“Not tired, yet I should like to hear the story to which this picture imparts an unusual interest.” “You remember Paul Talbot, who left here some years ago to pursue the study of his art abroad.” “I do, but that young man—sick—almost dying—I thought the face a familiar one; but can that be Paul?” “Alas! yes—he is dead!” and my friend dashed away a tear as he spoke. “Dead!” repeated I. “Paul Talbot dead! when did he die?” “Not long before my return. Poor fellow! he endured much, and his career was an exemplification of what a man of untiring energy can accomplish under the most adverse circumstances. “Soon after the birth of Paul, his father died, leaving little, save a mother’s love and a stainless reputation to his infant son. “Mr. Talbot was a man of refined taste, and had collected round him objects of which an amateur might be justly proud—and thus from childhood had been fostered Paul’s love for the beautiful. “Well educated and accomplished, Mrs. Talbot undertook the tuition of her child, and by giving lessons in drawing, painting miniatures on ivory, and small portraits in oil, kept herself and her boy above the pressure of want. Carefully she instilled into his tender mind those lofty principles of rectitude, of uncompromising integrity, and that child-like trust in the goodness of an overruling Providence, which sustained him through all the trials of after years. “How holy, how powerful is the influence of a mother! The father may do much, but the mother can do more toward the formation of the mind, and the habits of early childhood. Exercising a power, silent, yet refreshing as the dews of heaven, her least word, her lightest look, sinks deep into the hearts of her children, and moulds them to her will. How many men have owed all that has made them great to the early teachings of a mother’s love! The father, necessarily occupied with business or professional duties, cannot give the needful attention to the minor shades in the character and disposition of his little ones, but the mother can encourage and draw out the latent energies of the timid, can check the bold, and exert an influence which may be felt not only through time, but through eternity. “It was beautiful to see Paul Talbot standing by his mother’s side, with his childish gaze fixed upon her face, while receiving instruction from her lips, and to hear him as he grew in years, wishing he was a man, that he might be enabled to supply her every want. “‘You know,’ he would exclaim, while his fine eyes was flashing with enthusiasm, ‘that I will be an artist; and, oh, mother, if I could, like Washington Allston, be a painter-poet; could I but paint such a head as that we saw in the Academy, and write such a book as Monaldi, then, mother, I would gain fame; orders would crowd upon me—and then—then we would go to Italy!’ “Go to Italy! of this he thought by day, and dreamed by night; and to accomplish this was the crowning ambition of the boy’s life.