Blue hen's chicken. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1848-1854, 1851-05-09
SELECT TALES.
STORY OF A PICTURE
A CLEVER STORY.

Amids, the noble collection of paintings which
adorn the walls of the Louvre, there is one
which may rerchance have arrested the eye Of
some amongst our readers, vying, as it does in
warmth of colcring and vigor of expression,
with some Of the best paintings of the Dutch
aad English school.
II is named in the catalogue, "The Black
smith and his Family" and its history is one
50 full of touching and domestic interest, thai
we feel it ought no. 10 pass unrecorded.
There lived, in the seventeenth century, tw @
brothers, both painters, and endowed with e.
quail taent-a circumstance of rare occurrence
in the history of art.
Born at Laon, towards ihe close OF the six.
ieenlh century. they were brought up together,
and through life remained inseparable. They
had but one workshop, one purse, one table
the same spirit seemed 10 animate them both il
life, and in death they were not divided, fol
they closed their earthly career within two daye
Of each ether
Loving, as they did, nature under her sim
plest aspect, and humanity in its most prmi.
tive and unsophislicated form, they passed
much OF their time in wandering amongst the
cottages OF Cum resis, sketching the peasant
groups which they met upon the road, or founo
seated around The cottage hearth, as well as the
hardy laborer guiding his oxen through the
well-plough'd field, and the aged beggar WIN
wandered, desoate and alone, from door lc
door
The simple style was then but little appre
cialed in France. where the fine ladies OF ,ht
Court dlsdained to admire even the chef d'oeu
rrss OF the Flemish school. Our young artist
had, therefore, but slight prospects OF emerging
from obscurIly, and were pursuing their iran
quill and unnollcrd career, when suddenly III.
hand Of death threatened to cut off the younge
brother in his prime, before a single work haC
been achieved that would cause his name TO b,
handed down 10 poserily.
They had walked together a considerable dis
lance from home, in order to sketch piciur
esque building, half frame, half forge. such a
are frequently to be met with in that part @
the country.
Whilst they were thus engaged, Antoin
was seized with sudden and severe illness. =
Louis, his elder brother, wished 10 convey hir
the nearest inn, but soon foun1 the tempt in
practicable, and was constrained TO accept III
hospitality which was so cordially proffefe
by the worthy blacksmith and his family.
The name of these good people was Herb,
lot, and their domestic circle consistt of tn
father of the family, his wife, their III rec chi
dren, aud an aged grandfather. Each had hi
daily task TO perform, and with cheerit hear
did they each strive to accomplish il. Th
husband yielded the massive HAMMER, III
eldest boy blew the bellows, his little broth,
carried the charcoal TO feed the flame, and IA
on his iaiher's erands, whilst his good vii
attended to his domestic concerns, and eve
the old man was ever ready to lend hel pin
hand when his assistance was required.
These,simple and kind hearted people gu icI
ly prepared their best bed for the sick maj
and Wed with each other in their anxiety to d
all they conld 10 alleviate his sufferinss.
The best medicine in the world 1--WE irui
the faculty will excuse US for saying SOY
wachlul and devoted care; and 80 it proved i
the present instance. The patient rallied, cor
irary 10 all human expectation, without the al
of any more experienced Escuapius than III
village doctor, whose chief remedies were thos
which nature herself notwithstanding dri nix
while the lever lasted, nourishment and gene
Gus wines during the exhaustion which sue
ceeded.
This primitive regimen was, however, sip,
cessiul, and in ten days the young painter wa
able to rise from his bed. But as his convs
lescense was not likely to be rapid one, h
expressed wish no longer to tresspass upo
the kindness Of his host, but 10 use his return
ing strength TO repair to a neighboring hol,
stelfy.
No, no, that must not be- exclaimed III
worthy blacksmith; you are 'now quite one
he family, you must remain with US until th