The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-12-06

seemed to receive the larger share
of our visitors attention. Some of
Eleonore's more intimate friends
asked her why she had hung such n
very large" picture III our small
drawing room Some who con
sidered it impolite to make such re-
marks maintained discreet silence,
while those who thought it good
form to talk about pictures and to
pretend a familiarity with art would
inquire if that large painting was
the work of Munich artist or re-
mark that it reminded them of some
thing similar which they had seen
in Dresden--or somewhere
Now, there was no one in our vii
lage who was as familiar with really
good pictures as myself When any
of my neighbors wanted to buy Il
painting or engraving, he first con
suited me- Consequently the fact
that l had the "Prodigal Son" hang
ing on my wall was sufficient to CON
vince even those of our friends who
really thought the picture an abom-
Unable daub that there must be
something in it, and they exerted
themselves manfully to discover this
something
How very natural those swine
are ~ one would say.
Just see what brilliant coloring
in those clouds, another.
How repentant the prodigal
looks" third would remark, with
the air of a connoisseur.
However, after everybody had
called and had been called ON in re-
turn there came a season of compar-
alive peace, during which Eleonore
went to pay two days visit to an
old school friend.
During her absence l had the up
holsterer and two of his men come
and remove the prodigals into the
dining room, and when Aunt Caro-
line on her next visit missed the pic
ture from it's accustomed place she
seemed quite downhearted. l, how
ever boldly declared that the light
in the dining room was much better,
and that the Observation-Disclosures
more suitable for dining room than
a drawing room.
Now, thought with self gratula-
tory feeling, Eleonore can receive
her callers in comfort.
But l reckoned without my prodi-
gals.
Although the picture gave us less
ann oyance i'll its present position,
we did not become reconciled to it.
Far from it. But as sat with my
back toward it during meals, and
Eleonore had onlya side view, it was
not so constantly obvious as it had
been, and when the warm weather
came we covered it with gauze-on
account of the flies.
1t happened that the distinguished
| botanist, DR.. S., visited our town
about the holidays.
There were no flies at that time.
Our guest was most amiable man,
and the friends whom we had invit-
ed to dine with him did their best to
entertain him.
During the soup he related high
ly amusing adventure he had had i'll
Egypt. When Rika removed his plate,
he looked up-the prodigals were
directly opposite him--and well bred
though he was he could not help
look Of wondering surprise at sight
of such travesty on art.
A few days later Eleonore went to
visit her mother, and while she was
gone | again sent for the upholsterer
and his men and had the picture re-
moved to my study To do this l
was obliged to take down about 200
books together with the shelves,
The light here was eXecrable, but
that did not matter | placed my
lesk so that my back was toward it
End commended my visitors of taste
TO the mercy of their good angels.
On New Years day Aunt Caroline
dined with us, and you may imagine
her surprise, when, seated in the
chair DR.. s. had occupied, she
looked up and found the picture
gone. She did not say word how
ever.
I'VE hung your picture-your
lovely picture, dear aunt--in my
study" | answered casually, adding
in my desperation, Il intend to ex-
hibit it to my Sunday class"
The dear soul did not say any
thing, nor was she offended, but she
appeared so melancholy that l was
conscience stricken. Before | went
to bed | tried to make amends for
the detestable story had told Aunt
Caroline. | wrote to a friend of
mine and invited him to bring his
Sunday class on the following Thurs
day evening and drink tea with us.
The invitation was accepted.
received my friend and his schol-
ars in the drawing room. | asked
the little fellows all sorts of ques-
ton about their studies, and Eleo-
more showed them our photographs.
At last came the welcome summons