The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-10-11

in the fold and seated himself upon the threshold
of the cottage, which served him for summer
house. The sky was of deep blue. The sew
en- stars shone forth as studs of gold in the
vault of Heaven. Cassiope and Bootes twinkled
brilliantly The young shepherd, with his fingers
buried in the hair of his dog seated on the ground
near him, was moved by that magnificent specta-
Gle that he was then regarding, by that splendid
appearance which the sky, In its careless magnif-
cence, gave to the dullearth
He dreamed also of the young lady, and thought
of that tender and soft hand which had slightly
touched his rough sun-burnt cheek, he felt shiv-
erng sensation run through his frame. He was
much troubled in going to sleep, and he rolled in
hisstraw, without being able TO close his eyelids;
at length sleep came, afterhe had sought 1t long
time. Petit-Pierre had dream
It seemed to him that he was seated upon apor-
ton of the rock, with beautiful compani on be-
fore him. The sun had scarcely risen, the haw-
thorn trembled under its snow white flowers, the
grass of the meadows was covered with pearly
dew-drops, the hill appeared to be clothed with
|
Petit Pierre saw coming towards him the beautiful
lady of the valley. She approached him smiling,
and said:
"The point is not in looking, it is necessary to
act''
Having pronounced these words, she placed up
on the knees of the astonished herdsman piece OF
drawing paper, beautiful leaf of vellum, sketch
ing pencil, and placed herself near him. He be-
gins to trace some lineaments, but his hand trem-
bes like the leaf, and the lines blendd togeth-
er. His desire to do well, his emotion and con-
fusion at succeeding poorly, cause drops OF wa
Ter to fall from his temples. He would have CIV
en- ten years of his life in order not to have shown
so much awk wardnes before one so beautiful; his
nerves were contracted, and the lines which he
essayed to trace grew into irregular and ridiculous
zIgzags; his anguish was such that he needed to be
reused up but the lady seeing his pain placed in
his hand pencil of gold the point of which shown
as flame. Immediately, Petit-Pierre experien-
ced no more difficulty. The figures arranged and
grouped themselves alone on the paper; the trunks
of the trees were shot forward with bold, free
!.
were delineated with all their foliage ard their bur-
dens. The lady, leaning upon the shoulder o
Petit Pierre, watched the progress of his work
with satisfied air, saying from time to time:
"Good d;-very good; that is excellent Pro
gress.''
A lock OF her hair, whose spiral form floated in
the breeze, gently touched the figure ofthe young
herdsman, and from that contact sprang forth thou
sands OF sparks, as from an electric machine; one
of these small atoms fell upon his heart, and il
burned in his bosom. The lady perceived this
and said to him:
"You have the spark; a1ieu"
This dream produced strange effect upon Petit
Pierre. His head and his heart were in flame
From that day he came forth from the chaos ofth
multitude; between his birth and his death he de.
termined to do something.
Hetook charcoal from a fire of the day before
and wished to commence Immediately his picture
esque studies; the outside panks of his hut served
him for paper and for canvass.
How should he commence! At the portrait o.
his best, or more properly, his only friend, Fidele
for he was an orphan and had no family but hi:
dog. The first sketches that he made resemblet
as much, it must be confessed, hippopotamus a:
dog; but by dint of effacing and reproducing, fol-
Fidele was the most patient model in the world
be improved by passing from the hippopotamu' tc
the crocodile, after that to the pig, and at last tc
figure, in which il was easy to recognise an objec
approaching to the canine species.
To tell of the rapture that seized Petit-Pierre,
his design being finished, would be difficult mat
ter. Michael Angelo, when he gave the last
touch of the pencil to the chdpelle Sirtine, anc
drew back, his arms crossed upon his breast, tt
contemplate his immortal work. did not experience
more heartfelt or more profound joy.
eff the beautiful lady could see the picture Of
Fidee" the little artist said to himself
1t is necessary in order to render justice to him
to say that his nfatuation was Of short duraton.-
He perceived very soon how informal was his
SKETCH and different from the veritable Fidee; he
effaced it, and afterwards essayed to make sheep;
he succeeded little better, for he had already
some experience; in the meantime the charco
mashed under his fingers, the poorly planned
"If had some paper and apencil, would sue
ceed better; buthow can procure them'"
Petit-Perre had forgotten that he was capi-
talist He called it to mind; and one day, contid-
ing his flock TO comrade, he went resolutely to
the village and entered the house of merchant,
of whom he demanded all that is necessary in
sketching The astonished merchant gave him
some paper, and pencils of many kinds. Petit
Pierre, very happy in having accomplished task
so heroic and difficult as buying so many strange
things, returned to his Sheep and, without neglect
ing them, devoted to drawing all the time that
shepherds ordinarily spend IN playing the pipe, In
whiting sticks and in making snares for birds.
Without attempting to render an account for the
motives which guided his feet, he oftentmes con-
duc tod his nock m the vyhare he had set for