Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-07-17
A SCENE OF RETRIBUTIoN.

quantity fold furniture seized for rent
was exhibited some years back in the win.
dow of q dealer in the Place de ia Made.
line, Paris. and attraeted seonsi idesable at
tentioa. In the foreground VAS placed a
poor woman holding in her arms child
and watching with sorTewfnl eye the
progress Of the sale. The sweet face Of
the child stood out in strong contrast 10
the distressed eountenanee Of the mother.
Further back were the petsonaees con.
neeted with the sale represented With
great yigor. Tho following is stated bya =
Lyons gentleaa, TO bs,the history of tho
scene depicted: }s
Afsw years ago. the painter Of the
picture IN question. an eminent artist Of
Lyons. while passing through the Rue
des Terresux, approached q number Of
persons. who were gathered together wit.
Messing The sale of the furniture Of a poer
woman. 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 beS
longed TO her; that her husband had late.
ly died. leaving the child she had In her
arms; that she had struggled hard 10
maintain herself by working by day and
by night. and submitted to every priya.
tion. but her landlord had at length seix-
ed her furniture, for some months rent
which was due him. So
The artist was much affected by this
recital, and enquired who was her lands
lord. There he is replied the poor wo.
man, pointing to man who was watoh<
ing the progress of the sale /; aud lie was
recognized by the painter as a person who
was suspected Of having amaseed q con.
siderable fortune by usury. SO that to
make any appeal to his feelings 10 behalf
OF the poor widow would be useless, The
artist considering within himself what
other plan he could adopt to bsnefis hor.
when the crier announced a, picture for
sale. Itwss miserable daub, which
in the summer the poor widow had used
to hide hole in the wall through which
the pipe Of the stove had passed during
the winter. 1t was put up at one franc.
The artist at once conceived n plan, for
taking revenge Of the landlord. He went
over. examined the picture with great at.
tention. and then cried out with a loud
voice. zone hundred francs 4" sTr
The landlord was aStonished at the bid.
0uh SouSo1iuB 1uht picture tor-Whtch 20
eminent an artist could offer that sum was
worth moro than double. boldly offered
2oof "Five hundred !" said the painter,
and the ontest between the two bidders
became 60 animated, that the prize was
at length knocked down to the landlord
at 990of. The purchaser then address.
ing Ihe painter. said :4..ln seeing an artist
of your merit. bid 80 eagerly foT the pic.
ture. supposed that il mnst be valuable.
Nowtell me, Sir. at what do you estimate
its value p About three francs. and a
half. said the painter. " but l could not
give that for IT, "You are surely isst.i
ing." said the landlord, ''for you bid Nd.
high as 2Ioof. for it," "That is true, %
replied the artist, "and / will tell volt
why it is so. You are in possession of an
income Of s5.o00f. a year, have seized,
the furniture Of poor woman on a debt
Of 500. wished TO give you lesson,
and you fell into my trap. Instead Of
the poor woman being your dsbtor, she
is now your creditor. and lhausr myself
you will not compel her 10 seq. on your
furniture for the payment Of the debit
The artist then politely snlated tho ~
tonished landlord, and having announced
her good fortune to the poor aoman.
walked away.