THE TWO PICTURES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21467, 15 April 1933, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE TWO PICTURES

By MARY KITCHING, 10 Rim Dimity and Jocclyn skipped hand in hand down the path that led through the beautiful Botanical Gardens. Dimity, aged just three, was wearing the new buttercup frock that muinmio had made her, (he dainty one all gaily patterned with golden buttercups. And Jocclyn, four-and-a-bit, was a picturo in tho new blue organdie with tho big, shady sunbonnet to match. So picturesque—sunshine and shadow glancing through trees; blue eyes pfcepiug from beneath blue sunbonnet; and golden curls straying over the shoulders of the golden buttercup child. Roger, following behind them, laughed in delight. Roger Stanton, artist, was painting his new picture for the Academy Christmas competition. " Daisy Chains " lie was going to call it—the two small kiddies, nieces of his, sitting on the green bank in the Botanical Gardens, making daisy chains. " Come on Dimity, there's all the daisies waiting to be picked! See who can make the longest chain to-day. Yes, you can start right away, while I'm putting up my easel." Ten minutes later he was working steadily. Only a week left until the picture was to be sent in, and time was precious. The morning flew on winged feet, for the kiddies were absorbed in their daisy chains, and Roger was deep in his work. Uncle Roger," piped Dimity, " will you give me a choc'let fish if I make the longest chain to-day ? " " Half-a-dozen," laughed uncle. " An' I want "nalf-a-dozen chocolate rabbits! " joined in Jocelyn. " Of course! " agreed the artist. Mid-day so soon. The chimes of the town clock floated up from the city; and in a little while the trio was wending its way homeward. Each day for a fortnight they had visited the daisy-bank, and now the picture was almost completed. " Last day to-morrow," said uncle, as they passed through the sunshine and shadow that filtered through the leaves of the kowhai trea. " Oh, Nunc! Then we'll have all those rabbits ? " asked Jocelyn. " An' my fishes," Dimity reminded him. " Yes, lots and lots for you both." And the little pair, in their bliss, did not notice the artist sitting at an easel just above the path. Roger, however, did; he had noticed him there quite often recently, and had always meant to have a few words with him one day. Looked a sociable chap, quite young thought Roger, and seemed to be enjoying his painting. Well, it would make a pretty picture—the sunlight on tho kowhai trees and native ferns, and the tall buildings of the city far below in the background.

tu Road, Kelburn/ "Wellington ' Tho picturo was finished. " Daisy Chains " had been packed and despatched to the academy. Now to wait until Christmas—and the result! December 24! Roger's hands tr'embledas he grasped the morning paper and opened it. Would he never find it. lie thought, as he feverishly scanned lists and lists of awards in tho various sections. At last! " Child study," he said, . half aloud. Then a grunt, " Second." True, for there it was: "CHILD STUDY" 1. Awarded to C. 33. Bradley for liia delightful child Btudy entitled " Blue Sunbonnet and Golden Buttercup." 2. Awarded to Roger Stanton for his fascinating picture entitled " Daisy Chains." Second! Roger dropped- the paper in disgust. That morning he visited the Academy, Jocelyn hanging on to one hand, Dimity clutching the other. And there were the two pictures, first and second, hung side by side. - Roger glanced at his, and passed on to the other. "Blue Sunbonnet and Golden Buttercup!/' he exglaimed. " Why, it must have been that artist I saw sitting above the path overy day." - And indeed it Cliff Bradley, had managed to sunlight as it played through the trees, nnd roiind about the two central figures of his picture — two small kiddies, holding hands as they skipped along, blue eyes peeping from _ beneath blue sunbonnet, ana golden curls straying over the shoulders of the golden • buttercup child. Late that afternoon, there came a knock at the door. Roger opened it, and recognised the young man as the artist. " My name is Cliff Bradley," he stated, and continued, " may I offer you my heartiest congratulations on your picture in the academy? " " And the same to you." laughed Roger, as they shook hands. " Yours was a wonderful picture, especially when one realises that you only saw your subjects twice a day! Cliff laughed, and took a bundle from under his arms. " A few small things for the two kiddies," he explained. " I thought they might like a few more chocolate fishes and rabbits! " " They never say ' no,' " rejoined Roger, " but they are out at present. Will you come back some other day and see them ? " " Of course, if you don't mind? " said Cliff. " They're fascinating kiddies froc what I know of them." He came back, some clays later; and after a while, the kiddies gained another uncle, for in his visits to Diniitv and Jocelyn. Cliff came to know and love the elder sister of " Blue Sunbonnet and Golden Buttercup."