Weekly Trinity journal., 1860-12-22
WEAVER


it She ii make it all right"
What smpetOn you are, GambOge? ?
don't wonder you are always in trouble with
fifteen hundred dollars worth of commissions in
a year. Do you know how much have spent in
the last twelve months? Just hundred and
twenty dollars"
ooh, | lived upon seventy-five, one year, so
you needn't boast. That was the year ] wrote
my letters to my mother lying upon my stomach
on the floor, for want of table or chair. You
paid the postage on those letters. You were
better off than | then"
"And now-but don't envy you, Gamboge
! You deserve more than you have receivedn
Z" am aware of it, old boy. Your luck will
begin to come soon. You'll get the start of me
in the race yet You're so lucky, you know !"
l had finished mending my pantaloons, and
had put them on, when my companion made
this remark. The idea of my being lucky was
so outrageously impudent that it threw me into
fit of laughter. There never before existed a
young man so strong, healthy, and handsome a.
myself with rather unusual genius, too, who had
such facility for getting into all kinds o.
predicameuts.
"Don't laugh so, dont, for goodness sake 2
exclaimed Gamboge as | rolled upon the bed in
unreflective merriment.
His tone of distress quieted me.
"DOn't you see what you've done ?" he asked
reproachlully. "Look at your coat !"-mort
sternly-" look at it behind -
| tried to obey him, but the situation of my
eyes i'll my face prevented my seeing my back
and | had no mirror But ! teJt mischief. My
coat was tender from long wear, aud fitted me
closely, from the fact that | had grown in weight
and stature (upon bread and cheese) since first
put it on, and in my fit of untimely mirth l had
split it from collar to tail
"Now, then, you're ready for Miss Foletts
reunion, supposed"
This cutting irony was very hard to bear al
that moment but | resisted the inclination to
strk e my only friend, and answered. desperately
couldn't help laughing could |? If | didn't
retain my procivities for laughing, I'd like tC
know what would become of me-"
" That is true" responded Gamboge, looking
at me rehectiyely. cit is not every one who
could be so merry as you upon such low diet
nor look so high colored and bright, either BY
the way, | wonder that fellow doesn't come up
knew you'd be just getting out of bed, aud
ordered the saloon keeper down below to send
up our breakfast; | haven't had mine, yet
Coffee and beefsteak, etc.
This news revived my courage, which had
weakened at the sight Of two halves Of my coat
which had pulled Off and thrown upon the bed
Where will we have it, Gamboge?'
"Put that box upon the bed we can sit upon
either side Here it comes, at last"
Maybe The waiter had observed that artists
were queer people, for he arranged our repast in
good style upon the pine box, while the dignity
OF his nose was undisturbed by the taintest hint
of turn up. Politer than his betters, he did
not even stare, until he was going out, when the
canvas upon the easel attracted him so profound
ly that he remained rooted before it.
g say, sir, did you get up them'ere chickens
they're done to a turn"
Although this remark savored somewhat of his
profession, was pleased by his honest praise.
"Yes," | answered, ;" painted them"
"What might the price be, now, Of the lot?
/ i,,o oil ibat fpr,a I.,o l.
head hid in the grass"
Gamboge aud | looked at each other.
" / might take ten dollars for the picture,
from a person not able to give more" L said,
presently.
"Whew y, whistled he, that's more 'un the
live ones'd be-" and he walked towards the door,
" But these'll last longer; won't have to cook EN-
to keep'em,0 and he walked back again.
There's some felers as lancies animals but
birds was alters to my liking-and quail chickens
above all ~
He laid a gold eagle upon the box by my
side, and took the little bit of canvas from the
easel | heard him chucking to his birds as he
went through the hall.
(Which shall it be, coat or pantaloons ? l
cannot get both"
Goat, | suppose, from the looks of those
remnants But 1 must go. III call for you to-
morrow, little before twelve"
Gamboge went away, and | was left with a
]
new sketch | had decided differently from
| Gamboge; | had seen that the coat could be
mended so that in darkened room, it might
not be particularly noticeable and with ten
dollars could get not only new pair OF panta-
loous, but boots also and | now for the first
time reflected that my studio slippers would not
answer for making morning call, could mol
even 90 out to get these new articles until the
coat was mended. The next two hours were
given up to the most troublesome and tedious Of
tasks but | was kept from Ill temper by the
busy habit of my mind. The coming event
which was casting its shadow before, III Tue shapi
of my present irksome employment, figured II
the foreground of all my dreams had hearC
SO much of Miss Follett, through my friend, tina
I was EAGER to meet her. She was beautiful
gifted. and a woman Though rich, she wa
intelligent though an amateur, the artists die
not ridicule her. Gamboge, | knew, though
more of her than any other lady he respected
her opinions admired her tastes, and adored he
beauty. More than all, he did not feel galled D.
her patronage. Aud she had selected my llttl
picture for especial cOmmendation-had inquired
after the artist-had expressed wish to own it
My heart beat loudly and sweetly, the time, ant
began to sing a Spanish song. L had nothing
but black linen thread to sew with, ana ina
tangles and snarls so, it is enough to upset tn
serenity even of woman. The eye broke ou
of my last needle just as was about TO raster
the concluding stitches, leaving me in some un
pleasant doubts as to the stability OF my work
However, it looked tolerably, and surveyed /
with cloudy satisfaction, comforting mySel
with the memory of what Gamboge had sai'
about the parlors, and hoping they would be a
dim as one OF his own distances; 81,
| occupied myself during the afternoon witt
a fancy sketch of Miss Folett. CuriouslJ
enough, Gamboge had never described her s.
drew her according to my own liking|1all
majestic, with low, white forehead, black halr
piercing eyes, and superb bust.
In the evening, went out ana naue NY
purchases and got my clean shirt from sn
\ washerwoman III the next street.
That darn down your back does show con
foundedly," said Gamboge, when he called 10
me the next morning
saw that ne began to feel nervous abou
4 presenting me, and my own pride took IRE.