Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-05-12
MISCELLANEOUS.
An Old Story.


was walking along the street of his native
,perplexed and desponding in consequence
of some irritating circumstance or misfortune,
when he beheld little boy of such surpris-
ing and surprising beauty that he forgot his
own trouble and gloom in looking upon the
almost angel face before him.
''That face l must have" said the artist,
for my studio. Will you come to my room
and sit for picture, my little man? ?"
The little boy was glad togo and see the
pictures and pencils and curious things in
the artists room aud he was still more
pleased when be saw what seemed to be
another boy looking just like himself smiling
from the artists canvas.
The artist took great pleasure in looking at
that sweet face. When he was troubled, or
irritatcd, or perplexed, he lifted his eyes to
that lovely image on the wall. and its beautiful
features and expression calmed his heart and
made him happy again. Many visitor to-
his studio wished to purchase that lovely face;
but, though poor, and often wanting money
to buy food and clothes, he would not sell
his good angel, as he called this portrait.
So the years went on. Oftentimes as he
looked up to the face on the glowing canvas
he wondered what had become of that boy.
GLOW 1 should like to see how he looks
now [ wonder if l should know him? Is
he a good man and true, or wicked and
abandoned?. Or has he died and gone to a
better land ?"
One day the artist was strolling down one
Of the fine walks of the city when he beheld
a man whose face and mcn were so vicious,
so depraved, so almost fiend-like, that he
involuntariIy stopped and gazed at him.
"What a spectacle! should like to paint
that figure, and hang it 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 we'll as thief
"Come to my room, and let me paint your
portrait, and will give you all you ask, said
the artist.
The young man followed the painter, and
set for a sketch. When it was finished, and
he had received few coins for his trouble,
he turned to 60; but his eye rested upon the
picture OF the boy; he looked at it, turned
pale and then burst into tears.
''What troubles you man ?' said the painter
It 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 a broken heart, he said ?"
Twenty years ago you asked me to come
up here and sit for picture, and the angel
face is that portrait. Behold me now,
ruined man; so bloated so hideous that women
and children turn away their faces from me
so fend-like that you want 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 not
believe his own eyes and ears.
Chow did this happen 2" he asked.
The young man told his sad and dreadful
story how, being an only son, and very
beautiful, his parents petted and spoiled him;
how he went with tad boys and learned all
their bad habits and vices and came to love
them; how, having plenty of money, he was
enticed to wicked places till all was lost, and
then unable to work and ashamed to beg, he
began to steal, was caught and imprisoned
with the worst kind of criminals; came out
still more depraved to commit still worse
crimes than before; how every bad deed he
performed seemed to drive him to commit a
worse one, till it seemed to him he could not
stop till brought to the gallows.
IL was fearful tale, and brought tears
young man to stop, offered to help him, and
tried his best to save him. But, alas . it was
too late Disease, contracted by dissipation,
soon Frustrated the young man, and he died
before he could reform. The painter hung
his portrait opposite that of the beautiful boy
and when visitors asked him why he allowed
such hideous looking face to be there, he
told them them the story, saying as he closed !:
Between the angel and the demon there is
only twenty years of vice"
The lesson of his tale is in the tale itself
You who read it can tell what it is. Think
of it often, and heed it always.