The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-09-15
Unfinished Pictures.

I had laid myself down to rest, and
as I closed my eyes my mind wan
dered back to the.-words I had been
reading in the Bible a few moments
before. about the great reiner. I
remembered also, the process of re-
fning silver, how the metal was con-
sidered unfinished until it reflected
the refner's image.
Thus thinking I fell asleep, and
was led into "dreamland," where I
thought myself in a studio. 1 looked
around, wondering, for it did not
seem like anything I had ever seen
before. There were many. easels
standing about, holding unfinished
pictures; and pieces of canvas, with
simple outlines, were resting against
the wall on all sides of the room just
leaving a corner, where an old man
with silvery hair and softened fea-
lures sat slowly painting. In a few
moments I noticed that he stopped
and put aside his brush and palette,
when only the very last touch seemed
wanting to complete his labor.
1 was puzzled with the scene be-
fore me; and, eager to have it ex-
planned, I said: "Sir, will you tell
me why there are 10 many pictures
unfinished, and what all these out
lines are for?"
He replied, II am the artist of the
King of kings, and He bids me paint
the pictures Of His children. I can
only paint them as they grow like
Him in their character, and, alas! 1t
Is very slow work. Sometimes there
are years in which I cannot touch a
picture already begun, for the char
acters do not grow, they are ever
asleep. Others grow quite rapidly
and suddenly stop, as If they were
wearied, and so the pictures must re-
main as I left them. The outlines
that you see are those who bear our
Lords name, but have shown
any likeness to Him, and 1 am watch
ing each day, hoping to fill them in"
I thought to myself, is there q
picture here for me, or am I one OF
those simple outlines? but I will ask,
Tor I ought to know where I stand.
So trembling, I said:"Is there any
thing here for me?"
The artist moved to a corner I had
! net noticed, and drew from 1t a pic
ture Just commenced. There was
something more than. an outline, and
there were touches that looked quite
fresh, rs if they had been put on late
ly. I looked at it with eyes scarce
! able to distinguish, they were so full
of tears, as / saw how little was
painted; and yet, hardly expecting
anything. I vas glad and grateful.
The old man seemed touched by
my emotion and said to me, You
have been growing more this last
year; you have been working for
| others as our Lord commanded.
Many times you have not pleased
yourself, and we are told In holy
Scripture that that was part of our
saviour's life; for He pleased not
Himself Take courage! and let me-
paint diligently. When you become
like unto Him, the picture Will be
lone"
Then I understood why there
we're so many unfinished portraits
In this quaint old studio. and why
the dear, gray-haired artist stopped
lust as his work seemed completed.
It was because our Lords disciples
stopped in the way of their duty.
And with these thoughts I awoke
from my strange dream.
But I felt as If I had looked be-
yond the veil. The studio and its
uncompleted pictures and bare out
lines. were all plain before me; the
gentle face and touching tones OF
the artist were with me, too, all were
stamped on my memory The par.
tial picture of myself I felt I could
never forget, and yet I was humbly
thankful that it was not a simple
outline. 1t had begun to be some
thing.
Let Us not be content until we are
full pictures of Him who paints our
everyday lives" Let us not be weary
and pause in our duty, but. with HIS
grace, go steadily, lovingly on until
The last touch is added to the can
vas, when it will leave the studio OF
earth for the walls Of Heaven
lions Waterman.