t to little Miss Bowles and
told her all about the little dog, whose name, perhaps, was Spot. A
lady whose picture he had painted had given the dog to him, and she
had taught Spot several very clever tricks which Miss Bowles should
see right after luncheon.

Sir Joshua loved to surprise his little friends. When they were not
looking he would take their handkerchiefs from them, or suddenly put
some strange toy in their laps. He loved to see their look of surprise
and delight.

[Illustration: _Miss Bowles_]

After luncheon came a good romp in the yard. Perhaps the little dog
would bite Miss Bowles's shoes and try to keep her from running. How
she must have laughed!

When she went back into the house Spot went in with her. Little Miss
Bowles is so afraid the artist is going to send her pet away that she
holds him fast in her arms, and looks at Sir Joshua Reynolds as much
as to say, "Now you can't send him away, can you?" Her eyes fairly
sparkle with glee as she squeezes the little dog much too hard for his
comfort. He knows that she holds him so fast because she wants to keep
him, and he is glad to be with her, but oh! if she just would not
squeeze quite so hard!

Show me how little Miss Bowles is sitting. I suppose she is afraid to
look away even for a second for fear Sir Joshua will play some trick
on her and get the little dog away. Sir Joshua painted so very fast
that I don't suppose she knew just when he drew her picture, although
he probably asked her to sit still when he was ready to paint. But she
must have gone to his house several times before the picture was
finished. Her father and mother were very much pleased with the
picture, and said it looked just like their little girl.

Sir Joshua Reynolds loved the woods and nature so much that he nearly
always painted them in his pictures. So in the background of this
picture we catch a glimpse of the woods in the yard where the child
and dog have been playing, and where they have just stopped a moment
to rest.

=Questions to help the pupil understand the picture.= Where was this
picture painted? Why was little Miss Bowles so glad to go? How did she
go? What came to meet her? What color was the dog? How did he act? Who
gave the dog to the artist? How did Sir Joshua Reynolds know little
Miss Bowles had come? How did he tease her? What did they do after
luncheon? Why did she hold the dog so fast? What can you see behind
the little girl?

=To the Teacher:=