Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-12-28
"W1LBuR WHILE

at was just one day before Grand-
pas birthday" began Grandma, when
Harry and Jane had placed a stool
for her feet and stretched themselves
out on the rug before the fireplace
ready for their evening story. After
the harm was done, of course, it was
too late to undo it,
"What was it?" asked Harry.
"a picture" replied Grandma, laugh
ing, for she liked to keep the children
wondering about what her story, was
going to be. "And two days after
Grandpa's birthday we were going to
move away from our Massachusetts,
home and come out here to Iowa.
Your papa was little boy then about
nine years old. From one side of the
house two rows of tall syringa bushes
formed a long arbor. When you stood
at the end Of the arbor and looked
toward the house 1t seemed as though
you were looking through huge tele-
scope. 1t made very beautiful pic
ture, especially when the bushes were
loaded with fragrant white blossoms.
Grandpa used to go there often to
read. Mother he said to me one day
when we were getting ready to move.
II / could take picture of the house
as you see it from the end of the
syringa arbor would be content to
leave the old place.
His sister, your Great-aunt Julia.
heard him say this. Now Sour Aunt
Julia was an artist and could paint
beautiful pictures as you know"
81 member the one she painted of
big white kitty" interrupted little
Jane.
"Yes," continued Grandma, $50 Aunt
Julia decided to paint Grandpa a pic
ture of the old house from the end
Of the arbor, as surprise for his
birthday. Every day when Grandpa
went to town she set her easel at the
end of the arbor. She brought her
paints and brushes. and the canvas
on which the picture was being paint
ed. Then she would work very hard
until 1t was time for Grandpa to come
home. Then the painting was hur-
ried out of sight.
Wilbur, your own papa, as I said
before, was about nine years old. OF
course, he was very much interested
in the picture. Every day he and his
sister Margaret would go down to
watch Aunt Julia. Now. Wilbur was
a good little boy except that, just like
Harry here, he wanted to have his
own way. When he made up his mind
to do anything he would stamp his
little foot and say Wilbur will and
1t used to be very hard work some
times to teach him that he couldn't.
But the day before Grandpa's birthday
he said Wilbur will for the last time
in his life. think.
"That morning Aunt Julia was very
busy trying to finish the picture. 1t
was almost done and looked very
beautiful. While she was working
come one called to see her. She lefs
her work and hurried into the house,
leaving Wilbur and Margaret sitting
on the ground.
at want to help, said Wilbur sud
denly. oh, no, you mustn't, you
would spoil it, said Margaret. Won't
spoil it, replied the naughty boy, I
want to paint white syringa bios
som on the BUSH
No. no. no, Wilbur you mustn't
cried Margaret, trying to keep him
from the easel. Wilbur will" he
shouted, pushing her aside.
"Climbing up onto the chair, he
picked up paint brush, and looked
up the long arbor just as he had seep
Aunt Julia do. Margaret stood by the
easel moment, then seeing that Will
bur was determined to paint she rush
ed off towards the house calling for
me. In his haste to paint blossom
before any one returned. Wilbur dip
ped his brush into the black instead
of the white paint. He made mark
on the canvas and saw his mistake.
Frightened at what he had done his
hand slipped and the brush made a
long black mark across the picture.
Eyes, we showed the picture to
Grandpa, or rather Wilbur showed it
to him himself, and told him the whole
story. Grandpa had long talk with
Wilbur about controlling his temper
and yielding to the wishes of older
people. and gave Wilbur the picture
he had spoiled to help him remember"
While Grandma had been telling
her story, Harry's and James father
had slipped into the room unobserv-
ed. He went quietly out now and in
a few moments returned with some.
thing carefully done up in newspaper
under his arm. Sitting down between
the two children he carefully un.