open. On the right is a hillside with a few tall trees; on the left another slope, more distant. The extreme distance is composed of a village with church-spire, trees, etc., standing out against a brilliant sunset sky which shows through the trees. In the extreme foreground is a traveler, or farmer, wending his way homeward; his figure is almost a silhouette and his shadow is cast upon the road. It is my first attempt at a design. My head is ‘chuck full of them,’ but I cannot get a chance to use them I am so busy.” Other letters covering this period are full of interest. They show the heart of the young fellow, his frank delight in his own success, and in the approval which his work begins to receive. He was much elated over the success of an engraving he made for the “Aldine”: “NEW YORK, _Feb. 2, 1872_. “DEAR MOTHER: “I have just a few moments’ spare time which I will improve by writing a short letter or note to you. “Concerning my picture, all the artists of the establishment admired the effect and recognized the ‘excellent copy’ of Inness’ style and handling. They all seem to think that the picture is rather unnatural in its intensity but that the effect is wonderful. Well, it was yesterday that I brought it over. I had cut it out of the paper on which I drew it and pasted it neatly on a large piece of white stiff photograph board. Its appearance was thus greatly improved, as it had a margin of nearly six inches all around it. At noon time I took the sketch down to the ‘Aldine.’ I saw Mr. Sutton, the proprietor. He held the sketch off from him, looked at it through his hand, and pronounced it magnificent. I of course told him that it was a copy. He asked me if he had not met me before. I told him ‘yes’; that one year ago I came to him with my first drawings on wood, and that he did a great deal to encourage me at the time. He remembered me, remembered my little drawings and described both of them to me--told me that I had a _tremendous_ eye for color, and he had noticed it when I first went to him. He said, ‘When you were here a year ago I told you to come to me when you began to do original work, did I not?’ I answered yes and told him a little of my experience since that time. Well we had a nice little talk and it ended in his giving me a large full page block with the order to put it on wood and he said that I must bring him some more sketches. I am to correct Inness’ unfinished style and make a more finished picture than the original is, as a painting. When it is done I will probably receive from 50 to 60 dollars for it. “I begin it next week and as I cannot give Roberts’ time to it and will have to work evenings, will probably not finish it for two weeks or so.”