Year: 1870

kind admiring glance was directed at its


contents as Mrs. f. and l walked out in


the afternoon, when it became too dark to


paint Then there was well worn dress


half ripped up, that my wife's nimble


fingers were doubtless engaged in turning


and trimming so as to look respectfully


nice when household matters took her


into the street; and lastly, pair of little


CATERS what is there in the whole range


of a lady's dress, that, looked at when


tasclnates masculine eyes as 8 well-shaped
little boot or gaiter? Creases of use and


marks of wear only add interest to the
sight, and are, so to speak, the finishing
touches to the picture, only that, in this
instance, the picture belonging to Mrs.
Flakewhite had been finishing" too
much.


I replaced these several articles on the
chair as found them, and turning with a
sigh into my studio, soon forgot my
trouble and found relief in work. Whether
the sight of the objects Of my wife's un-


complaining labor had nerved my hand


to unusual efforts, or whether had
CHANGED upon peculiarly fortunate mo-


ment for work, I cannot say, but this
much know, difficulties of drawing that
had perplexed and hindered me for week,


vanished under the strokes of my happy
pencil this morning. l touched on little
patches of color that astonished and





tints of great delicacy and difficulty
placed themselves, as it were, by some
magical power not my own, in just the
right place, while deep shadows flowed
boldly from my brush and increased the
effect of all the rest


Not long after hasty breakfast on my
part, Mrs. Flakewhite came into my
| studio, dressed to go out-wearing the
same brown hat with the pearl-colored
ribbon, last years style, that had affected
| me so unpleasantly few hours before.
for her habitual good-by kiss, and threw
into my greeting of her more than usual
heartiness and tenderness, from feeling
much goodness and loveliness to disfgure
| itself with such bonnet.


Goodbye, John, dear; / am so glad
YOU are painting so well this morning.,
| said she "we shall soon see somebody's
name well known in this city, and we
shall be selling all we can paint, and shall
| have to double and quadruple our prices,
| and have offers of orders to any amount,
and we shall have alarge handsome studio,
with real north light, and q window so
! tall we shall have to go up on ladder to
| open it, and we shall have a nice thick
| overcoat every winter If we like, and we
shall go into the country every summer
sketching, with our little wife to read to
us while we paint, and we shall grow
great and good and /
could not listen another instant to her
happy story, and throwing down pallet
| and brushes my arms closed around her
with bear like hug, and / stopped her
laughing rosy mouth with decorating
kiss that could have been heard a block
away, and then making her look nae
straight in the eyes, I carefully whispered,
Mary, please God, y4k shaH be q true
prophetf and If what YOU. have said ever
[ does como true. it will be greatly owing
to the cheerful help OF my own dear, true
hearted wife


"John," said she, looking through the
half closed door, "I am going to get lamb
chops with sweet potatoes for dinner" and
/ listened while she merrily sang herself
down stairs, nor moved until heard the
front door close behind her-and all of
earth j held most dear.


Twas working interestedly and progress
ing finely again with my picture, and felt
hopeful spirit and quiet peace OF mlnd,
that had been unknown to me Tor months
perhaps it was a premonitlon OF good
fortune in store for me-when the same
gentleman called again who had bought
nv last picture. He said it had been
much admired since being framed and
placed in good light at his home, and
was kind enough to mention the very
terms of praise which one of our favorite
| artists had made use of about 1t, whose
name sent the blood surging and tingling
all over me with pleasure he would like
companion picture of the same size,
took the liberty of advancing me one hum
dred dollars towards the price, to ensure
nv commencing it at once, promised to
call soon again and see how I progressed
with the order, and politely took his leave.
After he had gone l sat motionless for
some minutes to think over what nad
passed between us, and recover control OF.
nv senses, bewildered with too much
pleasure. Ihad certainly dreamed OF such
interviews with purchasers, and had often
imagined how nice it must be for some of
my artist friends whose pictures were al
wavs in demand, to whom such affairs
were not unusual, but both dreams and
| imagination were now certainly realized
I witness the one hundred dollar bill on the
easel shelf, just where mypurchaser had
laid it.


Tt was a new one freshly issued from
the Chemical Bank, and cracked as took
it up, and though 1 seemed to be looking
at its printed face, my minds eye saw
nothing there, but was busy far away,
with a new hat, a new alpaca dress, new
thick gaiters, and new warm gloves, that
1 intended would be surprise for Mrs.
Flakewhite.


Hastily pinning a bit of paper on my
studio door that stated should soon re-
turn. rushed over into the BoBery TO
| milIiner's store, where Mrs. +. and
were known; took the woman that
waited on me into partial confidence, and
in a few minutes suited myself with hat
which was good, modest and lady like,
and in about half an hour-which had
been thirty minutes of great enjoyment
to me-was back again in my studio, my
several parcels hidden where they would
be safe from observation, and with de-
lightful anticipation of Mrs. Flakewh1te's
surprise in the morning, again addressed
myself to work.


During the evening of this eventful day


we walked out together, and to Mrs.


Flakewhite's great satisfaction, after her


critical examination of seams and Innings,
and button-holes and pockets, the coat


was decided upon, paid for, and worn


home. must here disclose to the reader


in strict confidence-havinga a wholesome
dread of pulled ears before my eyes-that


several times on our return home, in pass


ing under a bright street lamp, 1 was


made to walk little in front, that Mrs.


Flakewhite might again enjoy the excel


lence of the fit, and admiringly appreciate


my new-found elegance.


Pleading fatigue, 1 retired that night


rather sooner than usual, and matured In
quiet my plan for surprising Mrs Flake,


white in the morning. As soon as
knew my faithful partner was truly on
, into the land of dreams, stole out OF bed
into another room, brought out my hid
nod in