University of Nebraska Kearney - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Kearney, NE)

Page 22 text:

 A N artist was sitting in his studio, his eyes fixed in steadfast gaze upon a Vy vision which had risen before him. It was a form of rare beauty—a £ form more beautiful than his eyes had ever beheld before—a concep- tion so wonderful in its loveliness as to transport his whole being. His frame thrilled with ecstasy as he continued to gaze upon it, and there came to him an overwhelming desire to grasp that form and make it live forever. He seized a lump of clay, and while his fingers were yet trembling with the frenzy of his inspiration, he began to mold. He pressed in here and he pressed out there. He gave a firm touch here, a tender touch there. Day after day he molded on. When the clay hardened he moistened it and molded again. And by and by there grew up from his hands a form so beautiful that the world heard the fame of it, and came and looked upon him and upon the work of his hands, and said to him. 'Well done After a day of toii and worry a teacher once sat alone at twilight, her eyes fixed in steadfast gaze upon a vision that had risen before her. It was the most beautiful, the rarest, the most charming form that had ever blessed her eyes. As she looked she recognized the face of ’Him who is the fairest among ten thousand, and altogether lovely.' Her whole being was filled with the blessed vision. Her heart yearned toward Him. She threw herself at His feet and gave herself, heart and soul and mind, to Him. And when she rose there came into her heart an irresistible desire to mold some life like unto Him. And she took into her hands a lump of living clay—a little child—and trembling with the frenzy of the vision she hegan to mold. Day after day she taught and trained the little mind and the little heart, pressing in here, and pressing out there; firmly here, ten- derly there. When the chi'd began to grow bard, her love and sympathy softened him and she molded on. And bv and by there grew up from her hands a strong, symmetrical, manly man. The world heard not of what she had done, and came not; but the fame of her workmanship reached the court of heaven, and one day the Lord came down and looked upon her and upon the work of her hands, and He said to her, ’Weil done.' —Jesse Davis. 3i?