Very soon Finley's two brothers joined him at college. As their father was poor, the boys had to help themselves along. Finley turned to account his talent for drawing. He made considerable money by painting on ivory likenesses of his classmates and professors, receiving for a miniature $5, and for a profile $1.
At the end of his college course he made painting his chosen profession, and planned to get the best instruction for his life work.
Having made a friend of the great artist, Washington Allston, Morse went with him to London, and there studied under Benjamin West who, as you remember, was Robert Fulton's teacher. Morse was at this time a young man of modest, gentle, and sunny manner, and easily won the affection of his new teacher.
West held his pupils to high standards, as the following instance shows. Upon one occasion, after spending much time in making what he considered to be a finished drawing, Morse laid it before West for criticism. Upon careful examination the master praised it highly, and then added:
"Very well, sir, very well; go on and finish it."
"Oh, no," said Mr. West, "look here, and here, and here," pointing to defects in the drawing.
After spending another week upon it, Morse took it to his teacher. Again Mr. West praised it and added:
"Very well, indeed, sir; go on and finish it."
"Is it not finished?" Morse asked with surprise and disappointment in his voice.
Morse spent three or four days more in trying to perfect the work, and again handed it to his teacher, who, after again praising it, said:
"I cannot finish it," said Morse, by this time thoroughly disheartened.
"Well," replied Mr. West, "I have tried you long enough. Now, sir, you have learned more by this drawing than you would have accomplished in double the time by a dozen half-finished beginnings. It is not numerous drawings, but the _character of one_, which makes a thorough draughtsman. _Finish_ one picture, sir, and you are a painter."
After four years of study, Morse returned to Boston. But in the meantime, like Fulton, he had gradually turned his thought from painting to invention. His energies were now, for many years, divided between the two.
During these years Morse had to depend for a livelihood mainly upon drawing and painting. He travelled through New Hampshire and Vermont, and even as far as South Carolina, everywhere painting miniatures on ivory, and establishing his reputation as an artist.