Artistic Attempts

           Ittakespeoplealongtimetolearnthedifferencebetweentalentandgenius,especiallyambitiousyoungmenandwomen.Amywaslearningthisdistinctionthroughmuchtribulation,formistakingenthusiasmforinspiration,sheattemptedeverybranchofartwithyouthfulaudacity.Foralongtimetherewasalullinthe‘mud-pie’business,andshedevotedherselftothefinestpen-and-inkdrawing,inwhichsheshowedsuchtasteandskillthathergracefulhandiworkprovedbothpleasantandprofitable.Butover-strainedeyescausedpenandinktobelaidasideforaboldattemptatpoker-sketching.Whilethisattacklasted,thefamilylivedinconstantfearofaconflagration,fortheodorofburningwoodpervadedthehouseatallhours,smokeissuedfromatticandshedwithalarmingfrequency,red-hotpokerslayaboutpromiscuously,andHannahneverwenttobedwithoutapailofwaterandthedinnerbellatherdoorincaseoffire.Raphael’sfacewasfoundboldlyexecutedontheundersideofthemouldingboard,andBacchusontheheadofabeerbarrel.Achantingcherubadornedthecoverofthesugarbucket,andattemptstoportrayRomeoandJulietsuppliedkindlingforsometime.

           Fromfiretooilwasanaturaltransitionforburnedfingers,andAmyfelltopaintingwithundiminishedardor.Anartistfriendfittedheroutwithhiscastoffpalettes,brushes,andcolors,andshedaubedaway,producingpastoralandmarineviewssuchaswereneverseenonlandorsea.