come most up to that side of the house, and it wuz a beautiful sight, I will admit, and the picture looked quite well, too, for she showed it to me. The blue of the lake and the sky overhead wuz jest about the color of little Mary's eyes, and the light in the east wuz some the color of her fluffy wavin' hair, and I told her Ma so as I held the little girl fondly in my arms. But she looked real indifferent at the child, as if she see some panels through her and some calenders and things and called my attention to the "cheri obscuro" of the pictures, and the "alto releevo," or I guess that is what she called 'em, I didn't have a idee what she meant, but not wantin' to act green, I told her I presumed so, "I spoze they're real favorites of yourn, but," sez I candidly, "there hain't a doubt of this, this child here would be a prime favorite of mine if I had her with me much." And I hugged her to me agin real clost, and she put her soft, white arm lovin'ly round my neck.
Agin she looked at her with a fur off look, some as if she wuz in Hindoostan or Egypt or somewhere and sez: "I have never been able to get such feelin' into a picture as I have in this."
And I sez, "Like as not," and I added, "I know I have a real lovin' feelin' for little Mary." And I smoothed back her hair with a tender hand and made of her. And then I bid her good-by and went upstairs, bein' called there by Anna. And the stage hove in sight, and Tamer had to draw Celestine offen her work and git into her bunnet and shawl. The stage driver wuz real profane durin' the siege of gittin' her started, but he got the easel in, and big framed pictures and placks and panels, and she standin' over him and warnin' him to be careful and not injure 'em, and he got her little satchels
