Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-08-18

CLAUDE vERNET.
By ELIZABETH YouArr.

passengers was a youth meanly clad, with a high intellec-
iGai brow, and laughing eyes, who seemed the ve-y person.
mcauon OF hope and happiness, and even sang to himself as
they rolled along.
\ GU seem very merry, my lad" said one of his fellow
reminding him Of the home he was leaving.
why should l not be- 1 an, young"
nna are me young always happy, think your"
Tor the most part" replied the youth. And there was
more truth in his words than the cynics of the presen, .s
are willing to allow.
You are from Avignon, - said the first speaker. "are Won
notl' '''
"Ay' and so proud Of my BIRTH place that l could wish it
might one day be proud Ut NE"
us companion evidently did not understand him. and
spoke no more, and the boy amused himself by throwing
Woney-oi which heaven knows he had none TO snare
among me beggars, as they crowded about the vehicle, or
eNS19HgingI tor flowers with the bright eyed peasant girls.
y GU should be rich" SAID has fellow Li yeuer. a, length.
IN order 70 indulge yourself thus"
Inc boy made no answer; the whole expression of his
iaSe hau changed-It was pale and earnest, aud vet still
radiani-and following the direction of ms flashing ewes.
the man said, with u careless smile
why, 1t Is only the sea-"
stop exclaimed the youth, and the driver paused a, the
passionate Jones Of his voice, huff in fear.
This - no, Marseiles," said the latter.
NO matter; | shall proceed no further to night"
AS you will" replied the man; and the traveller and he
exchanged looks with each other, and when the boy was
out OF sight, the driver said, compassionateiy-
"fooF boy! he is surely mad. Has ne no mother %
but was he to be pltied ? as he stood thus with outstretch.
ed arms and waving hair by the sea shore-watching the
mighty waves roll up even TO his very feet, and then go muir
muTlng back with a sweet song, as If wooing him i'm their
u~eacherous beauty 10 folow-wordless. motionless. like
thing OF stone, until the Promethean fire of a glorious in.
sp'auon wooed him back again to life; and finging himself
upon the ground, he lay there until sunset sunset the me-
moiy OF which never left him from that hour.
he reached Marseiiles with little difficulty, and embark.
q i mat portion Italy. But the voyage was not destined
"Ue a prosperous one, Tor a wild storm coming on, the crew
aud passengers betook themselves to their prayers, expect.
leg every moment would be their last. There was one
mere a moth,T, with a mothers heart, and she alone, IN
'hai hour OF desolauon and abandonment, missed from
among them the bngh,eyed boy, who but an hour ago she
hlu llhened IN her pride to what her own fair child, whom
sue hsd not seen for years, might then be. And when she
1sN'u concerning him OF the sailors, they pointed to "a slight
form dashed to the mast, which swayed To- and fro, and even
cracked before the tempest.
alt was his own VISA" said they. "aad i, matters not
since we must all perish"
And then, even above the hurricane, arose the clear tones
o. the boys glad voice, rs he tossed up his arms, and shout
co aloud Ia ms wonder and admiration.
Atlength the storm passed away, and they took hin down,
nMi ihsenslole from cold and exposure TO the Clements
Inc mother LAID his head in her lap, and wrung the water
from ms Iong hair, bending down to catch the whispered
accents which fell from his white, but smiling lips.
1T was Il glorious sight ~ exclaimed the boy.
DO you speak OF the storm, my chndl'
"Ah, yes! those dark, boiling waves, and the white sea
foam, how beautiful they were. But the tints will be diff.
euitto realize Where are my crayons ?" And he half
arose asi IN search OF them, and then, weary and exhaus-
TED sunk back again and slept. From that hour Claude
'ernet became almost exclusively a marine painter.
we next md our young artist at Rome, wandering for
whole days together with his tablets in his hand; steering
his very soul, Us 1t were, in the glowing beauty of her gor.
geous skies and golden sunsets. Not a fugitive int-nota
bnght c!oud-not a noon day shadow, but was caught and
- A' ANAiAcs AuA II n SIluk II As
ana how pleasantln ms quiet chamber 70 dream il over A.
