does the woman who
in bringing men to her feet by beck and nod tell of animality too coarse
for speech.

But the woman with the great, tender and loving heart gives her all and
asks no idolatrous homage. Her delight is in serving, and willingly and
more than willingly, for without thought she breaks the vase of precious
ointment and wipes the feet of the beloved with the hairs of her head.

Madame Scheffer sought in all ways to serve her sons, and so we find
there was always a gentle rivalry between Ary and his mother as to who
could love most.

She kept his studio in order, cleaned his brushes and prepared the
canvas. In the middle of the forenoon she would enter his workroom with
tea and toast or other little delicacies that he liked, and putting the
tray down, would kiss the forehead of the busy worker and gently tiptoe
out.

When the day's work was done she intelligently criticized and encouraged;
and often she would copy the picture herself and show how it could be
changed for the better here or there.

And all this fine, frank, loving companionship so filled Ary's heart that
he put far behind him all thought of a love for another with its closer
tie. He lived and worked for the Little Mother. They were very happy, for
they were succeeding. They had met the great, cruel world, the world of
Paris that romps and dances and laughs, and sees struggling and sad-eyed
women and men go down to their death, and still laughs on; they had met
the world in fair fight and they had won.

The Little Mother had given all for Ary; on his genius and ability she
had staked her fortune and her life.

And now, although he was not twenty-one, she saw all that she had given
in perfect faith, coming back with interest ten times compounded.

The art world of Paris had both recognized and acknowledged the genius of
her boy--with that she was content.

* * * * *

In the year Eighteen Hundred Eighteen, we find General Lafayette writing
to Lady Morgan in reference to a proposed visit to the Chateau de la
Grange. He says: "I do not think you will find it dull here. Among others
of our household is a talented young painter by the name of Scheffer."

Later, Lady Morgan writes to friends in England from La Grange, "Ary
Scheffer, a talented artist, is a member of our company here at the
chateau. He is quite young, but is already a person of note. He is making
a portrait of the General, and giving lessons