Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1867-02-09
The Two Pictures.

>~s ~ e.
GLOW beautiful % And the two men
paused before the window of a printsel-
ler.
The picture. which had called forth
from one of the men this admiring ex-
clamation, was snowy bit of landscape,
painted for effect, and well calculated to
deceive an Impractical eye.
81 must enquire the price," said the
speaker, whose name was Goodwin, and
he drew his companion into the store.
"What do you ask for that landscape
in the window 2"
ssFifty dollars" replied the picture sell
ler, 'sand it is worth a hundred But
the owner wantS. money, and must sell,
even at so great sacrifice.
"Who is the artist 2''
A name not familiar to either of the
men was given. But as they were post
ed up in art news indiherently well, and
did not care to make their ignorance
known, no further question was asked.
The name was accepted as belonging to
an artist of celebrity.
81 must have that picture, Martin. 1t
is gen."
"We have companion piece by the
same artist" said the picture-seller, whose
ears, all on the alert, had overheard the
remark.
aIndeed! Let US see the two togeth-
er." -
The paintings were placed side by
side.
aCharming beautiful Exquisite p
were the exclamations with which the
exhibition was greeted.
81 will take one of them," said Good
wyn, "and you the other" looking. to-
wards his friend Martin.
81 don't know about that" answered
the latter ssThe pictures are certainly
very tempting. But am not sure that
j can spare fifty dollars to-day for an ar
ticle of simple luxury"
''They are rs cheap as dirt" said Good
wyn. s.Better take one You'll not have
another, chance like this SOON"
But Martin hesitated, debating the
money question involved, and finally de-
.eided to let the companion piece remain
where it was for the present. Goodwin
paid down fifty dollars, and ordered the
picture sent home.
The-two men left the picture dealers
and walked on, Goodwin elated by his
purchase, and Martin well satisfied at
having successfully resisted the tempta-
ton to spend the sum of fifty dollars
for painting, when he had other use for
his money.
"Y ou'll regret not having bought that
picture" said Goodwin. dts a gem,
and is offered at half its value"
sIlove pictures" was answered. s'Fhey
are to me source of unalloyed pleasure.
But my income is yet too limited to per-
NIT an indulgence of this taste. The
common wants of life, and the charities
which may not be disregarded, keep me
without a surplus to expend in the mere
ly ornamental. ("
''I'm no better off than you are" said
Goodwin 'sBut portion of my income
must go in the direction of beauty and
ornament. Bare walls are my adherence.
AT this moment a cry of warning reach
ed the ears of the two men, and, looking
forward along the street, they saw horse
attached to an empty wagon, dashing to-
wards them at a fightful speed. A little
way in advance stood cart, backed up
to the pavement. Before the owner of
this, an Irishman, had time to turn his
horse, the runaway was. upon him, and
one of the shafts striking his poor beast
on the head, killed him on the spot
sPoor fellow" said Martin, in tone
of pity, as he heard the Irishman bewail
his loss. ~ ~
"Cone," said Goodwin, drawing upon
the arm of his friend "Its mercy for
the poor, half starved BEAST
But Martin stood still and began to
ask the Irishman questions. His looks
correberating I is replies, satisfied him-that
the loss he had just met was the less of
means for getting bread for his children.
The poor man was in deep distress.
esI can't wait here" Goodwin spoke
with some impatience "Come, or shall
leave you That picture will be home be-
fore get there.
"Go on then, I must look little fur
ther into this case," said Martin. quite
"Humph! You'll have your hands
full, if you stop to look into every case
of the kind Goodwin spoke. a little
contemptuously, and then went forward.
"Ah, Martini" said he, as the latter en-
tered his store about two hours after
ward, chow. comes onyour Irishman apd
his dead horse ?" There was an anus
ed expression ON his face.
sBadly enough. at present" was an
swered. ssPoor fellowt The death OF
his horse. is to him indeed a calamity !;
like the burning of mechanics shop
with all bis tools, or the sinking of mer-
chants ship, wherein was all his fortune
But Ithink we can put him all right
with the world again, and at very
small cost to ourselves. I propose that
FIVE individuals contribute ten dollars
each, and buy him another horse. Here's
the list; have put down my name, and