New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1862-05-07
B.. o III B Err, ARTIST.
BY META VICTORIA VICTOR.


! ! don't know what to do about pantaloous and
i eod Gamboge so when he came in. / was sitting
" n. m ped mending my only pair There was a
irigntiai mole upon each knee; but long practice
ID pasehlng had made me as dexterous as woman,
q anu m was 8ettng the new pieces nicely that
hattered myself they would hardly be detected
at least at the first glance. They would do yery
" we ,a sor street wear I especially If only went out
too, in the daylight! appealed to Gamboge, the
only friend had, and to whom I appealed on all
occasions. 7,a'
Bother the pantaIoons p' he exclaimed, little
for he had thought the irnpedinents
all removed.
ut is the pantaloons which bother me,'' said,
F" Can't you manage to make them do 1t won't
be very light. These fashionable women are more
cunning even than artists in the matter of light
and shade. They know better than to put them
selves In crosslights, or in the candid shine of the
midday sun. You'll find the parlors Of a delicious
darkness, very aattering to your wardrobe. my
friend. That's capital patch, old boy.''
I'm glad YoI admire it. Bat Miss Follett might
not, l.m
"Td lend you pair of mine, if you were not
are big, or that I little, don't know which
I've got two pairs now; so | could afford to be
heeral; Before my success at the Academy last
couldn't mend like that!" He looked appre.
Really great minds are great in all things,nI
badly Miss Foe being sas knpWs pro
too little of old clothes to do me the justice Won
have done me. She has taste, though plenty Of
unusual for one of her sort Isn't it curious, now
the fancy she has taken to that little bit Of miner?
had managed to get picture in at the Annual
Exhibition, for the first time, and through the in
huence OF Gamboge. 1t was small thing, and OBJ
scurely hung but it had attracted the attention of
young lady, an amateur and an heiress. Her ac-
Gamboge had the honor Of it; and when ne heard
her praise the unknown painter, he, by d master
stroke Of policy proved his friendship for me- and
obtained an invitation for me to accompany him to
the morning reunions of the lady. She had also
sgniiied her intention of purchasing the picture,
provided it was for sale. OF course it was for SALE
The young man who sat patching. his last pair Of
pantaoons felt only too happy at the thought. He
would have been even better pleased, had it al
ready been paid for, for then he might have gone
to the tailors at once, instead of sitting up, lnder
@ She has appointed tomorrow? want to 60
| so badly. And here must lose the opportunity
| What shall do, Gamboge ~
| " With the pantaloons darn the pantaloons =,
| 81 have, six or seven times"
"Youh be foolish If you let everything stand in
the way Of your going now, tell you, sir. THERE'S
but the consideration it will give you, and the
circle you'll step into, and the choiee things YOU
will see in her house--not only pictures and
marbies but articles Of Yert everything to crafty
| is worth breaking your neck bat to speak to.n
"Oh, would willingly break my neck for The
honor of bowling before Miss Follett. But to 90
there with patches on my knees, that would re-
qusre more courage, you see. Not but that
could bear sneer from her sneer on the lips
OF beautiful woman sometimes fires man to
proud achievements; !; but to see all those rows of
superclious moustaches curling at me-humph
| should get angry
perhaps you can wear mine; you're only four
inches taller than I, and trle heavier. of course
The fact is would lend you money to buy YOU a
pair, but haven't got it. My landlady was after
me this morning, paid visit to my rooms, caught
me when hadn't chance to retreat, and gave
her all had. didn't count it; she'll make it all
right" 3@7af &1&
''What smp1eton you are, Gamboge! don't
wonder you are always in trouble, with fifteen
Do you know how much have spent in the last
} twelve months? Just hundred and twenty
/ dollars"
",Oh, lived upon seventy five, one year, SO you
! needn't boast. That was the year wrote my let
+ ters to my mother, lying upon my stomach on the
floor, for want of table or chair. You paid the
than then.N
3 /" And now--but I don't envy you, Gamboge.
You deserve more than you have reeeived.'' i
am aware of that, old boy. Your lnck will
in the race yet: You're so lucky, you know!n
had finished mending my pantaloons, and had
put them on, when my companion made this re-
q mark. The idea of my being lucky was so outra-
: geously impudent that it threw me into a fit of
laughter. There never before existed young
man so strong, healthy, and handsome as myself,
n
facility for getting into all kinds of predcaments
n, "Dont laugh SO, don't, for goodness sake! y
+ exclaimed Gamboge, as rolled upon the bed in
! unrefeotive merriment.
!, His tone of distress queted me.
f Don't you see what you've done?n he asked,
e reproaohfully: "Look your coatv'-more stern.
, I tried to obey him, but the situation of nv
T. eyes in my face prevented my seeing my back
{. and had no mirror. But .teN the mischief My
CONT, coat was tender Ter from long wear, and fitted me
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.
i, "Now, then, you're ready for Miss Follett's re.
; union, SUPPOSED"
moment; but resisted the inclination to strike
couldn't help laughing, could |? If didn't retain
. would become of me-"
q ! " That is true," responded Gamboge, looking at
q q me reAectvely. cit is not every one who could
i be so merry as you upon such low diet, nor look
:. so high'coored and bright either. By the way,
;. ,. wonder that fellow doesn't come up 1 knew
you'd be just getting out of bed, and ordered the
a saloon.keeper down below to send up our break
a fast; haven't had mine, yet. Coffee and beef
= steak, etc."
: ened at the sight of two halves of my coat, which
4 | had pulled off and thrown upon the bed
0 Where will we have it, Gamboge?'
" Put that box upon the bed we can sit upon
@ either side. Here it comes, at last"
r Maybe the waiter had observed that artists were
a queer people, for he arranged repast in good
e style upon the pine boz while the dignity Of his
d nose was undisturbed by the faintest hint of d
turnup. Politer than his betters he did not even
/. stare, until he was going out, when the canvas
upon the easel attracted him so profoundly that he
:, | remained rooted before it,
If al say, sir did you get up them 'ere chickens
g | they're done to turn"
6 Although this remark savored somewhat of his
g profession, was pleased by his honest praise
y YES" answered, " 1 painted them''
$ What might the price be, now, of the lot ??
J. There's seven in all, countn that 'un as has hi
d head hid in the grass"
Gamboge and looked at each other.
- might take , ten dollars for the picture, from
y Whew" whistled he, "that's more 'un III,
live ones d be-" and he walked towards the door
to keep 'em" and he waIked back again. "Theres
d some fellers as fancies animals; but birds was al
" ers to my liking-and quail chickens above all =
4. He laid gold eagle upon the box by nv side
is and took the little bit of canvas from the easel.
a heard him chqckling to the birds as he wen
| oh hail.