36 Andrew Fackson Grayson. [ ZOE. 
year of his tuition under Tobin that he showed the beginning of 
the taste for drawing, his first attempts being mainly birds, foliage 
and flowers. The first drawing of a bird which he completed was. 
of the wood duck (Azx sponsa), and was considered by himself and 
the other boys a very pretty picture. One day during school 
hours, when Tobin was drowsy in his chair, Grayson was engaged 
upon a picturesque river scene; so intent was he, and the two boys. 
peeping over his shoulders watching the progress of the picture, that 
they did not notice the sly approach of Tobin who suddenly stood 
beside them. The picture was immediately hidden in the desk, but 
it was too late. Tobin ordered not only that picture but the entire 
contents of the desk produced for his inspection and the quick re- 
fusal was followed by a severe blow upon the side of young Gray- 
son’s head. Thoughtless of the consequences, he broke his slate 
over the teacher’s head and taking to his heels ran for home. That — 
evening, in the presence of the boy and his father, Tobin displayed 
the pictures upon which he said the son was wasting his time in 
school. His father scanned the pictures, then ‘threw them into the ~ 
fire and followed the act by a severe scolding about the making of | 
pictures and the wasting of opportunities. Thus in one hour was 
crushed (as he thought forever) the talent which he himself has 
said “had it been fostered might have made me an artist of no 
mean order.” 
The fracas with old Tobin resulted in his father’s sending him at — 
once to the College of St. Mary, Missouri. But during this course 
he was prohibited from taking drawing lessons, and as it was 
against his father’s wishes, he did not desire to. 
and the estate being divided, three negroes fell to his share; these 
were sold toa relative for their valuation. For the first time he 
ment. It was the only store in the town of Columbia, but most of 
the time the business was left to the care of a clerk whilst the 
young proprietor wandered about the woods with his gun. The 
result was what might have beensexpected. Mr, Grayson had no 
business tact whatever, no love for the drudgery of mercantile pur. 
suits and no pleasure but in the study of nature. In two years 
