Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-07-11
Twenty Years Of Vice.
LOOK AT THIS PICTURE, THIN ON THAT.


Many years ago celebrated Italian
artist was walking along the streets of
his native city, perplexed and despond-
ing In consequence OF some Irritating
circumstance OF misfortune, when he be-
held little boy OF such surprising
beauty that he forgot his own trouble
and gloom in looking upon the almost
auIellc face before him.
"fhat face must have" said the ar.
tist FOR my ,,udlo." Will you come to
nay RON aud III for a picture, my little
man"
The title boy was glad to go aud see
the pictures, and pencils and curious
things in the artists room, and he was
still more pleased when be saw what
seemed to be another boy looking just
like himself smiling from the artists
canvass.
The artist took great deal OF pleas.
ure lin locking at the sweet innocent
face. When he was troubled, or irrlta-
ted, or perplexed, he lifted his eyes to
that lovely image on the wall, and its
beautiful, hopeful features and expires.
sion Gained his heart and made him
happy again. Many visitor to this
studio wished to purchase that lovely
face but though poor, and often in want
OF money TO buy food and clothes, he
would not sell his good angel, as he
called this portrait.
SO years went on. Oftlnes as he
looked up 10 the face on the glowing can
vas he wondered what had become OF
that boy.
"How | should like to see how he looks
now wonder If should know him
Is he a good man and true, or wicked
and abandoned ? Or has he died and
gone to better world 2"
One day the artist was strolling down
one OF the fine walks of the city when
he beheld young man whose face and
mien were so vicious, so depraved, so
almost aend-like, that he individually
stopped and gazed at him.
"What spectacle | should like to
paint that figure and hang 1t in my
studio opposite the angel boy" said the
artist to himself.
The young man asked the painter for
money; for he was beggar as well as
thief
"Come to my room and let me paint
your portrait, and l will give you all
you ask" said the artist.
The young man followed the painter
and sat for sketch. When it WAS fln-
ished, and he had received a few coins
for his trouble, he turned to go, but his
eye rested upon the picture OF the boy
he looked at IT, turned pale, and then
burst ints tears.
What troubles your man :" said the
artist.
1t was long before the young man
could speak he sobbed aloud, and
seemed pierced with agony. At last he
pointed up to the picture on the wall
and in broken tones, which seemed to
come from broken heart, said.
Twenty years ago you asked me to
come up here and sit for picture, and
that angel face is the portrait. Behold
me now, ruined man, so bloated, so
hideous, that women and children turn
away their faces from me so fiend like
that you wanted my picture to show
how ugly man could look. All | see
now what vice and crime have done for
me.
The artist was amazed. He could
scarcely believe his own eyes and ears.
How did this happen 2" he asked.
The young man then told him his sad
and dreadful history how being an
only son and very beautiful, his parents
petted and spoiled him, how he went
with bad boys and learned all their bad
habits and vices, and came to love them;
how having plenty of money, ne was
enticed into wicked places until all was
lost, and then unable to work, and
ashamed To beg, he began to steal, was
caught and Imprisoned with the worst
criminals, came out still more depraved
to commit worse crimes than before
now every bad deed he performed seemed
to drive him to commit a worse one,
until it seemed 10 him that he could not
stop until brought to the gallows.
1t was fear. al tale and brought tears
into the artists eye. He besought the
young man, to stop, offered to help him,
But alas, it was too lac. Disease CON
traced by dissipation soon Frustrated
the young man and he soon died, before
he could reform. The painter hung his
portrait directly opposite that OF the
beautiful boy; and when visitors asked
him why he allowed such hideous-
looking face to be there, he told them
the story, saying as he closed. "Be-
tween the angel and the demon there is
only twenty years of vice."
The lesson OF this tale is in the tale
itself. You who read it can tell what it
is. Think Of 1t often and heed it always.