The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1867-08-09
An OId Story.


artist was walking along the streets
of his native city, perpl6xed and de-
spending in consequence of some irri-
tating circumstances or In fortune,
when he beheld little boy of sueh
surprising and surpassing beauty that
he forgot bis own trouble and gloom
in looking upon the almost angel face
before him" "7.@
"That face l must have" said the
artist, for my studio. Will you come
to my room and sit for picture, my
little mani" at|. NJ II
The little boy was glad to 60 and
see the pictures, and pencils, and Gu
rious things in the artists room and
he was still more pleased when he
saw what seemed to be another boy
looking just like himself smiling from
the artists canvas.
The artist took o great deal of
pleasure in looking at that sweet, in,
nocent faae, When he was troubled,
or irritsted, or perplexed, be lifted
his eyes to that lovely image on the
wall, and its beautiful. hopeful fea-
lures and expression calmed bis heart
and made him happy again. Many a
q visitor to his studio wished to pur-
chase that lovely face; but, though
poor, and often in want of money to
bhy food and clothes, he would not
sell his good angel, as he called his
portrait. ,
So tho years went on Oftentimes
as he looked up to the face on the
glowing canvas he wondered what
had become of that boy. ,
+" How / should like to see how he
looks now l wonder If | should
know him2 Is he good man and true,
or wicked and abandoned &? Or has
he died and gone to better land ?"
One day the artist was strolling
down ono of the fine walks of the
city, when he beheld o young man
whose face and mine were so vicious,
so depraved, so almost fend like, that
he involuntary stopped and gazed at
him.
"What a spectacle! / should like,
to paint that figure, and hang it in
my studio opposite the angle boy"
said the artist to himself.
The young man asked the painter
for some money, for he was beggar
as well as a 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 pain
ter, and sat for a sketch. When it
was finished, and had Received
few coins for his troub Q, he turned to
goj but his eye rested upon the pic.
ture of the boys he loOded at it; turn
cd pale, and then burst into tears.
What troubles you man% said
the painter.
1t was long before the young man
speak he soy oed aloud, and ut last
he pointed up to the picture seemed |
pierced with agony. At last he point
ed up to the picture on the wall and,
in broken tones which seemed to come
from q 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 o ruined man; 40
bloated, so hideous, that you wanted |
my picture to show how ugly man
could look. All ! | see now what
vice aud crime have done for me-"
The artist was amazed He could
scarcely believe his ownoyes and ears.
4" 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 dim how
he went with bad boys, and learned
their bad habits and vices and came
to love them; how, having plenty |
of money, no was enticed to wicked |
places till all was lost, and then, un-
able to work and ashamed to beg, he !
began TO steal, was caught and i'm
prisoned with the worst criminals /; |
came ont still more depraved to com
nit worse crimes than before, how
every bad deed he performed seemed |
to him that he could not stop till
brought to the gallows.
IL was a fearful tale, and brought |
tears into tho artists eyes. lie be-
sought the young man to stop, offer!
cd to help him, and tried bis best TO
save him. But, alas it was too late.
Disease, contracted by dissipation,
soon prostrated the young man, and
he died before he could reform. The
painter hung his pOrtraitoppOsite that
of the beautiful boy and when visi-
tors asked him why he allowed such
a hideous looking face to be there, he
told thom the story, saying as he
closed, Between the angel and de-
mon there is only twenty years of
vice"
Tho lesson Of this tale is 10 tho tale
itself. You who read it can tell
that is Think of It often, and heed
il always.
40 Bob, you say you believe
most diseases are contagious. How |