d divide his kingdom and
property among them equally; then there would be no trouble about his
wealth after he was dead. Of course he expected to make his home with
them in turn as long as he lived. Naturally he went to _Goneril_, the
eldest daughter, first. Very soon he found that he was not wanted. She
had the money--her father's money--but why should she be troubled with
her old father? He then went to _Regan_, his second child, but she too
refused to make a home for him. The third daughter, _Cordelia_, loved
her father dearly and wanted him to live with her that she might care
for him in his old age. By a strange mishap the old father thought
that _Cordelia_, his beloved child, was false to him. He wandered off
on the heath in a fearful storm and at last found shelter in a hut
where he thinks even his faithful dogs are against him. He cries out
pitifully:

The little dogs and all,
Tray, Blanche and Sweetheart, see they bark at me.

Abbey has painted the scene when the old king is leaving heart-broken,
for he thinks _Cordelia_, the child he loves best, is deserting him.
_Cordelia_, knowing how false her sisters are, is saying:

I know you what you are;
And, like a sister, am most loath to call
Your faults as they are named. Love well our father.

Abbey's story of "The Holy Grail" in the Boston Library is one of
America's great series of paintings for wall decoration.

[Illustration: FIG. 49. KING LEAR. ABBEY. Courtesy of the Metropolitan
Museum of Art, New York City.]

SUNSET IN THE WOODS

GEORGE INNESS (1825-1894)

Whenever you can, I want you to find out what the painter says about
his own pictures. We feel very glad that George Inness told us about
"Sunset in the Woods." He said in 1891: "The material for my picture
was taken from a sketch made near Hastings, on the Hudson, New York,
twenty years ago. This picture was commenced seven years ago, but
until last winter I had not obtained any idea equal to the impression
received on the spot. The idea is to express an effect of light in the
woods at sunset."

What a wonderful glow he has on those trees beyond the big rock away
back in the picture. And see the light on the trunk of the big tree
near us. I believe the light is gradually disappearing as we look.
Somehow we feel the birds are twittering as they go to bed and the
flowers are nodding their heads, they are so sleepy. Soon it will be
dark and the owl will screech and t