gain, and essay, seldom in vain, to realize the haunting Wis
ions o! ms fancy, until the walls Of that humble studio be-
came oHght with almost living beauty, the creator of which
sat among them-and starved Oh, why should il be ever
thus with the young aspiants to the mysterious, and almost
inaccessible temple OF fame one half of which perish by
the way, or are crushed and trOdden down by the iron foot.
steps OF a mercileSs criticism; while u very few only live TO
IooH down from us siddy heights with smile, or oftener still
with a tear, for the struggles it has cost them to win.
oiteh would Ciaude's young companions ask him, half in
moekery, why he continued heaping together pictures for
which he could evidently get no Salel To which he would
laughlnsy reply, that he was working against the time when
he should not be able to do them fast enough: for hunger
and want, with their long train OF attendant evils, had failed
as yet to snbdue that glad and hopeful spirit.
IL was n bright morning, when the young artist, who had
eaten nothing tor many hours, and was tired, moreover,
with having sat up all the previous night ut his favounte
studies took the sketch just completed from his easel, and
went forth 10 buy food with the produce of its sale. should
he be fortunate enough 10 hud a purchaser, which was very
questionable; and after many vain TRIALS, sat down weary
and heart-s!ck upon the marble steps OF a house standing
ON the outskirts OF the city, aud ieant his brow upon his
hands. How changed from when we first beheld him full
OF a thousand wild hopes! Now his cheeks were pale and
hollow. and his form strangely attenuated.
Poor boy! II may be that he was dreaming of his home,
and wondering what they would say there, could they see
MN nova warderer IN the beautiful city Of his idolary,
without food or friends; and vowing, perhaps, Ia his lone!i-
ness and despair, to return thiIhtr again, and give up all
his ambitious views for the future, thinking il much better
after all TO be loved than great. But whatever were his
musings, when he lifted up his dro1 png head and saw the
sunset clouds, with Their edges touched with gold, almost
appearing as though the eve could pierce through their
bright arches into the heaven beyond, he smiled Ioyously,
and forgot all else IN the wild enthusiasm Of his glorious art.
At THIS moment the door OF the dwelling upon the steps
OF which he sat was nureleSsly opened, and one cane
forth, who likewise paused, won by the spell Of the hour, "
pera'p Attracted sul more by the look of almost divine
loneliness upon the pale, upraised brow Of the artist.
"itis a beautiful night.' said the stranger at length, as
the smiles and tHc sunlight passed away together from the
face OF Claude Vcruet, and once again earth claimed him.
The boy started, and answered briefly.
And more especially So, | should imagine, TO a painter"
continued the other, pointing to the unfortunate sketch
which he still retained.
Claude uncovered, and held i, up with a vain hope.
'lt Is for sale" said ne.
"Ah! but is not this a strange way OF disposing Of your
pictures, nv young fuendl"
Poor child! And how much do you ask for this7
Claude named the required sum.
"Eol will think me somewhat cxorbitant IN my dc.
mands," said he; and yet who knows but one day you
may sell it again, should you be SO disposed, for a hundred
times the money"
The stranger laughed, but not in mockery.
"Nou are hopeful. and ambitious" said he-"both good
signs; but here il the money, and YOU must bring me the
picture 10 morrow, with any other that YOU may happen 10
have by YOU And placing his card m the boys hand, nc
passed rapidly on; while Claude went home with a bound.
ing step, and blessed him IN his heat, a. he sat down, for
the NJ time for nearly four.and. twenty hours, to q simple
meal of brcud and fruits.
cit may be, but know no other, and cannot starve,r
On! what would We not give now Tor a knowledge Of
that name which has passed into forgotten sound for a
glance az the card which Claude put under his pillow when
he went 90 rest, and awoke with the dawn 70 pcuse again,
in order 90 be sure hat there was no mistake, and that he
was actually hidden to the palace Of the kiud.hcarted and
benevolent lrdinal- - THIS blank will, we much fear,
never be filled up.
His future patron received him kindly, purchased another
picture, and ordered more. And from that hour Claude
Nemet took his proper position IN society, and became not
only one Of the most distinguished marine pointers Of
his day, but among the very few whose fame survived it,
IL has been truly said OF hmm that his genius knew neither
infancy nor old agc. And yet who can be sure, but for that
fortunate meeting withhis bcnefactor, whether hisnamc aud
memory might not have passed away, as that ct thousands