Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-11-03

most prominent feature in the landscape be-
fore hm-and houses with fiat roofs and steep
ronis, II strange, heterogeneous mass OF
buildings, through which The eye in vain
wandered for some pleasing object on which
to rest. Amongst them, however, our artists
Iimau nation went TO work. Lofty donies and
stately palaces arose at the waving of the
magic wand Of hi, fancy forms of beauty and
loyeiness, wandering amid gardens of luxury
and delight, while angel messengers bore
peace and happiness To their solitude. From
these visions Of bliss he turned TO the dcstruc-
ton of worlds and empires, nnd the uw ful
depths Of the internal rcgions-the gigantic
pillows overhangihg the shuddering group Of
devoted wrctches collected on a rock during
HE great deluge-or the conhagration of ma
jcstlc cities, doomed by the will Of heaven TO
destruction.
Again his dreams were painfully interrupt
cd by the pangs Of hunger: he thought that
sleep might lul him into nsensibity to them,
and stretched himself on his bed. But sleep
came not, and, after tossing about for some
time, l'e started up, and sought through sew
eral streets the shop of baker. One he at
ast esped, and hastily entered. The shop
keeper cast suspicious eye upon his eusto-
mer; for his clothes were not so new as they
had been, and were, besides, covered with
divers spots and putches of paint, which did
not by any means add to the gcntility Of his
appearance. Our artist demanded loaf, in
payment whereof he laid down his last bright
coin. The baker took it, scrutiniZcd it, turn
ed it over and over, then dashed it violently
against the board, and declared it to be a
counterfeit.
"A counterfeit" exclaimed the painter,
dismally. But fearing that his tone and look
might betray his circumstances, he added,
carelessly, swell, it's of no consequence.
don't happen to have another with me now
Good night, SIR"
! Affecting an Independent swagger, he left
the shop, and hastencd down the street: but
had he looked back he would have seen the
sharp face of the baker pecring after him, as
he mutercd to himself, "You don't happen to
have any more with you now, sir! Aye, aye
you're pretty scamp, ! warrant you; and
shall look twice at your money it ever you
come TO my shop again"
Martin Werner hastened home. Till that
hour he had not known absolute want and
even his buoyant spirits threatened to desert
him ut the approach of grim penury. Once
more lie ransacked his chest, for in one cor
ner he remembered to have seen crust. lie
found it: it was mouldy and covered with dust,
but he shook that off and ate it with keen
relish, then got into bed, and slept more
soundly than he who had supped upon all the
delicacies that wealth could procure.
The morning sun was shining brightly
upon him through the window when he awoke.
lie lcapcd from his bed, exclaiming as he
hastily dressed himself, "Thc crisis Of my
adversely is past! have climbed its steep
hill, and shall now descend to the fair sunny
vale on the other side. The sun shines gaily
on my mornings work: ] will take it for an
omen prognostic, ofbrghter days 10 comc"
Under these favorable auspices he finished
his picture. 1t was sold, not certainly for its
full value as u work Of art, but for more than
the young and unknown artist had veniured
10 hope. Success did follow. Each sue
ceeding production ofhis genius brought fresh
fame and profit to the painter; and in after
years. when he had become the favored of
kings and princes, when his pictures were
admired by nations and purchased by gov
ernments, he thought, with mingled feelings
Of pleasure and pain, Of the mouldy crust
which he had so contentedly eaten in his
lonely and dcsolate garret.