Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-03-30

by dint OF entreatieS, and he feelings oil
compassion awakened by his wretched
aspect, prevailed on him to allow the
piece to be offered at auction. The price
at which he estimated its worth was three
thalers. "Let it CO." said the artist to
himself; "the money will procure me
bread for a week-if a purchaser can be
found"
The picture was examined and critized
by many persons. The exhausted and
anxious artist stood apart. AT last it was
set up for sale. The monotonous voice
of the auctioner repeated, "At three
thalers-who will buy3 AT three tha-
lers I" There was no response.
The stricken Samuel groaned, and bu-
ried his face in his hands. 1t was his best
work! The salesman cllled attention
10 its beauties. "Does it not seem," he
said, ''that the wind is really stirring the
foliage of those trees, and that the leaves
bend as they glitter in the sun! How
pure and crystalline is the water what
life breathes in the animals come to drink
at that stream (; and the Abbey of New
bourg, with its fine buildings and the viii
lage IN me u|lSlunce, &C.
"Twenty-fve thalers," said a dry,
weak voice, and the sound startled Duh
obret from the stupor of despair. He
raised himself on his feet to see whose
lips uttered the blessed words. 1t was
the picture vender 10 whom he had first
thought Of offering his work.
Fifty thalers!" cried another sono.
.-,,. ,-a;,o Ill., z1o,Io~ In
man, dressed in black.
ga hundred" responded the picture
dealer, evidently in n considerable vexa-
ton. His adversary was equally prompt.
"Two hundred thalers! !"
''Three hundred !"
"Four hundred"
ga thousand !"
There was silence among the specta-
tors. and the crowd pressed eagerly a.
round the opposing bidders, who, like
two combattants, stood in the centre.
The couutenance ofthe picture dealer
showed his agitation in spite of his forced
calmness. Alter amoment's hesitation
he cried ''two thousand thalers -
"Ten thousand !" responded the tall
man quickly, while his face glowed with
anger
"Twen,y thousand" The picture
dealer grew pale as death and clenced
his hands violently. The tall man, in
increased excitement, bid forty thousand.
The look of triumph he cast upon his ad-
versary was too much for the picture
dealer; and his eyes flashing rage, he
bid fifty thousand.
How was it meanwhile with poor Sam
uel! He thought all that passed a dream.
and strove TO awaken himself, rubbing
his eyes and pressing his hand TO his fore
head, while The contest for his picture
went on.
"One hundred thousand !" sounded
a voice in accents OF desperation.
One hundred and twenty thousand
and the devil take Thee, dog of a picture
dealer !"
The discounted bidder disappeared ir
the crowd; and the tall man, who hac
proved victorious, was bearing away the
prize, when a lean, crooked, emaciated
squalid being; presented himself before
him. Taking him for a beggar; the pur
chaser offered him a small piece Of mon
ey.
''lf it please VOL" faltered Samuel
81 nm the painter of that picture"
The tall man was Count Dunkalshbach
one of the richest noblemen in Germany
He tore out a leaf from his pocket-book
wrote on it in a few lines, and handed i
to the artist.
''Here, FRIEND" he said. ais the orde,
for the amount, which thou mayest re
ceive at once. Adieu." And he passed
on.
Samuel finally persuaded himself tina
all was not a dream. He became The
owner of an estate, and laid many plan.
for living at his ease, and cullivating hi
~favorite art as a pastime, when ar indi
ges,ion ended his days. The picture
that had brought fortune in so singular
manner, remained long in the possession
of Count Dunkalshbach, and is now il
the collection of the King of Bavaria
american Reriew.