Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-12
he Drawing From Life.

1t was nearly time for school to close,
and the last class for the day was one in
drawing. Girls, said Miss Day, just
before the bell rang, Il am going to do
something which is quite unusual with me,
and that is, to offer prize
At this every one paid atricter attention.
You see," she went on, you have all
done good work here at school and I want
each one to do something for me at home.
Wait moment (as the bell sounded. 1t
must not be an inanimate object, but some
thing from life, as a cat or dog. And the
drawings must all be handed in by this
time next week.
Naturally, after an announcement like
this, the entire class was filled with the
greatest excitement and met after school
to talk it over. There were great many in
the class who were good artists, and so
the contest promised to be a hot one, es-
pecialy as each one had Individually made
up her mind that she would win the prize.
Il think Miss Day is awfully good, said
Gertrude Adams, ito offer a prize herself.
Why doesn't she let the stingy old trus-
tees pay for it?'
Perhaps she thinks we will take more
interest in it if she makes 1t personal,
answered Nellie Brown. And I'm sure we
all do too
Dear me, 1 don't know what to draw"
said another voice, I'VE haven't single
animal at our house excepting chameleon,
and l don't think lat would be very in
teresting. However, she added to herself,
Il think I'm going to try pretty hard for
that prize
and so it went on, each wondering what
she was to draw, and each feeling sure that
the reward would be hers.
Il wonder what that prize will be- Mel
lie Brown thought as she trudged slowly
home, her books under her arm. We'll,
it's worth trying for, anyhow Guess n
begin this afternoon. Now Nellie, like
r-Ie, bod ont intn
tons but hardly had she got home when
the girls came trooping in and wanted her
to have candy pull, and next day 1t was
just the same, Uncle Tom sent her pair
of skates, and they simply had to be tried
Thus it went on until she had but one
day left, and not a single line had been
drawn. But that Friday afternoon Nellie
came home from school and resoutely sat
down. The first object which met her eye
was the cat, which was curled up on the
sofa, snoozng away to his hearts content
THE very thing" thought Nellie. Hardly
had she finished the ears when who should
the girls were getting up some tableauX
and Nellie simply must come, too. what
mortal could resist this invitation? Certain
ly not Nellie Brown. In a trice her hat and
coat were on. and away she went with the
girls. the neglected drawing floating around
the room until it finally landed in the coal
box.
well, Nellie" said her father that night
at the dinner table, what did you finally
draw for Miss Days class?"
Thomas was nowhere to be found, how
ever. 1t was too dark to draw anything
in the barn; there were no more animals
in the house, and Nellie greatly afraid
that she would have to drop out of the
competition AT that moment however,
when her thoughts were of the gloomiest
her small sister Mildred came running into
the room and announced the fact that she
going to draw picture for the prize.
You! said Nellie, with great scorn.
"Why, l don't believe you could even draw
straight line with the ruler. And any
way, there isn't thing to draw in this
house. l simply can't make Spot lie still,
and that horrid cat is out of doors"
IF make you nice picture" said Mil
dred suddenly looking up into her sisters
cross face. will you give me the prize if
you win it?''
Eyes, gocsie" snapped Nellie
Little Mildred sat down to the table with
out more ado, and commenced decorating
sheet of paper with strange hieroglyphics.
Just at that moment who should walk
out from under the long cover of the table
but the missing Thomas, who yawned and
stretched himself lazily and then jumped
in his little mistress chair. He rested his
paws on the table, carefully watching Mil
dred work.
Don't move. cried Nellie suddenly.
ture? That'n beat Minnie Wheeler's crows
and May behring's four cows all to pieces.
Say, Mildred, can you keep still that way
for a minute? And don't let Tommy get
away, either
Rushing for paper and pencil she seated
herself opposite her two pretty subjects and
was soon hard at work. In a half hour it
was finished. and Nellie went to bed salts
fed with her work.
The next day the drawing hour was slow
in coming and there was not a heart that
did not flutter when Miss Day said:
"Girls, l was very much pleased with
all your efforts. Of course some were much
better than others, but they all showed
careful work and study and great promise
After great deal of thought and delibera-
ton 1 have decided to whom to award the
prize and I hope that there will be no
feeling the part of the others about my
decision. Nellie Brown, please stand up"
Blushing and feeling very awkward, Mel
lie reached Miss Days desk and took from
her package which was tied up in mys
FERROUS manner. The girls crowded around
her as she united it and great We're the
cries of admiration when she drew out a
beautiful paint box.
Miss Day. that's perfectly lovely" she
exclaimed over and over again. Il can't
thank you half enough"
Three cheers for Nellie Brown" cried
generous little May Deering, and they
were given with will.
I've won the prize" shrieked Nellie
rushing into the house after school, and in
q minute her mother and Mildred were ex-
amining the paint box.
'Oh, Nellie. I'm so pleased.' cried Mil
dred dancing around on one foot. I never
had paint box before"
Your cried Nellie. And may 1 ask
why, pray?'
Nellie remembered her rash words too
late. Was it possible then. that she must
give up those lovely colors. Mildred was
already sobbing and Nellie was not far
from tears when Mrs. Brown, the peace
maker, interposed
Now, children she said, here you are
both acting like babies over trihing thing
Why not keep the box on the stting-room
shelf and use it together whenever you
want 1t? Now that's perfectly fair, isn't
it?"
Both children agreed. The great discus
sion settled and many were the gay
colored pictures that each painted from the
hard-earned paint box.
The Two Kings.