The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-03-24


Of the cottage was an artist, and a very
humble one in point OF ability, WIN
struggled industrlously TO obtain fOot
for those four young mouths, like 8
parent bird presiding over a nest o
hedglings.
The oldest OF these children was SEN
TO school at the time we refer TO, prov
ing an exceedingly intelligent pupil
but with such an irresistible propensity
for mischief Of all sorts that she abso
lutely came to be called Mademoisellt
Mischief.
She was a good hearted child, but ye,
a perfect little imp whose roguery got
her constantly into difficulty.
One very reprehensble trick Of the
| young girl was the propensity. which
seemed perfectly natural to her for
drawing caricatures OF the schoOlnils-
tress and others, especially Of all her
young companions, which, being done
with admirable likenesses, possessed
just enough merit to make the satire
very keen and sometimes bitterly felt.
Miss Nchief was also wonderfully
expert with the scissors, cutting out
pictures from black paper, and was also
very sklllful in carving wood with her
penknife. Another trick 10 which she
was addicted was that OF producing
from bread crumbs absurd lkenesses
Of her teacher and such professors as
visited the school where she belonged.
The roguish little creature gave her
sChoolmiStress an infinite amount Of
trouble and there is no use In disguis-
ing the fact that she was almost daily
laid across the mistress lap and sound.
ly punished. Still IL was impossible
to break her exuberant spirit, and she
went on with her caricatures, mingled
with pictures OF animals and trees.
At last it seemed as though the good
schoolmlstress was in despair. She
knew not how to punish her so as to
have the proper effect She was tired
Of correcting" and finally appealed to
the child herself:
What shall | do with your
81 don't know"
81 do not wish 60 whip YOU"
"Pleasc don't" she said
what can do to make you behave
betterY
Lock me up" said Miss Mischief,
Frightening up as though a capital idea
had struck her.
81 will try it," said the mistress.
So the little girl was conducted to the
coal cellar, where she was duly imprs-
oned. But, alas, when her mistress
went To release her she found that the
incorrigible child had covered the walls
OF the cellar with really cxccuent por-
traits of n cat. i'm all conceivable pos
lures, which had happened to be her
fellow prisoner. The mistress could
not find it in her heart TO be harsh on
the occasion, for it was impossible not
TO recognize the excellence of the hast
lily executed drawings.
It seemed to be impossible to curb
her young spirits, or to keep her within
the bounds positively required 10y the
school discipline. and she was finally
sent home and told that she must not
return again. Her father, at his child's
earnest request, never sent her to
school again, but, seeing upon what her
heart was bent, he set himself to teach
ing her drawing. She in the meantime
taught herself modelling, and executed
n number Of clever designs OF animals
and human figures, which she sold for
whatever she could get upon the boule-
wards.
The child was encouraged by even
this trlning success, and set herself in.
dustriously 10 work painting her
fathers domestic animals, consisting OF
n large dog, a cat and an owl. These
pictures were so well done that she
found a purchaser for the three, who
gave her hundred francs for them
a small fortune to her youthful mag
ination. These pet animals were re-
produced, each time being better and
better represented, Hntl she got a hun.
dred francs for each. Then she COM
bined the three pets In one picture
showing taste for grouping that
would have done credit TO much older
artist, and these pictures sold as fast
Us sue HHlsheu iucul, MISS MISCHIEF
was improving daily, and no one real.
lied the fact more clearly than her
father, who offered her all the instruc-
tion he was able 10 give her. and aided
her in seeking further opportunity for
developing the genius which was in
her.
He took her often 10 the Louvre
where she could see the gra1dest works
OF the old masters and historical paint
ings which fred her imagination and
fascinated her eye But her taste and
genius had been erratic from the out
set. II was not IN the splendid halls OF
the Louvre that she sought 20 study
her art but ont OF doors. She was
always at home with nature. and loved
10 sketch among the fields. the flowers
and the domestic animals. She watched
the farmers In the fields, and the oxen
at work. the horses on the bouleyards.
and purchased n lamb which ran about
with her from morning until night. and
which she painted and sold, on canvas,
ffty times.
All this while the young schoolgirl
was developing into the young woman
a.