Godey's Lady's Book

GODEY'S LADY'S BOOK
Philadelphia, March 1850

BENJAMIN WEST'S FIRST ATTEMPT AT DRAWING.

(See Plate.)
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This picture represents a most interesting event in the early life of Benjamin West. When he was only seven years old, his mother set him to watch the baby in the cradle while she was engaged in some work about the house. As the boy sat looking at his infant sister, she smiled in her sleep. Instantly he was seized with a desire to sketch what he saw; and, taking up a pen and a piece of paper, he drew the sweet picture before him, as best he could, in red and black ink. When the mother returned and took up, the piece of paper on which he had made the sketch, she instantly recognized it, and exclaimed –" I declare, he has made a likeness of little Sally!" Then she caught him in her arms, and kissed him over and over again. The gratified pride and inspiration of that moment gave an impulse to the boy's genius, and helped to make him what he afterwards became.

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