PHOEBE PICKERING JENKS.

 Phoebe Pickering Hoyt was born in 1847, in the old sea city of
Portsmouth, N. H. When Phoebe was sixteen the family removed to
 Boston. She drew a little then, as most school-girls do.
 She had no thought however of becoming an artist.
 Mr. Jenks, though an active business man, had artis-
 tic tastes, and drew and painted at home, for his own
 pleasure. His artist friends were often at the house.
 SSo it happened that one day, when some one brought
 Mrs. Jenks a beautiful bouquet, she was moved to paint
 it. Taking the brushes and colors at hand, she worked
 away for a couple of days, and so successfully that a
"S,IO (IRS. French painter who chanced in assured her he could
 PICTURE). not have done better himself "
 Stimulated by this, and encouraged on by her husband and his artist
friends, Mrs. Jenks now began to
study the art of painting. For a .IM
year or so she worked hard in the
studio of a friend in the old Studio
Building close by Boston Common.
She had no regular master, but one
and another of that friendly colony
of artists would drop in, and their
free criticisms and suggestions ....
helped her.
 It was now that her little son
of three opened the way to her
first achievement as a painter of
child-life. The little fellow was
quite remarkable as a model, being
able to take any attitude, and as-
sume any expression, desired. One
day he caught up his long golden
curls with a big high comb, and so
stood, with a smile on his face, SPRINGTIME.
while his mother painted the picture called "Mama's Comb."
 This was the first picture Mrs. Jenks exhibited, and it sold, for a