River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-04-02

before the close Of the nrst term ) les
sons had become 80 interested that she
asked Miss Crawford the artist. with
much fear and trembling. if she might
b. allowed to join the class.
The reply was all that her saddened.
aching heart could wish. but as she took
her place among them keenly did she
feel the contrast between herself. with
/, her pencil or brush pressed between
her hands. and the graceful. happy girls
near her. Many times did she feel her
| cheeks crimson a she became conscious
IF the curious gaze OF some stranger in
the room. Fortunately. however. for
her. she was influenced to begin at the
/ foundation. To see and represent cor
rectly, instead of being encouraged TO
paint a few pictures to hang upon the
walls To show her friends, as specimens
Of her work. when, in reality. more or
less and often times the most of the
work would be that Of the teacher.
Her progress at first was slow. very
slow, indeed, and at many times dis
couraging. but as the months passed
she saw new world opening to her
view. world Of beauty Of which she
had never dreamed. but world which
she, yes, even she, might enter, if moth
ing unforeseen occurred.
Fifteen years have passed and we
viii enter the pleasant south room
again. Miss Crawf ford is not there,
neither are there any pupils. but Ruth
Is there. looking ont of the same win
dow as when we first saw her, but with
much happier. although paler, face
Before her is an almost finished picture
representing water lilies growing in a
river. II we will look out of the win
dow. too. we shall see her model. Her
/ brightest hopes have been more than
/ realized. She had accomplished more,
much more than she had thought posi-
sible when she began. She has had
| many pupils, lthe writer of this being
among the n..lnber), filed many orders,
and is now competing for prize. The
/ conditions are that the pictures must
he original paintings representing
I flowers. she would have preferred
faces If the privilege of choosing had
been hers The reward is to be such
that She viii be able to assist greatly.
| if she be the successful on@, the parents
E " Attf AAaNE EAhEAA 81 AAtAtfA Vi NAAElA lAAlC
and strength to her, and as she works
there all by herself, this petition is Of
fered many times:
20 God. may this picture not OILY be
an inspiration 10 others in trouble, but
the means of relieving the loved ones so
dear to me. Yet, not my will, but
Thine be done"
There are to be five Judges. and one
week from this time finds her picture
on its way to its destination. IL
also finds Ruth weak. very weak,
4 from exhaustion. This last grea,
strain upon her vitality. and her
/ previous combining work, are giving her
I warnings which She can not understand.
With your permission we VIII now en-
/ ter another room-a room many miles
i from here and one in which the Judges
are deciding i'm regard to the merits of
/ sixty or seventy flower pieces The
+ pictures are numbered and hung in the
/ best light possible. and there is a num-
/ bered and sealed envelope fastened to
( each picture. These contain the names
/ and addresses Of the competitors. and are
arranged in such a manner that their
+ decision must he according to their
/ Judgment. The less deserving pictures
are being taken from their places one
I by one. until at the close of the first
week fifteen only remain.
/ These are carefully and conscientious
/ " compared until four others are put
aside. later six others have their faces
/ turned to the wall and 80 on until at
I the close Of the second week only three
4 sRssess -
/ sunfiowers. another Easter lilies. and
the third. water lilies. Then the merits
I of these three were discussed many
/ times. until il was decided that as there
/ was but little difference in the work.
/ the thought expressed and brought out
/ must decide the question. And now. if
I vou please. what object had the artist
I who painted these sunfiowers," said
one who seemed to be recognized
/ leader among them2 Each expressed
+ himself freely, and the general opinion
+ was that the object was to represent
+ nature as perfectly a possible.
4 The Easter lilies We're then pnL To the
+ test. Again there was general express
+ sion, but this time opinions differed
4 widely. All saw in them a partial rep
/ rescntation Of the Resurrection Morn
/ ing. but farther than this they did not
/ agree. Il was then discovered beyond
a doubt that this was copy a. a Ger
4 tain extent of a picture that had been
painted several years previously, by a
master hand, and a little lates il had
been chromoed. The would-bs artist
/ had re-arranged the flowers, ael in 50
+ doing. because he did not feel ard see it
+ himself. had failed to show the one
+ grand thought Of the original
The water lilies were then PCT in the
/ crucible.
+ Not a word was spoken for t'slly five
minutes. then one said: Wonderful. Do
I you see? DO You get the artists con-
ception? Look at this deep. dark. foul
water. From the blackness OF sin ami
I the depth Of human sorrow. come, as
the result of love. light and help from
above. a beautiful character Do you
+ see how il IS exprcssed2 The blossoms
which have received the most ight are
larger. whittier and more nearly perfect
+ than the others. while the buds are Just
beginning to openly respond to its in
fiueHce. We may not all believe the
statement they make. mt it is the
T artist 5 thought and he believes it with
his whole heart, and | viii venture &c
say, without knowing the circum-
stances. that these flowers have in some
way been an inspiration to this person,
in days of deep distress II am ready
10 make my choice now" said he.
$50 are we all. think, said another.
An expression was then taken in
writing and the water lilies were unani
mouSly awarded the prize.
The envelope was then opened and
the artists name and address read.
We viii now return to our pleasant
south room.
Ruth was gradually becoming weaker,
vet She auSiously watched the mail for
news Of the judges decision. Vt last,
ii had seemed ages to her. their report
came. and with it congratulations, and
this poem:
- star. on the breast OF the river
/ q marvel OF bloom and grace.
DID son fal straight down from Heaven
Out o. the sweetest place.
You are white as the thought OF an angel
Your heart : stepped in the sun.
DID you grow in the Golden City,
NJ pure aud "a liant one
Nay nay fell not out OF Heaven
None gave me my sanity white;