Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-25

k&1%iA w quietly when we are
EzzT1A M, engaged on our daily
GAA MiNN work and thinking least
;ESJ<V4<1s< about them. So, at any
~Al[G rate. it waswith Charlie
SY-isy.s There was nothing to mark this day
fras scy oth=r day. He arose at hrs usual
time, S2i Nfs breakfast Of bread and (whst a
saan vf,Asut 3 cesscience sold for)'butter, took
hts aas,ks b hs hst and set out for his studio.
CARTE sodsseYs studio was large and airy,
ead, sros7: On feggy days, well lighted. and he
pad "a. vent for it, He had tried two or three,
N Wy similar, but he had never been 50 wei
sAtfsaed with any as with his Iatest. II was in q
not too-sashionable neighborhood. and there
was blank wall behind IL, against which he
oou.d lean his back when he was tired Of work,
tEere was plenty Of traffic, and the paving
stones were nice and square, and. having been
recently laid down, were quite srlooth-a great
s4v1ataze Charlie was particular about these
details, for he an artist AT heart, and to the
true artist the means are never insignificant.
being sancnfied by the end which they help
him TO attain.
Mr.. Sprigget set to work with very good
heart. The tardy spring seemed to have come,
for At last there was fine day. The nipping east
wind was temporarily lulled and there was that
subtle fragrance IN the air which penetrates to
the brain and rouses even in the least imagina-
u u
Charlie, as it were. instinetively selected his
light colors especially frem the greens and
blues, and, kneeling on the pavement, gave
score 10 the creative faculty which is to the
artist his tyrant and his slave. Charlie. il he
belonged TO any special school. might be claimed
b. the impressionists; he had an idea to convey
and he did so in a method satisfactory 20 his
own mind, 1t being matter of Indifference to
him il the result we're uninteligible to others.
A few strokes and some ju6icious rubbing with
Ii
thing resembling several .sseins of green wool
hopeiessly eEtaagled. But Charlie saw as 1t
were grove OF trees in full foliage, and the
birds were singing in the branches and the
leaves were lifted by the breeze. and the ground
beneath feckcd with sunlight and with
shadow; then a liberal band OF blue, rubbed
With the coat sleeve to smoothness and equality,
few touches OF white. and in the middle a fowl
well nigh as lsrge the largest tree, with wings
outspreaG and open beak-and Charlie had rep
resented the great o'erleaning sky, with the
Eghtest OF heecy clouds, and the lark which had
scared above the earth, giving forth flood of
rapture such rs never poet knew.
III others did not see all Charlie meant, he
thoU ght. a. We all think when men are blind to
our intentions, that their sight darkened.
So he drew for an hour. and when he had pro-
duced i've pictures his soul was eased, and he
was content and ready to sit with his back
against the wall and the soles of his ragged
boots exposed; but first he drew a circle in yell
low chalk and printed in irregular letters:
-'GIv AND 1T SHALL. BE GIVEN UNTO YOU"
He generally put a eopy-book maxim or a
quotation from Scripture. occasionally incor-
rect. for the passengers spiritual and his own
peerniary benefit.
HIS labors had not been unnoticed. Many of
the passers by stopped little while to watch
him; but IN a merely desultory manner. and no
one thought Of paving for this private view.
Indeed. Charles profession was not particu-
larry remunerative. But then his expenses were
hight and many of his chalks had been given
him by brother artist. who had discovered
that he was unsuited to sedentary life and
had, therefore. gone for e sandwich man. But
scarcely had Mr.. Sprigget settled himself, with
SPECIAL care as to the greater prominence of the
nigh leg. the trOuser of which seemed designed
As patent yentlator. when no: halfpenny
was slipped into his hand. ard. looking up, he
me. pair OF gray, long-lashed, friendly eyes.
which seemed 10 send thrill to his very heart
The owner of the ewes girl of about
seventeen. with freekled. honest face such
beautiful mouth that it would have been a pity
had there been less of it, as the hypercritical
might have desired, ard quantity Of brown.
untidy hair, which the apology for bonnet
scarcely served TO hide. She was very poorly
dresed in brown hnsey gown, plentifully
garnished with maDy-cOlo-ed patches. and
across her shoulders WIS thrown a fragment of
PAISLEY shawl Very few PEOPLE of the stage
look picturesque in such common attire, but
Belinda might have been coveted as a model BY
grtater artist than Charlie Sprigget.
"Oh, say now" Said Charlie, turning over
the hslfpenny uneasily, amt you a robin of
yerse.f. nliss?'
Not at ALL replied Belinda, with dignity.
'Seems to me them as looks ought to pay and
I'm Uncommon fond of picturs am"
are you. now?' said Charlie. Then, for
getting his elaborate preparation for arousing
the public pity, he sprang up. ''P'r'aps you'd
lot ma Ehfatr NNri md he
amt got no caterlCgue, yer see."
There was nothing IN Mr.. Sprigget's manner
TO waIch TO take exception and Belinda, who
knew no law OF etiquette but that which was
dictated by the kindliness of her nature, fell in
willingly with his suggestion. Thew accord
ingiy stood together smiling he at his own
small joke and because Belinda was smiling,
she because she was happy and the sun shone
This here" said Mr.. Sprigget. with a wave
OF ms night arm, is IA scene representing the
country. that there with the horns is a deer
brovsfn on the grass, and that other is a bull
anlSh the fence, and them black things in the
hair i birds flynn, and them sort O. stars in the
grass is daisies"
Il amt never been in the country" said
Belinda, but il DO seem as natral as life
h Sp-lGget- who vas perhaps not "a little
eoncsited, nodded approval Of this criticism.
We been there. trampin, ;" he said. II like
It for a b1t-its all sort o. peaceful and Won
feels IKE as II things was easier than they is,
hu0 mere > thoughts come TO Won. purelike."
Il d Ike 10 50 there" said Belinda And
what's this one?'
Why, that's a country scene too, that is.
Not quite SO much life in ii as t'other one
4 hat like n forest or something all trees close
toge her, biz like Kensington GardingsLI
reckon you've bin there?''
Maybe. / don't recolleck / amt never
bin out o London as ! knows on But NAV
have been taken when was little
Charlie was amazed at her ignorance. and vet
1t dit not misbecome her.
"Eensington is In London" he said: "but
LONDON Is a big place, and it ain TITO be ex-
pected you know II all Wull and there. Won
see, above the forest is q bird a singin' oh.
they 90 sing in the country somethin' like. A
penn whistle amt in ia
And who's that gentleman inquired
Belinda, indicating q stady in black and white
OF q being with legs far apart. both arms ex-
tended and neck made specially long to ao-
connnodate "a vast collar.
That's pollytieal," said Charlie
'FNho?"
"Sir. Gladstone-him as cuts trees with
all"
".Ses, think I've heerd his name There's a
boy "a our court sings comic songs wonderful
and | think that name come in one. Do YOU