Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-01-06
MIS- ELAN EOUS
From the Metropolitan.
MARTIN WERNER.
A SKETCH.

easel was placed so as to catch every
ray Of light from the solitary window
that illuminated the room in which he
sat. He had been working all the
day TO finish his picture, and it was
with heavy sigh that he now desis-
ted. Butthe sigh was not one of des-
pair, for his nature was sanguine, and
there was buoyancy in his soul that
had never yet deserted him. This
might have resulted from the con-
seriousness Of a genius that must, ell
ther at present or a future time, find
its reward in the applause of thou
sands; or it might be only the light
heartedness Of youth and health. But
certainly, to look at himself and his
abode, most persons would have said
that Martin Werner had great cause
for melancholy. The apartment was
large and cold, but he consoled him
self by saying that he could not COM
plain Of having no room to work in
and though the window would not o.
lpen to admit air as we'll as the yellow
ish light by which the painter worked,
yet draughts poured in from every d.
rection, which, he said, kept up con-
slant circulation of fresh air. No fire
cast cheerful glow over the desolate
region, and the corner opposite to the
empty crate was occupied by lowly
bed, beside which stood a large chest,
containing the painters wardrobe.
Martin Werner had laid aside his CO.
lours, and was carefully searching for
something that lay at the bottom of
this chest. AT length, he dragged
forth the object, and proceeded to the
window to examine It's contents. 1t
was leathern purse, and from. it he
, drew-carefully wrapped in paper to
preserve its lustre-a shining coin.
In happier hour he had been attrac-
ted by its brightness, and had determin-
: ed never to part with it. But now the
hand of stern necessity was held forth;
, he had tasted no food all day. He
gazed upon it, and, for a moment, a
tear dimmed his eye for it recalled
j. distinctly his mother, in her distant
home his brothers, tossing on the
: tickle and deceitful waves and bis
sisters, even now, perhaps, thinking
how their brothers. pictures would be
n admired and gazed att the great city
r The whole course of his life passed as
in dream before him. Again he was
t, in the cottage home which had shell
tered his infancy; again he heard the
!. shouts Of the happy urchins who had
# been his playmates again he wander
7. ed from them, and stood alone with ma.
}, ture-the blue vault above, and tht
;. lovely earth beneath; he heard tht
= gurgling Of the thousand streamlets-
the roar of the distant ocean-tht
}. songs ofthe wild birds-and high over
o head the lark, to him the sweetes
N songster Of them all, sending forth it
3 notes, distinct and clear, while tht
s. straining eye could scarce perceive
= the motion Of It's futtering wings. Al
! the hauDts of his boyhood passed, Xix
w. the scenes Of a magic lantern befor
n him; and with them the train of hap
ne by associations that were connecte'
n 1,,cl -,1ot
De "I cannot part with it," he said, IN
consciously, aloud; "surely, such
Is - dream of happiness is worth starvin
in for. Besides, my picture will be fin
rat ished tomorrow, and | can wait ii
les them"
IN With this heroic resolution he RI
" placed his treasure; and folding h
" arms, he stood at the window, wits
nv ling one of the plaintive little airs
10 his country. Group on group
IN chimneys, Of all shapes and size
aid formed the most prominent feature
lst the landscape before him; and house
er, with fiat roofs and steep roofs, strang
viii heterogeneous mass Of buildings, thr
-, ~ which the eye in vain wandered 4
be some pleasing object on which to res
Amongst them, however, our artist
Imagination went to work. Loi
domes and stately palaces arose at t
waving of the magic wand of his fam
: R forms ofbeauty and loneliness, wa
AR- dering amid gardens ofluxnry and d
eth Ifght, while angel messengers DO
= peace and happiness to their solltud
scH. From these visions of bliss he turn
to the destruction of worlds and e.
pires. and the awful depths Of the
fernal regions-the gigantic bilio
rs, overhanging the shuddering group
devoted wretches collected on a 70
a during the great deluge, or the conf
grafton of majestic cities, doomed
the will Of Heaven to destruction.
Again his dreams were painfully
terrupted by the pangs of hunger;
thought that sleep might lull him i
,mo ;nsensibiity to them, and stretch
himself on his bed. But sleep ca
not: and after tossing about for so
Who time. he started up and sought, th
ofl several streets, the shop of a bak
that One he at last espied, and hastily
lius- torod The shopkeeper cast sus