DRAWING.

RAWING is an imitative art by which the

DRA

forms, positions, and relations of objects are represented on a flat surface.

The faculties employed in this and in other imitative arts are possessed in a certain degree by all persons. Some possess these faculties in so high a degree as to indicate a decided genius for such pursuits, and if they give practice to their skill they will become celebrated.

The majority, however, are not so endowed as to be able without instruction and considerable practice to draw with very great skill.

The practice of elementary drawing at school, has been, until recently, too much neglected, and in but few instances now does it receive the share of attention that it deserves. Drawing has not been considered an essential part of a good education, consequently but few have received instruction.

But tastes are changing, and the time is near, when the ability to sketch with a moderate degree of accuracy will be indispensable to a finished education. It is a beautiful accomplishment, and will well reward all the labor we expend in learning to draw.

In many situations, when wandering in our own or in foreign lands, we see objects, of which we would be glad to carry away some memorandum,

and of which a slight pencil sketch would be sufficient to perpetuate the vision and even to communicate it to others.

It is a sad pity that for want of a few elementary lessons and slight practice, we should lose the pleasure of perpetuating in pictures the beautiful objects which we meet. In this view drawing is like writing-the one communicates by pictures, the other by written words. The former is often the most impressive, and conveys a sentiment and a meaning which written words could never tell..

Drawing is effected by various materials, as chalk black lead, or India ink. Simple drawings are made on white paper, or Bristol board. One should commence the study of the art by acquiring a free and easy use of the hand. For this purpose, drawing lines with chalk on a black board is a very good exercise. After you have acquired an easy use of the hand, and can readily draw straight and curved lines, you may begin by copying other drawings. This is only allowable in beginners, and is intended to make them familiar with the manner in which lines answer the purpose of representation.

To be master of the art you must throw aside all copy-books, and learn to draw by your own ingenuity from tangible objects in nature and art. In this study the hand is taught to obey the conceptions of the mind. When, for example, we see a house, or a tree, we observe its shape or figure, its lines and angles, or curves. We then take a pencil, and

bending the mind intensely on the form of the object, we define it in visible lines on paper. The more perfectly the hand can obey the impulse of the mind when bent on a definite object, the more true and correct will the drawing appear.

But, for directions in drawing, reference must be had to books on the subject, and to competent teachers.

If by a word of suggestion we shall be able to stimulate a taste for this beautiful art in any one of our readers, the object of the article will be attained.

LITTLE BY LITTLE.

"LITTLE by little," said a thoughtful boy,
"Moment by moment I'll well employ,
Learning a little every day,

And not spending all my time in play ;
And still this rule in my mind shall dwell,
'Whatever I do, I will do it well.'

"Little by little, I'll learn to know
The treasured wisdom of long ago;
And one of these days perhaps we'll see
That the world will be the better for me."
And do you not think that this simple plan
Made him a wise and a useful man?

66

WHAT saith the fountain,

Hid in the glade,
Where the tall mountain

Throweth its shade?

Deep in my waters, reflected serene,

All the soft beauty of heaven is seen;

Thus let thy bosom, from wild passions free,

Ever the mirror of purity be."

What saith the streamlet,

Flowing so bright,

Clear as a beamlet,

Of silvery light?

"Morning and evening still floating along,

Upward forever ascendeth my song;