Flora L. Carpenter

“ The horse has an anxious look in her intelligent eyes as she turns her head to watch the smith. Though she knows he will do the work carefully she cannot help being a little nervous about it. The dog and the donkey are also very much interested in what the smith is doing, though the dog seems ready to run at any moment. Behind the dog we see the blacksmith's anvil on which he hammers the shoe into shape. Every time the hammer strikes the red-hot iron, burning sparks fly in all directions and the blacksmith wears a leather apron, to keep them from burning holes in his clothes. ”

“ The story of the picture. Here in a building that once may have been a home, we see an old-fashioned country blacksmith shop. The wide door has been made in two parts so that the upper part can be swung open to let in the sunlight. The lower part of the doorway remains closed and is just high enough to keep the horse and donkey shut in. But the dog could easily jump over it should he become frightened by the flying sparks of fire.
The smith is trying a shoe on the hind foot of the beautiful horse, but neither the man nor the horse seems quite satisfied with it. ”

“ The smith must be a strong man to do his work well, and in this picture our attention is drawn to the great muscles on his arms and the firm strength of his large hands.
It takes great skill to drive the nails into the horse's hoof in just such a way that they will hold the shoe firmly and at the same time not hurt the hoof. Sometimes, but not very often, a blacksmith drives a nail in the wrong direction, and the horse becomes lame. ”

“ The sun is steadily going down; soon all the animals will be at home, the cows will be milked, the sheep safe in the fold, and the donkey in his stall. Then the good old dog will be glad to have his supper and lie down and rest. It is wonderful how much a dog can help on a farm, and how many steps he saves the farmer by his willing, cheerful help. It is very unusual indeed to find a farmer without a dog. ”

“ The artist, Millet, thought that of no importance at all. He did not even care to show us their faces, any more than he would care to show us the buttons on their clothes. The important thing is the love and tenderness of this mother and father as they stop their work to guide, help, and encourage their baby in taking his first step. All his life the baby will find them never too tired or weary to help him when he needs it most.
[Pg 25] Peasants like these, we know, lived in France, and as a rule they were very poor, although the two in our picture seem thrifty and comfortable. ”

“ What makes you think he loves the little girl? For what is the long pole with the rope around it used? How is the man guiding the boat now? What do you see ahead that he is trying to turn away from? What is the little girl doing? How is she dressed? Why do you think she cannot help very much? What kind of a boat is it? What else do you see in the boat? in the picture? Why is it called "A Helping Hand"?
The story of the picture. When we go fishing for a few hours or half a day we think it great fun, but a real fisherman, who earns his living that way, has to work very hard. ”

“ In the little town where Joshua lived the people went to church on Sundays, of course, and sometimes also during the week. One day, Joshua went to church. At first he sat very still; but the sermon was a very long one, and finally he grew so tired he could not listen another minute. He thought he would like to draw a picture of the minister, but he had nothing to draw it on. Then he remembered that he had a pencil in his pocket, and that he could draw the picture on his thumb nail. That is just what he did. ”

“ A happy, healthy little girl, she looks as if she would like to run and play with us. Such a sweet, winsome face! No wonder Sir Joshua loved her very much.
People came from far and near to see this beautiful painting when it was finished. Finally, years later, Lord and Lady Gordon gave it to the city of London to hang in the National Gallery of paintings for all to see. There it still hangs, and people who go to London always look for it, and find it just as lovely as ever.
Questions to help the pupil understand the picture. Of whom is this a picture? Where did she live? ”

“ Years ago, when the artist painted this picture, a blacksmith had to make each shoe by hand from a bar of iron. Now horseshoes are made rapidly by machinery and the blacksmith gets them from the factory. They are made in all shapes and sizes and the smith will try several shoes until he finds one that fits the horse's hoof. If it needs to be shaped a little he must heat it red hot before he can bend it. ”

“ In the picture she is all ready to spring upon the mouse as soon as he moves, so she can be sure to catch him. How confident she looks, and how pleased she is that the kittens found the mouse and will help her catch it! The kittens are so excited it is doubtful whether they can help very much; but if she can persuade one of them just to touch that tail, then all will be a scramble. More likely they will all keep so still that the mouse will think he is alone and come out.
A Fascinating Tale
Which cat do you think will catch him? ”

