The morning times., 1895-12-29
Nature and Art.


blue and sllimmsring silver, and the sun Just
disappearing from sight sent out long shafts
of dazzling golden light.
To her right waved fed after field of
billowjng grain in all the tones of green,
from the tenderest tint to the yellow green
of the grain almost ready for harvest On
the left a garden of old fashioned roses
scattered their scented petals on the Ia ROW
paths, filling the air with their heavy per
fume.
poet or painter would have drunk in
the scene with eager delight and drawIi in
spiration from its exquisite beauty, but
Esther looked at it with unseeing eyes. She
had a lovely face, hut its pretty features
were marFed by thn expression of discomfort
which gave a downward drcop to the
q. IrmiTg red lips and dulled the light or
her expressive dark eyes
Il cannot bear il any longer" she muir
rnIred aloud. with nothing to see and
nene to talk 10 VIM can understand my
aspirations al desires IL is cruel! cruell''
and the tears Began to fall IS she uttered
the last word, which was echoed by some
one who had come behind her uunoticed.
Cruel, Esther, what is cruel, chlld?
Everything. Uncle Andrew, every
thing. / am So tired of my dull HE. of
dning the sane things day after day, OF
seeing The same people and hearing them
say the same things over and over
Tired OF everybody. Esther? or your
old Uncle. too?"
Tue pathetic note in the old farmers
voice pierced through the mantle of self
pity with which she had enveloped her
self. and Esther turned hastily and threw
her arms around his wrinkled neck.
You dear old uncle, how could any
one tire Of you? But Oh. you do not know
how long for change. for breath of
city air"
Il suspect. my dear, you wouldn't be
able to find coed lung full of pure, fresh
air in the whole city" he interrupted,
with a gentle smile.
Then there are the art exhibition and the
grand concerts Elauor Rogers has written
me 50 much about. l believe If could only
See and hear them | would be transported
to paradise"
"If I thought there was any danger of that
happening, Essie, I'd say no decidedly at
the start. But If yOu think you can 90 and
take in all those grand things and still stay
on earth-why. then say go, enjoy visit
with Miss Eianor and come back home re-
freShed ard contcated. And, after all, my
girl, you will lind there are many worse
places thanthe ho.nely Old farm
do you really mean it? Can go? You
dear, kiud, old cariingt' she cried, raptur-
ously, and, stopping uaiyto give him great
hug, she ran into the house to write to
Elauor Rogers, accepting the invitation,
WHOSE dTTlNdl lIial Odg CdusGti tfle Cul-
mination of mouths OF discomfort.
Elanor WASH bright, generous heartedNew
York girl, who had spent the early part OF
the SUMMER al In adjoining farmhouse and
had taken a great fancy TO Esther, W no was
intelligent and interesting. Elanor had in
viicd her 10 make her u months visit As
1t was the concert season and celebrated
collection OF pictures were to he on exhibit
tion, Esther felt that at last her lcugngs
for the beautiful would be realized.
Her natural dignity ard freedom fromself-
consciousness saved her from feeling out of
place IN the home OF wealth and among the
peopleshe met and she gave herselfup wholly
to the enjoyment Of city life.
Soon she had Il number of admirers for
her beauty was OF an uncommon type and
her manner, under the stimulus of the con-
slant Whrl OF excitement, was bright and
vi|acious. But somehow the young men
whom she met seemed very much alike
and none realized her ideal of manhood
until she met Harland Porter, young
lawyer. Although classed as a society ma IN.
he had an earnestness of purpose and depth
of feeling which distinguished him from
those he mingled with. Their irienship
made rapid strides, and they were together
Il great deal to their mutual satisfaction.
One afternoon he accompanied her to the
exhibition of pictures, and rs they wandered
through the different rooms, stopping to
paused with a cry OF admiration before a
sunset scene done by IL notedartist.
How perfectly beautifulr' she exclaimed.
Beautiful. yes, and as perfect no DOUBT
as the brush OF man can reproduce But
how happy you must be, Miss Esther in
Hfing in the free, open country, ere. al
hnost any evening, you can see The grand
SfsHinal of this rainfing-tte work Of the
Great Artist Himselfr'
Ekther looked at him in astonishment,
Sbcn, pOnderiEg on lis words, blushed TO
R1Set how she had overlooked or scorned
DC ksauties which surrounded her at homa
3I6 next picture was that of HttIe blue
WED maid, standing in q field of great white
NStes, and as she stood before il another
sf4Hf1re rose before her eyes-the daisy
HSAdeN on the old farm, which had never
BaqAd her as this little copy of II hit
nks 1t,
= ancs eroGsed, Esther found picture after
rfctIre, representations of familiar country
Acenees which. transferred TO canvas ras-
sssssd , hundrcd-fold attraction for er
esef sae4r originals, which all her life lad
Gpfsnd their glory and grandeur before
her 5rkecing eyes.
. Thai Nigh she went with Mr.. Porter to
3 ausfc recital. at which some of the
worlds best talent assisted. The grand
tones of the instruments and the rich. cul-
tivated voices of the singers moved her
profoundly. and she tried TO voice her feel
ines to her compa nion.
With n faint smile he said. you viii
perhaps think me unapprecia;ive and uu-
cultured. Miss Esther. when 1 say that,
fine this music is. l have heard what | |
consider far finer"
''No doubt" assen,ed Esther. You
have had opportunities of hearing the
greatest musicians in the world. / assure |
you, ] envy you deeply"
WHY, Miss Esther, the grandeSt oncert |
ever attended was down in the woods of |
your native State. | rose very early one |
morning, and. going ont in the woods, round |
myself in the midst of the sublimcSt re- |
hearsai had ever heard. First one Wild |
bird took up strain and sung as e it |
would pour out its little heart in song, then |
another took it up and another. until the |
whole woods re-echoed with the chorus, in |
which there was not . single noteof discord. |
But YOU too, must have enjoyed similar |
concerts, Miss Esther. What Joy Il ccun- |
try life must be. crowded SO full with count |
less beauties that delight the sensesr'
Turning impulsively to her friend, Esther |
replied: "Mr. Porter, you cannot guess |
howblindand deaflhave been TO thewonder-
ful treasures that were freely mine nor |
how foolish and disconteuted felt because |
could not have what deemed more valua- |
bic, but you have opened my eyes and ears
and L do not believe Will ever be deaf or
blind 10 natures beautiful gifts again.'
Esther returned to the cid farm far hap
pier than when she left it, for, thanks to |
Harland Porter, nature was no longer a |
blank to her, but an open book whose pages
were crowded with countless gems
The young lawyer was a good tea cher
but after all he destroyed the effect of his
teachings for after spending his vacation
near the Groves farm the following summer
he took Esther as his bride to live in the
great, walled in city.