The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-10-08
l srlrrtra Sturu.
From Chambers Journal.
THE PAINTER AND HIS
PUPIL.

Ny father WAS q trader and disli.ler at
Schiedau, OH the Mas. Without being
wealthy, We enjoyed the means Of procur
Ing every social comfort. We gave and
received visits from few old friends; We
went occasionally to the theatre and my
falher hal his tulip garden and summer
house ut a little distance FROM Schiedan,,
on the bauks Of the cannl which connects
the town with the river.
But my father aud mother, whose only
child WAS, cherished one dream Of am
bition, in which, fortunately, my own
tastes led me to participate; they wanted
Inc TO be a painter. Let me but see n
picture 10y Franz Linden in the gallery at
Rotterdam said my father, and sin all
die happy" So, at fourteen ears Of age,
] was removed from school, and placed
in the classes Of Aiesser Kesier, an artist
living at Delft. Here made such pro
gress, that 10y the time had reached my
nineteenth birthday, WAS transferred to
stclier Of Hans Van Roos, a descendant,
OF the celebrated family Of that name
Van Roos was not more that thirty eight
or forty, and had already acquired con
siderable reputation, as n painter Of por.
traits and sacred subjects. There was an
altar piece OF bis in one Of our finest
churches; his works had occupied the
place Of honor, for the last six years nj
the annual exhibition and for portrait
ure, he numbered among his patrons most
OF the wealthy merchants and bargomas-
ters Of the city. Indeed, there could be
no question that my master was raridly
acquiring fortune equal to his popular.
ty.
Still, he was not cheerful man. Ii
was whispered by the pupils that he met
with disappointment early iu life-that
he had loved, was accepted, and on the
eve Of marriage, was rejected by the lady,
for more wealthy suiior. The story,
however, was founded merely 0. eca;sc.
ture, If not originating in pure fable; for
no one in Rotterdam knew the history OF
his youth. He came from Friesland, in
the north Of Holland, when very Young
man; no had always been the same
gloomy, pallid, labor.loving citizen. He
was a rigid Calvinist; he was sparing Of
domestic expen iiture, and liberal to the
poor; this every one could tell you, and
no one knew more.
The number Of his pupils was limited
10 SIX. He kept us continually at work,
and scarcely permitted us To exchange u
word with each other during the day
Standing there among US so silently, with
che light from above shining down upon
his pallid face, and contrasting with the
sombre folds Of bis long, black dressing
gown, he looked almost like some stern
old picture himself. To tell the truth, we
were all afraid Of him; not that he was
harsh, not that be assumed any overbear-
ing authority; on the contrary, bs was
stately. silent, and frigidly polite; and
that was lar more impressive. None Of
US resided in his house, for lac lived in the
deepest seclnsioE. had a second floor
in peighboring street, and two of INV
fellow students occupied rooms in The
same house. We used TO meet at night
in each others chambers. and make ex.
curslons to the exhibitions and theatres !.
and sometimes, on a summers evening
We would hire pleasure boat, and row
for mile or two down the river. We
were merry enough. .hen, and not quite