Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-02-02


quite sure is as coed, if not better than
this"
"lndeed! are you sure of that? 1 am
afraid You are no great connoiseur of paint
ing. But where could sec this one YOU
praise so much, aud form my own Judgment
on the matter?"
cat Mr.. Herbelot's forge, sir if you please
to come there to morrow, at noon''
Very well, l will be there to morrow by
twelve o'clock. You may tell him SO if you
like"
Louise Danchet made low courtesy and
retired, leaving NJ. GAmivon equally sur
prised at her good manners and at the SIN
sularlty of a painting by the brothers Lenain
being offered for sale at blacksmiths shop.
Louise at first only confiled her project
to the mother Of her betrothed for she knew
we'll that the good blacksmith valued his
picture SO much that he would rather sell
his bed from under him than part with it.
He was to go next day attnoon, with his
three sons, to the village notary, to arrange
matters for the sale of his forge, as well as
of the little farm belonging to his eldest son:
Louise was, therefore, pretty sure that the
coast would be clear at that hour, and that
NJ. d 'Amiyon might examine the painting at
his leisure.
Punctual to his appointed time, the banker
duly arrived at the forge at twelve o'clock,
and was ushered by Madame Herbelot and
Louise into the best parlor, where the por-
trait os the family group had now hung for
ve-and-twenty years.
At tic first glance NJ dAmivon allowed
that this acGs yet a finer painting than the
one he possessed. "But how, in the name of
WONDER he exclaimed, ''did you happen to
acquire such a treasure p"
Madame Herbelot, in simple and touch
ing manner, related the history of the
young artists stay among them, of their
gratitude for the kindness they had receiv-
ed, the birth of the little Antoine. and the
family portrait which his godfather had left
him as a parting gift; and then witt tears
she told how this beloved child was now in
peril Of death, and how, for his cake. they
were going to give up the house where they
had passed SO many years in peace and
happiness. The banker, who, though a
little pompous and self sufficient, was, in
truth, kind-hearted man, listened with
deep interest to her tale; and when the
poor mother and the affianccd bride at
length cast themselves at his feet. and i'm
plored him with tie utmost carnestness 70
purchase the painting for six thousand
francs-thc sum demanded for the young
man IduSOEl--ne ralSeu tEcm with q smile
and said:
"1ou need not waste so many entrcaties
on the matter, my good friends. This paint
ing is well worth eight thousand francs, AMI
could not, in conscience, give less for it.
You may tell Hcrbelot to come to my house
for that sum as soon as he likes"
The joy of the two poor women on hear
ing this liberal offer may more readily be
conceived than described. All that now re-
mained to be done was to persuade the
smith to part with his favori;c picture
There was hard struggle in the poor mans
mind. As far as he himself was concerned.
he would almost have given up anything
else; but when he thought of his wife and
children about to be driven from their home,
and his captive son waiting with an anxious
heart for the sum which xu,S m ronsom him