The Call of the Cumberlands

As Lescott wandered through the hills, his unhurt right hand began

crying out for action and a brush to nurse. As he watched, day after

day, the unveiling of the monumental hills, and the transitions from

hazy wraith-like whispers of hues, to strong, flaring riot of color,

this fret of restlessness became actual pain. He was wasting wonderful

opportunity and the creative instinct in him was clamoring.

One morning, when he came out just after sunrise to the tin wash basin

at the well, the desire to paint was on him with compelling force. The

hills ended near their bases like things bitten off. Beyond lay

limitless streamers of mist, but, while he stood at gaze, the filmy

veil began to lift and float higher. Trees and mountains grew taller.

The sun, which showed first as a ghost-like disc of polished aluminum,

struggled through orange and vermilion into a sphere of living flame.

It was as though the Creator were breathing on a formless void to

kindle it into a vital and splendid cosmos, and between the dawn's fog

and the radiance of full day lay a dozen miracles. Through rifts in the

streamers, patches of hillside and sky showed for an ethereal moment or

two in tender and transparent coloration, like spirit-reflections of

emerald and sapphire.... Lescott heard a voice at his side.

"When does ye 'low ter commence paintin'?"

It was Samson. For answer, the artist, with his unhurt hand,

impatiently tapped his bandaged wrist.

"Ye still got yore right hand, hain't ye?" demanded the boy. The other

laughed. It was a typical question. So long as one had the trigger

finger left, one should not admit disqualification.

"You see, Samson," he explained, "this isn't precisely like handling a

gun. One must hold the palette; mix the colors; wipe the brushes and do

half a dozen equally necessary things. It requires at least two

perfectly good hands. Many people don't find two enough."

"But hit only takes one ter do the paintin', don't hit?"

"Yes."

"Well"--the boy spoke diffidently but with enthusiasm--"between the

two of us, we've got three hands. I reckon ye kin larn me how ter do

them other things fer ye."

Lescott's surprise showed in his face, and the lad swept eagerly on.

"Mebby hit hain't none of my business, but, all day yestiddy an' the

day befo', I was a-studyin' 'bout this here thing, an' I hustled up an'

got thet corn weeded, an' now I'm through. Ef I kin help ye out, I

thought mebby--" He paused, and looked appealingly at the artist.