LITTLE BROWN HANDS. MARY K. KROUT. They drive home the cows from the pasture, Where the quail whistles loud in the wheat fields, And the first crimson buds of the rose. They toss the new hay in the meadow; They know where the apples hang ripest, They gather the delicate seaweeds, To songs that a fond mother sings. Those who toil bravely are strongest; A STRANGE MECHANIC. The following is related of Gilbert Stuart, an American artist. He was at an inn where he had arranged for a night's lodging and the other guests were desirous of finding out his occupation or profession. The method of roundabout questioning was adopted, as follows: Stuart answered, with grave face and serious tone, that he sometimes dressed the hair of ladies and gentlemen. At that time high-cropped, pomatumed hair was all the fashion. "Then you are a hair dresser?" asked one. "What!" said he; "do I look like a barber?" "I beg your pardon, sir; but I inferred it from what you said. If I mistook you, may I take the liberty to ask what you are?" "Why," said Stuart, "I sometimes brush a gentleman's coat or hat, and sometimes adjust a cravat. "Oh, you are a valet, then, to some nobleman ?" "A valet! Indeed, sir, I am not. I am not a servant. To be sure, I make coats and waistcoats for gentlemen." "Oh, you are a tailor?" 66 'A tailor! Do I look like a tailor? I assure you I I never handled a goose, except a roasted one." By this time the company were all in a roar. "What are you, then?" said one. "I'll tell you," said Stuart. "Be assured, all I have said is literally true. I dress hair, brush hats and coats, adjust a cravat, and make coats and waistcoats, and likewise boots and shoes, at your service." “Oh, ho! a boot and shoe maker, after all." "Guess again, gentlemen. I never handled boot or shoe but for my own feet and legs; yet all I have told you is true." "We may as well give up guessing." “Well, then, I will tell you, upon my honor as a gentleman, my real profession. I get my bread by making faces." He then changed his countenance, and twisted his face in a manner such as Samuel Foote or Charles Mathews might have envied. His companions, after long peals of laughter, each took credit to himself for having suspected that the gentleman belonged to the theatre; and they all knew he must be a comedian by profession, when, to their utter astonishment, he assured them he was never on the stage, and very rarely saw the inside of a playhouse or any similar place of amuse ment. Now all looked at one another in utter amazement. Before parting, Stuart said to his companions: "Gentlemen, you will find that all I have said of my various employments is comprised in these few words — I am a portrait painter! "If you will call at John Palmer's, York Buildings, London, I shall be pleased to brush your coat or hat, dress your hair, supply you, if need be, with a wig of any fashion or dimensions, accommodate you with boots or shoes, give you ruffles or a cravat, and make faces for you." Valet (văl'ět or val'à): a man who is a body servant to a gentleman. When and where did Gilbert Stuart live? What president of the United States sat for Stuart to paint his portrait? Describe this portrait. If Stuart had been a teacher, how might he have answered his questions? If he had been a lawyer, how might he have answered? THE GLADNESS OF NATURE. Is this a time to be cloudy and sad, When our Mother Nature laughs around; And gladness breathes from the blossoming ground? There's a dance of leaves in that aspen bower, William Cullen Bryant. REVIEW. Name the authors of "The Magic Swan," "To a Mountain Daisy," and "Little Brown Hands." Tell the story of "Paid in His Own Coin." Where did the people live who are mentioned in this story? Name two stories which teach us to be kind to animals. Why were so many kind to Peter, as told in “The Magic Swan"? do? Who was Gilbert Stuart? What were the people at the inn trying to learn? What is meant by the "Fairy barks that have drifted to land"? What is meant by the last four lines in the poem, "Little Brown Hands"? What is the meaning of each of the following words: Valet, dismal, beguiled, plight, palette, mechanic, pomatumed, inferred, adjust, poultry, meditate, perilous, caliph, demean, punctuality, provision? Who does the best his circumstances allow, Young. |