUIT OF
in door-knob, GROWING them; but it was
like him. Both knew it. As she scraped
and dug the clay with her little lockwood in
StrumentS that looked like tablespoons and
butter-lnives, he observed and approved.
He was very proud of himself, and Lydia
was very proud of her work, and they talked
necessarily, at first of the person to whom
the monument was to be erected, finally Of
the past
Explanations were entered into. Lydia
confessed to her dreams of fame; Isaac, to
pique that he had proposed TOUT of spite"
to his Esther Ann. But she proved bless
ing" he added, remorsefully.
At last the monument was finished, and
was reproduced in shining marble. Subject
and author regarded it with satisfaction. Mr..
ThaXter counted out the price in greasy
small notes; and there was talk of packing
case.
And l am greatly obliged to you, Mr..
Thaxter, I'm sure" said Lydia, putting the
money away-a little fortune it seemed to
her.
s'Yes," said Thaxter, turning toward her.
''Well that's polite of you to say. For the
matter of that, I'm obliged. I'm done good
and correct. Seems sort o'queer to see my
self standing out in all .weathers, when Ia
make such lovely parlor ornament I'll
turn yaller won't I?'
Lydia admitted the possibility.
well in the front parlor, Liddy. There isn't
any inscription onty it yet; Couldn't. the
tombstone be turned into balustrade?'
SIT could" said Lydia.
And could get very neat stone TOT the
late Mrs ThaXter," said the gentlemen. Il
doubt if it would please. her to have me
standing under willow in the wet, rainy
nights Fix. the balustrade, Lydia. and I'll
put it in the parlor Oh-before go-you'ye
seen my house?"
YES" said Lydia.
''It was built for family" said Mr.. Thax-
ter. sit wants a lady at the head of it. Look
here, Liddy, won't you marry me and be
that lady / don't believe sculping pays, and
| am real good provider, if 1 say it my
self"
MY gracious! It's so sudden" said Miss
Lydia.
But she did not say mo- and at the end
of the duty year they were married. The |
first Mrs. Thaxter's monument adorns the |
parlor and the work of an ordinary stone |
cutter is under the willow tree in the grave
yard, but the neighbors do not know for |
what the work of art was intended. They |
call it, 'Mr. Thaxter leaning onto balus- |
trade.''
And Mrs. Thaxter is famous sculptress |
in Bean Hill if nowhere else.