The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-10-29
A Scene Of RelributiOn.

picture representing the sale of quaint.
ty of old furniture seized for rent, was exhlb.
tied some years back in the window or a deal
er in the Place de la Madeleine, Paris, ahd at
tracted considerable attention. In the fore.
ground was placed poor woman holding in
her arms child, and watching with SORROW
fu' eye the progress Of the sale. The sweet
face of the child stood out in strong contrast to
the distressed countenance Of the poor moth
er. Further back were the personages con-
nected with the sale, represented with great
vigor. The following is stated by Lyons
journal to be the history Of TIE scene depict
ed: ga few years since, the painter of the pic
ture in question, an eminent artist at Lyons,
while passing through the Rue des Terreaux.
approached number OF persons who were
gathered together, witnessing the sale of the
furniture of poor workman. A woman was
seated on the pavement with child in her
arms. The painter spoke to her, and was told
that the furniture which was being sold be-
longed to her; that her husband had lately di-
ed, leaving her with the child she had in her
arms; that she had struggled hard to main
tain herself by working day and night, and
submitting to every privation: but that her
landlord had at length seized her furniture for
some months rent which was due him. The
artist was much affected by this SIMPLE recital,
and inquired who was her landlord. sThere
he is" replied the poor woman, pointing to a
man who was watching the progress of the
sale: and he was recognized by the painter as
aperson who was suspected Of having amass-
ed considerable fortune by usurv, so that to
make any appeal to his feelings on behalf of
the poor widow would be useless. The artist
was considering within himself what other
plan Re could adopt to benefit her when the
erier announced picture for sale. II was a
miserable daub, which in the summer the poor
woman had used to hide the hole IN the wall
through which the pipe Of the stove passed
during the winter. 1t was put up at one franc.
The artist at once conceived plan for taking
revenge OF the landlord. He went over, ex-
amined the picture with great attention, and
then called out with loud voice, sone hun
dreG francsp The landlord was astounded at
the bid, but conceiving that picture for
which so eminent an artist could offer that sum
was worth more than double, boldly offered
two hundred francs. sFive hundred, said the
painter, and the contest between the two bid
ders became so animated that the prize was at
length knocked down to the landlord at two
thousand two hundred fr4ncsi The purcha-
ser then addressing the painter, said, SIN see-
ing an artist Of your merit bid so eagerly for
the picture, supposed that it must be valua-
BILE. Now, tell me, sir, at what do you esti-
mate its value?' sAbont three francs and q
half,' replied the painters; 'but would not
give that for it, sYou are surely iesting,' said
the landlord, sfor you bid as high as two thou
sand one hundred francs for it, sThat is
true,' replied the artist Fand I will tell you
why did so. You. in possession of an in
come OF twenty-five thousand francs year,
have seized on the furniture of poor woman
for a debt Of two hundred francs. wished
to give you lesson, and you fell inte my trap.
She is now your creditor, and fatter my.
self you will not compel her to seize on your
furniture for her debit The artist then po-
litely saIuted the astonished landlord, and
having announced her GOOD fortune to the
poor woman, walked away" 0ssal2