The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-02-12
.Gge 9aiIg yonrnal
Written for the Flag of our Union.
THE PAINTERS CHRISTMAS.
By FRANCIS A. DURIvAGE.
TCoNCLUDED.7

With these words the mysterious strange
vanished. Need we say that Ashton wa
Overwhelmed with his sudden good fortune
He drew forth the bills, almost fearing to fin
, that like fairy gold they had changed to ashes
But there they were; legitimate current money
Falling on his knees he poured forth his thank
to that great Being from whom all blessing
proceed, and he rose from his devotions, calme
and happier for the act. The bells had no
ceased toIling. He hastily donned his cap anc
cloak and sailed forth to church. No one il
the congregation with which he worshlpped
entered more fully into the spirit of the day
As he was coming out of church, he was ac
costed by Mr. Marland, tradesman in pros
porous circumstances, whose daughter Harriet
was hanging on his arm
"Here is our runaway, Harriet" said the old
gentleman; "the deserter, who has persever
ingly cut US for the past six months. And
you never returned an answer to my invita-
ton to dinner, to-day. | suppose you had for
gotten it."
eff the invitation be not rescinded," said the
painter, 81 will answer it in person.
Harriet Marland blushed with pleasure as
she heard this answer. The little family par
ty was a most pleasant one, and did not break
up till very late hour of the night.
The next day Ashton sent the pictures as
he was requested by his unknown patron
Two days afterwards a leading journal of the
city contained an elaborate laudatory notice of
them, occupying an entire column. Another
lpaper followed the example. Fashionable
people tocked to the painters studio. In a
week he had sold all his pictures, and had a
multitude of orders on hand. In a word, his
reputation and fortune were made He was
InH tO cti IiO in facb abI Ia
part of the city. Envy and detraction he en-
Icountered, of course; but he steadily pursued
the even tenor of his way, and showed that he
was as Industrious as he was talented. At
the expiration Of just one year from the visit
of the stranger-on a happier Christmas day,
ifpossible, he was united to Harriet Marland
IN the following spring, accompanied by his
wife, he sailed for Italy, to pursue the study of
art-tor like every great artist he was always
Student-n its glorious home.
One morning ut Florence he received billet
couched in the following terms:
The Signora Giulia Rosara would be happy
to receive visit from Signor Ashton and his
lady, at II O'Clock this day at her apartments,
No, Piazzi de -"
"WiIl you go, Harriet" asked the painter,
after handing the note to his wife.
81 shall be delighted. This is the Rosara,
who created such a ftrore in New York in
Italian Opera" 1es..
"True, had forgotten her name"
Al the appointed hour they went to the Pi-
azza. The $ ranger, who was beautiful and
accomplished woman, received them with great
grace and kindness.
81 can never forget" she said, "the patron
age | received at New York. My success in
America has given me position in my own
country to which my friends thought me ent-
tied, but which no ampresSrrio would accord
me here, until he knew | did not stand in need
of it. Such is the way of the world. | am
always happy to see Americans, and | am
truly grateful for the service they did me-"
The conversation turned on art
'When | told my Italian friends,' said the
signora, ''that had brought home paintings
by American artists, they shrugged their shoul-
ders at the absurdity-but no one repeated the
impertnence after having seen them. They
are not only fine, but | bought them at bar
gain.'
"Might be permitted to see them?" asked
Ashton.
''Certainly-it was partly to show them to
you, that | solicited the honor of you- compa-
NY" said the signora, rising. II have hung a !
curtain before them, for l am very choice of
them"
She drew aside the curtain she alluded to,
and displayed sylvan landscape and recum-
bent Venus. Ashton instantly recognized
them as his own. He seized the hand of the
signora, and pressed it to his lips.
MY noble benefactress!" he exclaimed, II
would have sacrificed ten years of my life for
the pleasure of this moment-Of thanking you
again and again for having made my fortune,
my happinesS!''
'Hear the foolish fellow" said the singer, to
Mrs. Ashton, though her lips quiYered, and
her dark eyes moistened as she spoke. Il
bought his pictures under price cheated him,
signora like a roguish Italian as / was, and
now he calls me his benefactress"
1t was Mrs. Ashton's turn now to weep and
invoke blessings on the head of the beautiful
Italian.
Cease! cease" cried La Rosara, cor you
will make me ruin the fine eyes that are to
dazzle Florence in Romeo tonight There
there, let me go, you foolish people Only when
you hear poor Rosara maligned by her rivals,
at least remember that she has a heart; and
you, Signor Ashton, when you are overburden-
ed with your feelings of gratitude remember
that the happiest moment of my life was that
in which, having casually heard of your ge-
MUS and your misfortune, | stood in caval
er's dress in your studio, and counted out the
money for those pictures, on that merry Christ
mas day in New York;
Translated fro N the German ]