teacher in drawing and painting. She would describe her pictures to
him, and he would criticize and tell her how to improve them.

When she was only sixteen years old she exhibited her first picture,
which she called "Cats in the Window." The picture received a great
deal of praise and was sold immediately. Every one supposed she would
paint more pictures of cats, because she could paint them so well, but
for some reason she began to paint dogs instead. Her dog pictures won
much popularity also and for many years she supported herself and her
blind father by her paintings of dogs.

After her father's death she married and moved from Amsterdam to
Brussels, where she again became interested in painting cats. It was
then that she did her best work. One of her best pictures painted at
that time was "A Fascinating Tale."

Madame Ronner had so much care and trouble all her life, it is a wonder
she could paint such bright, happy pictures. She was very poor much of
her life, and had not only the care and support of her blind father but
later on of an invalid husband and several little children. Still with
it all she must have found time for a frolic with these fluffy little
kittens, to have known just how to paint them at their best.

Her little children must have liked to play with them, too.

=Questions about the artist.= Who painted this picture? Who taught her
to draw and paint? How could he, when he was blind? What other animals
did Madame Ronner paint besides cats? Which did she paint the better?
What makes you think she must have liked cats? Where did she put them
when she wanted to paint them? Why did the cage have glass sides? Why
did it have wire over the top? the soft cushions on the floor? What
did she have for the cats to play with?

A HELPING HAND

=Original Picture:= Corcoran Gallery, Washington,
D.C.
=Artist:= Emile Renouf (r[~e] n[=oo]f'').
=Birthplace:= Paris, France.
=Dates:= Born, 1845; died, 1894.

=Questions to arouse interest.= Of what is this a picture? Where are
this man and little girl? Where do you think they are going? What do
you suppose the man does for a living? why? How is he dressed? What
makes you think he loves the little girl? For what is the long pole
with the rope around it used? How is the man guiding the boat now?
What do you see ahead that he is trying to turn away from? What is the
little girl doing? How is she dressed? Why do you t