Year: 1870

planning labor had nerved my hand to
unusual efforts, or whether | had chanced
upon a peculiarly fortunate moment for
| work, | cannot say, but this much l know,
difficulties of drawing that had perplexed
and hindered me for a week, vanished under
the strokes of my happy pencil this morn
ing. | touched on little patcher Of color
that astonished and charmed me with their
excellence; half 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. E'Iakewhite came into my studio,
dressed to go out-wearing the same brown
hat with the pearl colored ribbon, last year
style, that had affected ME so unpleasantly
a few hours before-for her habtual good
by kiss, and l threw into my greeting of
her more than usual heartiDess and tender
ness, from feeling of self reprcach Of having
allowed so much goodness and loveiiness to
dlstsure itself with such bonnet.


Good bye, John, dear; am so glad
you are painting so we'll this morning."
said she I'VE shall soon see somebody s
name we'll known in the 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 shal have large handsome studio, with
real north light, and a window SO tall We
shall have to go up on ladder to open it,
and we shall have nice thick overcoat
every winter if We like, and we shall go
INTO the country every summer sketchIDg
with our little wife to read to US while we
paint, AID we Shall grow great and good
and -and-and, and [ could not listen
another instant to her happy story, and
throwing down pallet and brushes, my arms
closed around her with a bear-hke hug, and
L stopped her laughing rosy mouth with a
block away, aid then make her look me
straight 10 the eyes, | carefully whispered,
Mary, please God, you si.ail be a true
prophet and if what you have said ever
does come true, it will be greatly owing to
the cheerful help of my own dear, true
hearted wife"


John" said she, looking through the
halt closed door, Il am going to get lamb
chops with sweet potatoes for Ginner," and
l listened while she merrily sang herself
down stairs, nor moved until | heard the
front door close behind her-and all Of earth
held most dear.


was working interestedly and progress
leg finely again with my picture, and felt a
hopeful spirit and a quiet piece of mind,
that had been unknown to me for months
perhaps 1t was a premOnition Of good
fortune IN store for me-when the same
gentleman called again who had bought my
last picture. He saiu it had been much
admired since being framed and placed in
good light at his home, and was kind
enough to pentlon the very terms of praise
which one OF our favoritc artists ha1 made
use OF about II, whose name sent the blood
surglng and tinging all over me with pleas
ure; he would like a companion picture of
the same size, took the liberty of advancing
me one hundred dollars towards the price,
TO ensure my a n oio. - ~s vuvv, urvuI-
lsed to call soon again and see how | pro-
gressed with the order, and politely took
his leave. After be bad gone sat motion
less Tor some minutes to think over what
mad passed between us, and recover control
OF my senses, bewildered with too much


pleasure. | had certainly dreamed of such
interviews with purchasers, and had often
imagined how NICE 1T must be for some Of
my artist friends whose pictures were al


ways IN demand, to whom such affairs were
not unusual, but both dreams and imagina


ton were now certainly realized witness
the one hundred dollar bill on the easel
shelf just where my purchaser had laid it.
1t was new one freshly issued from the
Chemical Bank, and cracked as took it
up, and though | seemed to be looking at
its printed face, my mind S eve saw nothing
there, but was busy far away, with new
hat, new alpaca dress, new thick CATERS,
and new warm gloves, that | intended
woald be surprise for Mrs Fakewhite


Hastily pinnlng bit of paper on my
studio door that stated | should soon return.
L rushed over into the Bowery to a mill
ner store, where Mrs. L. and / were
Known; took the woman that waited on
me into partial confidence, and in few
minutes suited myself with a bat which
was good, modest and lady>like, and in
about halt an hour-which had been thirty
minutes OF great enjoyment to me-was
taek again IN my studio, my several par
GELS hidden where they would be safe from
observation, and with a delightful auticipa-
ton OF Mrs. FlakeWhite's surprise in the
morning, again addressed myself to work.


During the evening of this eventful day
we walked out together, and to Mrs. Flake
white great satisfaction, after her critical
examination OF seams and Innings, and but>
ton>holes and pockets, the coat was decided
upon, paid for, and worn home l must
here disclose to the reader in strict conf
DEMONSTRATING e wholesome dread of pulled
ears before my eyes-that several times on
our return home, in passing under bright
street lamp, was made 10 walk little in
front, that Mrs. Fakewhite might again
enjoy the excellence OF the fit, and admir-
ingIy appreciate my new-found elegance.


Pleading fatigue, 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 of into the
land OF dreams, stole out of bed into an
other room. brought out my hidden treas
ures and commenced filling large sized
paper>box, purchased for this very pur>
pose. At the bottom, two pairs of gloves
and half dozen white haudkerchiefs, with
eolored borders, then as many sets of plain
linen collars and cuffs of different shapes
and | thought as laid these in, how Mrs.
F.'s delicate sense Of lady like neatness
would enjoy wearing them-next pair of
very best double soled CATERS, over
these pearl colored dress pattern-sixteen