'Mary's Art Lesson'

One day in 1854 when the family was in Germany, her father hired the well-known young artist, Peter Baumgartner, to draw a family picture.

When Peter arrived at their house, he arranged the family around their wooden game table. Mary wore her favorite velvet dress, the one with the white lace collar. She had parted her brown wavy hair down the middle and caught it up on each side with two silk ribbons.

"How exciting! I've never seen an artist work," Mary thought, standing behind the table.

Her father and 12-year-old brother, Robbie, sat planning their next move on a chessboard.

Mary's other brother, Gard, 5 years old, leaned against the other side of the table. His hand rested on the silk tablecloth near his spilled toy soldiers.

Peter narrowed his eyes and studied the family. His gaze dropped to the paper, and his hand flew back and forth across the sheet.

"How fast Peter's hand moves," Mary thought.

The clock ticked on the mantle.

"I wish I could see him draw the picture," Mary thought. "But I have to stand here."

A cart rumbled down the street. Robbie squirmed in his chair. Peter hunted in his wooden pencil box. Robbie drummed his fingers.

"Imagine it!" Mary thought and smiled. "An artist in our house!"

Gard scratched his neck and whispered, "My collar itches."

"Mary," Peter said, "your mother tells me you take drawing lessons."

Mary's eyes sparkled. "Every week."

Peter nodded, leaned back in his chair and looked at his picture.

"The other girls in my class are there for fun or because they have nothing else to do," Mary said with a pause. "But I want to learn how to draw better."

Peter looked up. "Have you been to the art museum?"

"Oh, yes," Mary said.