“ There was a small house and garden here, and the barn was made over into a studio.
Sir Edwin was not a very good business man, and he left the management of all his affairs to his father, who sold his pictures for him and kept his accounts.
Landseer was only sixteen years old when he exhibited his wonderful picture called "Fighting Dogs Getting Wind." A very rich man whose praise meant a great deal at that time bought the picture, and Sir Edwin's success was assured. After that so many people brought their pets for him to paint that he had to keep a list, and each must wait his turn. ”

“ It is hoped that acquaintance with the picture and the interest awakened by its story will grow into a fuller appreciation and understanding of the artist's work. Thus the children will have many happy hours and will learn to love the good, the true, and the beautiful in everything about them. ”

“ Now the mother will let him try to walk alone, keeping close behind, and ready to catch him if he should fall, until he reaches his father's arms. How proud they will be when their baby takes his first step all alone! ”

“ She must slip about on that seat every time the oar moves, for her feet do not touch the bottom of the boat. She will be tired when she reaches home, and warm too, no doubt.
They will not lose their hats even if the wind does blow, for the little girl's bonnet is tied under her chin, and her father has pulled his rubber hat tight over his head. Often, when he is out fishing on the deep sea, the spray dashes over the fisherman's boat, and he is glad to have a rubber hat and coat to wear. ”

“ He believed that animals understand, feel, and reason just like people; so he represented them in his pictures as happy, sad, gay, dignified, frivolous, rich, poor, and in all ways just like human beings. ”

“ In France, where this picture was painted, the women worked out in the fields just like the men. So you see how very busy they must have been. And yet they always found time to love and care for their little children. ”

“ Edwin painted always from life, not caring to make copies from the work of others. All the sketches he made when he was a little boy were carefully kept by the father, and now if you go to England you may see them in the South Kensington Museum in London.
Edwin, we are told, was a bright, gentle little boy, with blue eyes and light curly hair. At fourteen years of age he became a pupil at the Royal Academy. The keeper there was an old man who grew very fond of the boy. He would look all about for him, and if he [Pg 9] could not find him he would say, "Where is my little dog boy?" ”

“ This picture was painted in France, but it might well have been done in our own country, for we have all seen grass-covered, shady roads like this one, and just such a group of animals. Is it not strange that, although all the animals in the road are coming toward us, no two are in the same position? ”

“ Many artists have been poor, and have had to work very hard just to earn enough to eat, but Sir Joshua was not one of these. He was fortunate in being able to sell all his pictures as fast as he could paint them and so always had plenty of money. ”

“ He puts it into the great bed of red-hot coals in his forge, and then blows upon the coals with his bellows to make the fire hotter. His heavy iron tongs are used to take the red-hot shoe from the coals and to hold it upon the anvil while he pounds it into shape. ”

“ This family of hard-working peasants have little time for play; they must work to keep up their home. The father, as you see, has been digging potatoes with that heavy spade. He will put them in his wheelbarrow and take them to the house. ”

“ Some fishermen use very long nets, something [Pg 39] like those you see on a tennis court, only wider and stronger. It takes several men to manage them. The fish get tangled up in the net, and then it is very easy to catch them. ”

“ Why did the cage have glass sides? Why did it have wire over the top? the soft cushions on the floor? What did she have for the cats to play with?
[Pg 37]
A HELPING HAND
Original Picture: Corcoran Gallery, Washington,
D.C.
Artist: Emile Renouf (rẽ n [=oo] f ́ ́) .
Birthplace: Paris, France.
Dates: Born, 1845; died, 1894.
Questions to arouse interest. Of what is this a picture? Where are this man and little girl? Where do you think they are going? What do you suppose the man does for a living? why? How is he dressed? ”

“ Her dog pictures won much popularity also and for many years she supported herself and her blind father by her paintings of dogs.
After her father's death she married and moved from Amsterdam to Brussels, where she again became interested in painting cats. ”