Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-06

NH VNHDFA an artist of some
W1d h6 NANn II ability, painting
VIZ $#T' very beautifully on
fR 82 ~ china and porce-
lain. When Eunice
first arrived at her aunt's home she lear
ed she would find the time hanging very
heavily on her hands. for there were no
young folks in the family and Mrs.
James-Eunice Aunt Mary-was very
busy woman, overlooking her household
and superintending the work in the
flower garden, thus having little time to
devote to the entertainment of her young
niece from the city. And during her
spare hours Mrs. James painted on some
bit Of choice china or porcelain
Now my dear Eunice,' said MIS-.
James on the day of Eunices arrival,
Il shall ask you to make yoursel1 AT
home. going about the house and grounds
at your own sweet will, giving orders IN
the kitchen for any particular dish you
are fond of; in short, L am throwing
you on your own reconnaissance at meal
time-for your entertainment the IL
brary is well filled with the best OF BOOKS
and magazines. If you tire of rambling
about the, grounds or resting idly on the
porch, or become weary OF reading. there
is the skiff on the river In Whch YOU
may have a nice row.
s"Thank YOU. auntie,'' said Eunice,
gratefully. 1T is so good OF you 10 ASK
me here for the hot summer vacation,
and l fully appreciate it. would Truly De
an migrate to not feel the deepest grat.
tude to both uncle and you, and real
bother to you both were | to look to you
for especial entertainment. | want you
to go right on with your regular work,
allowing me to make no interference at
30 h hiS
all. l am only too happy 10 nave .i,s
opportunity to rest in the country and TO
be guest of you and dear uncle
And while Eunite was perfectly sincere
in all she said. and loved her kind uncle
and aunt deeply. she at first feared
she'd miss the young companionship OF
school comrades she had enjoyed in the
city. But she was grateful nevertheless
for the hospitality Of her relatives. and
appreciated every kindness thew offered
her.
One day, soon after arriving in the
country, Eunice tired of reading in the
library, and went in quest of her aunt
to ask about the best place on the river
to go rowing. She found Mrs. James
in her studio-a great unfinished room
under the roof-busily engaged in deco
rating a huge porcelain vase. study
Of full-blown red roses, shaded off to
half-blown pink ones, and lastly, In the
background, to dainty buds OF the palest
yellow stood before the painter. She was
beginning to copy the design on the vase.
"Oh, how beautiful" exclaimed Eunice.
Isn't it fascinating work-paintins on
china and porcelain? How 1 should love
to know how to do it,!
Aunt Mary looked up from her work
Would you, really, my DEAR" she
asked.
"Oh, yes, aunte'' declared Eunice
eagerly. II have always wanted to paint
china. 1 love color. But, you know, papa
has not felt able to pay for painting les
sons for me. l have drawing lessons at
school, as you know. But l should love
to use color.
why shouldn't you have few lessons
in painting while here" asked Mrs
James. "if you feel that you care to
study during your vacation-why, shall
be only too happy to instruct you in
china painting 1 thought. though, when
your father wrote asking me to take
you for the summer that you would want
a real rest-nothing to tax your mind or
body. You have been studying so hard
during the past three years-ever since
you entered high-that it seems you de-
serve long. unbroken vacation. That
is the reason I have not invited you to
share my studio and my work with me-
/ wanted you to feel that you had moth
ing to do but to rest and to enjoy every
minute of it,.
oh, auntie, il l might come in. and
have some instructions in painting, how
happy 1 should be-" said Eunice. Paint
ing is not work, you know. Why, Just
watching you would teach me so much.
| don't want to bother you, though. AND
giving me lessons would be bothering."
Not at ALL DEAR said Mrs. James.
ION the contrary. L should love to have
you here with me. The lessons Will be
valuable to both teacher and pupil. Do
YOU want to begin this morning.
oh, YES auntie," cried Eunice. And
within ten minutes she was seated beside
her aunt, taking her first lesson in china
painting She was clever with the draw
ing pencil, and that was great help. for
she could draw her own designs very
nicely, without transferring them. And
she had a splendid and practiced eye for
light and shade, and could see color,
as Aunt Mary put it.
And SO the summer days wore on,
Eunice taking a china painting lesson
every morning. Her aunt had several
fine orders to fill during the summer, for
her fame as an artist had spread
the country, and she was able
to turn her talent to financial account.
one tall rose vase was ordered, and on
it Mrs. James was going to put her very
best WORK. she was TO receive so 1Of
the vase when complete, and the lady
who had ordered it wanted it on the
18th day of August, the anniversary
wedding day of a friend to whom she
was going to present the beautiful piece
of art.
The vase had received its first firing,
following the first painting, when Mrs.
James was taken quite i'll. She hoped to
be up within a few days, however, and
did not worry about the completion of
the vase There are still two firings,'
she explained to Eunice The second
painting will be the most particular, for
the coiors after that must be just right.
The finishing up is merely the raised
work and gold and retouching the strong
est colors to strengthen them for the
last firing | can get it all done within
three days after resuming work.
But Mrs James did not recover as rap
idly as she had hoped, and when the
tenth day of August rolled around she
was still confined to her bed, unable to
do any work on the vase. Eunice was
SO worried over the delay in the work
that on that day she went to the studio
and examined the vase. She knew just
what had to be done in completion OF
the beautiful piece Of china, and felt SO
confident of her own ability with the
brushes and colors that she determined
to go ahead with the painting. 1t SEEM
ed a pity for her aunt to lose the money
and also such a disappointment to the
4 Ch