Smyrna times., 1870-12-07
MiSceI/U n e o us.
A Freak of Fortune.

! Samuel Duhobret was disciple of the famous
engraver, Albert Durer, admitted into the art
school out Of charity. He was employed in
/ painting signs and the coarse tapestry then
used in Germany. AS he was about forty
years of age, small, ugly and humpbacked, he
was the butt OF i'll Jokes among his fellow-pu
pills, and selected as special object of dislike
! by Madame Durer, who tOrmented the Sch0l-
ars and dOmestics, aS well as the master, by
Xantippical temper. Poor DuhObret had not
a spice of malice in his heart. and not only
bore all his trials with patience, eating without
complaint the Scanty crustS given him for din
ner, while his companions Jared better, but
always showed himself ready to assist and serve
those who scoAed at him.
His industry was indelatgaJle. He came
to his studies every morning at daybrcak and
worked till sunset. During three years he
plodded thus, and said nothing of the paint
ngs he had produced in his lonely chamber by
the light Of his lanrp, His bodily energies
wasted away under incessant toll. No one
cared enough for MIN to notice the feversh
color in his wrinkled check, or the increasing
meagreness OF his misshapen frame. No one
observed that the poor pittance set aside for
his midday meal remained untouched Tor sew
eral days. The poor artist made his appear
! ance As usual, and as meekly bore the gibes of
the students or the tauntS OF the lady work
ing with the same untiring assiduity, though
his hands trembcd and his eyes were often
suffuSed with tears.
One morning he was missing from the scene
of his abers, and, though jokes were passed
about his disappearance, no one thought OF
: going to his lodgings to see if he were i'll or
dead. He was, indeed, prostrated by the slow
fever that had been lurking in his veins and
sappng his strength. He was half delirous,
and muttered wild incoherent words fancyng
his bed surrounded by mockng demons, taunt-
. ing him with his inability to call priest tO
administer the words Of comfort that NIGH
al smooth his passage to another world.
From exhausted SlumberS he awOke faint
L. and with parched lips it was the fifth day h,
had laid in his cell neglected. Feebly hc
stretched out his hands toward the earther
pitcher, and fouNd that it itcOntained not drUI
= Of water. Slowly and with difficulty he arose
for he knew that he must procure sdstenanct
IA or die of want He had not kreutzer. HI
went to the other end of the room, took ul
the picture he had painted .ast, and resolved
: to carry it to dealer, who might give him 70
J. it enough to furnish him neceSsarles for
A week longer.
n On his way he passed a house before whic
,:y there was great crowd. There Was to be
,rv sale, he learged of many specimens of al
collected during thirty years as an amateur
Id The wearied Duhobret thought he might her
ms find market for his picture He worked HI
way JnrOuRn Jne CTOWu, dragged nIlHSen u
the steps, and found the auctlOneer, bus
little man, holding handful of papers, an
- inclined to be rough with the lean, sale
humpback, who SO eagerly implored his atteI
ton.
"What do you call your picture? he askeG
Z" 1t is a view of the Abbey of Newbeurl
with the village and landscape" replied til
trembling artist
The auctioncer looked at him, hemmed col
temDtuOusly and ask ed its price
Whatever you please whatever it wi
bring, was the anxious reply
+" Hem with an uDfav0rable criticism
" can promise you no more than three th'
ers."
ES Poor Duhobert had spent the nights of mar
5 months on that piece. But he was starving
and the pittance offered would buy him brea
- He nodded to the auctiOneer, and retired to
corner.
, Alter many paintings and engravings ha
been sold, Duhoberts was exhibited. "Wl
: bids? Three thalers. Who bidsy was Il
cry. The poor artist held his breath. \
response was heard. Suppose it should u
find purchaser He dared not look up;
thought everybody was laughing at the fol
of offering so worthless piece at public sa
DS 1t is certainly my best work u he murmHr
:. piteously to himself lie vcntured to look
Y the picture as the auctlOncer held it in a !
and vorable light. There was certainly beautif
freshness in the rich foliage, transparency
put the water. n freedom and life in the ANNA
S' 0"e The steeple the trees, the whole landscaI
o. showed the genius of an artist Alas hO f
1O the last throb of an artists vanity. The de
'U' silence continued, and, turning away, be buri
his face in his hands.
and "Twenty one thalers'a faint voice cri
out The stupefied painter gave a start Of j.
and looked to see who had uttered those bic
ed words 1t was the picture dealer to whc
and he first meant to go.
" Fifty thalerS !" cried the sonorous voice
- a tall man in black.
for There was another silence.
"One hundred thalers /" at length or