People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 27-25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1896 — THE ARTIST’S DREAM. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE ARTIST’S DREAM.

IT VANISHED WITH THE RINGING OF NEW YEAR BELLS. Palhetlc Story of a Dear Little Woman Who Was Wedded to Her Art — “As One Throughout Eternity”—A Sad Recital.

N THE third floor of a business and tenement building combined lived my artist friend. She was a dear little woman, with a smile and a pleasant word for everyone who went to her door. Like nearly all persons

in this line of work she took up painting, first for the love of it, and afterward as a means of livelihood. To be sure she loved it, yet, but sometimes she had to work at it when her hands were weary and her eyes pained. It was at the close of the year. She had had a hard month’s work filling Christmas and New Year’s orders, and when New Year’s eve came and others were enoying themselves in various ways she sat alone in her little room, which served both as studio and a living room, too weary to light her lamp or prepare her evening meal. She gazed at a picture just finished, a scene of her j childhood and young womanhood ! haunts. Her thoughts went back to I those happy days when not a thought of care cast a shadow on her young life. ! She thought of herself when, in the exuberance of youth, she pictured her future in brightest colors. She had hoped in those days to reach the fame of Raphael or Michael Angelo. Friends, she had scores; lovers, she had not a few; but she answered to their supplications: “No, I am wedded to my' art. It fills my heart, my life, my being. I have room for naught else.” But there came a day when she met one whose love she reciprocated and

sue was nappier than ever before. She asked herself: “How can I give him up; and, how can I give up my longcherished hopes -to devote my life to this work?” And she pondered over ; it until she became pale and thin and ambition finally conquered. It was to this part of her life in particular that her mind reverted. “Beneath the spreading branches of this stately elm,” she murmured, as she gazed dreamily and tearfully through the growing dusk at the painting before her, “he told me of his love. The sorrowful expression upon his face, as I told him I could never be his wife, haunts me still. Oh, was I right? I have not succeeded as I desired. My fame has not reached foreign countries. I have spent many lonely hours here; no husband to encourage me in my work, to cheer me with his love. No loving little arms to encircle my neck; no lips to press my own. No one to sympathize with me, when I am weary and discouraged. Oh, have I made a mistake? And where is George? Has his life been wasted? Has he been true to me as he said he would be? Ah, I have not only missed something in my own life but have perhaps made a wreck of his. O, Father, I pray Thee, forgive me if I have been too ambitious.”

The little artist clasped her worn hands in her lap and closed her eyes in slumber. The fire in the grate burned lower and lower; but the moon’s rays shed a halo Of light about her head. She dreamed that she was once more a maiden fair and her lover was with her, but when he commenced to whisper to her the story of love he was suddenly called away. Thrice did he attempt it, and the last time her heart thrilled with his burning words—but she bade him go. Then she heard a voice saying: “Woman, knowest thou what thou hast done? Thou hast outraged not only thine own heart, but that of the man. For this sin shaft thou suffer.” She dreamed again and she thought she was at Heaven’s gate. “Enter/* said a voice, but it was not that of her first dream. It was low and sweet and said. “Sister, thou hast fulfilled thy tasks on earth. Thou couldst have made a happy home for thyself; but It was rejected, and instead thou hast

done many deeds or Kindness to weary and despondent ones, which loving acts have, like the ripples of the sea, gone on and on, only the Master knoweth whither. Thou hast comforted the sick, helped the poor, made happy the little children; but still thy life is not complete; there awaits for thee a great joy.” The voice ceased, but she heard the sound of sweet music and far-off bells like silvery wedding bells. Suddenly a

beautirui lignt shone above her, so that she closed her eyes and then she felt the clasp of a hand and heard the voice of one of long ago saying: “Those on earth who are united in love Cease not to care for each other above, For their souls then united shall be And they’ll be as one through eternity':” She awoke. The distant chimes on the cathedral were joyously ringing in the new year. The smnnrl nf awoot

music could be heard from afar, but no hand clasped hers. She knew then it was a dream. But who will say that the little artist will not find when she reaches the pearly g te the one from whom she has been separated in this life?

me same any wnn us as it Is here, Tor there is a difference of 12 days in the calendar, a 3 everybody knows. So our Christmas falls on your Jan. 6. Coming, as it does, so near New Year’s day, it is not so much of a social occasion as it probably would be otherwise, but as a religious festival it ranks with Easter, and the two days tire the principal feasts of the year. Tiio religious services are most impressive. Our churches differ from yours in some -nays, for there are no pews in them, and wo adorn them as richly as we are

anlo to do. The principal service on Christmas day is a sort of high mass that is celebrated before daybreak. Everybody who is able to do so goes to this mass, at which the highest church dignitary in the neighborhood always officiates. If there is an archbishop near, he is the one; if not, it is the bishop. And everybody wears his very best clothes. It is a general custom togivo thechilurcna new suit of clothes if possible on Christinas. If the parents cannot afford so much, they will at least contrive to give some article of

tnis amerence: It is deemed almost obligatory for inferiors to call on superiors, and for the younger members of the community to * call od the elder. There is, of course, no law about this, but if an employer, for example, should not receive a call from each of his employees, he would feel that his dignity had not been properly respected, and the’ employee would feel that be had been rude, to say the least. I remember that my father used to reprove me severely :f 1 failed to call on any one whirbad a right io exoect a visit from me

When, t lie visitor arrives at the house of the person he is calling on, he is received according to his station. If he is a dependent or a servant or hired man, he may very likely receive a small present of money; perhaps only as much as 25 cents, or perhaps 85 or §lO, or ho may, especially in the country, receive food or clothing. If he is a social equal, ho will be entertained with arrack and fruits and sweets. Fruits are much used, too, for trilling gifts. I should say that the greeting on entering the house on one of t hese visits is siin-

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. REV. C. E. VOLIVA.

RENSSSELAER CREAMERY-A. M'COY, PRESIDENT.

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. REV. L. H. FINDLEY.

AUGUSTINE'S CATHOLIC CHURCH. REV. NEIBERG STANISLAS.

PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH —REV. W. R. NOWELS.

FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH. REV. B. F FERGUSON.

CHURCH OF GOD. REV. F. L. AUSTIN.