The sea coast echo., 1905-02-11
"WlLBUR WILL"

1T 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, 1t 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
aine years old. From ono side of the
house two rows Of tall syringa bushes
formed long arbor. When YOU stood
at the end of the arbor and looked
toward the house K K seemed aS though
you were looking through huge tele-
scope. 1t made q very beautiful pic
ture, especially when the bushes were
loaded with fragrant white blossoms.
Grandpa used to 20 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 1t 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 your Aunt
Julia was an artist and could paint
beautiful pictures as you know"
II member the one she painted of
big white kitty" interrupted little
Jane.
"Yes," continued Grandma, $50 Aunt
Julia decided to paint Grandpa o pic
turs Of the old house from the end
VI the arbor. as a 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
cd. Then she would work very hard
until II was time for Grandpa to come
home. Then the painting was hur-
risd out Of sight.
wilbur, your own papa, as l 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
It 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 VIII 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
ZONE one called to see her. She left
her work and hurried into the house
leaying Wilbur and Margaret sitting
on the ground.
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, j
want to paint a white syringa bios.
som on the BUSH
No, no, no, Wilbur, you mustn't. :
cried Margaret, trying to keen him
from the easel. Wilbur will" he
shouted, pushing her aside.
Climbing up onto the chair. he
picked up a paint brush, and looked
up the long arbor just as he had seen
Aunt Julia do. Margaret stood BY the
easel moment, then Seeing that vii.
bur was determined to paint she rush.
ed on towards the house calling for
me. In his haste to paint q blossom
before any one returned, Wilbur din
ped his brush into the black instead
OF the white paint. He mads a mark
on the canvas and saw his mistake
frightened at what he had done his
hand slipped and the brnsh made n
Ions black mark across the pfntura
Yes, We showed shs picture .c