Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-01-06
MY FIRST PATRON.
AN ARTIsT's STORY.

tandldly, now, 1t Is not many years
since, in obedience to what | felt to be a
strong impulse, | determined to select art
IN a profession, and to render the decided
bias of my inclination an honorable
means of livelihood.
Seated one day in my studio, engaged in
putting the finishing touches to small
landscape, of which summer trip into
shropshire had furnished me with pre-.
liminary SKETCH | was wondering when
fahc love for the profession | had chosen,
ard the time and labor bestowed upon it,
1eatd begin TO bring back some substan.
tai return in the form of patronage and
commissions, when was startled from my
rcvcry by a hasty tap at my door, and a
CHEEKY voice asking
Are you at home? 0, all right"
IL was a fellow-artst and particular
Chum Of my own, who, entering very un-
tremendously, and somewhat out of
breath, pumped himself into the only va
cant chair, and at once proceeded with
Give brought you good news, my boy F.!
I'm going to make your fortuner
Being considerably interested | begged
him to explain, and only taking sufficient
dmc TO fill his little brown pipe, he at
once assented commencing with the in
quiry-
"Have you had any visitor here YETI"
g No." replied. "You are the first
"That's all right" he said 81 wished
to be the first to tell you. Wen,
then, last evening | had a call from
u gentleman--see, here's his card
Mr. Francis j, Bouverie,' who ap-
pears to be acting as an agent to the Mar
quis of -, in collecting for that noble
ma2 a small gallery of works by native
artists being evidently connoisseur in
such things; and Lord - is, as you
know, a capital patron Of our noble pro-
fession of the canvas He has selected
one or two of my things and expressing a
desire for something in the small land
scape way, didn't forget YOU and shall
he very happy if I've brought You your
frst patron"
thanked my friend very heartily for
his good-nature, and began to fancy my
pet pictures already disposed Of
Gle evidently means business" he
went on to say 4; " for he assured me his
iordship is not particular as to the price.
But we shall have to send our pictures to
Inc approved of at an address in Wimpoie
street which he has left with me. Show
him The best you have and confirm the
good character I've given of you Don't
be afraid OF putting good figure on the
pictures; in fact, you may take lesson in
That particular, ii in no other, from little
Tom Farncombe The little cad was with
me when this party called, and Tom didn't
forget to advertise his own works most en-
erg0ically i want one or two nice little
bits OF landscape, says this Mr.. Bouverie
u me. / have sweet little thing at
hooae, close by cries Tom, running his
fingers through his Whitley. brown hair,
aud without more ado, he started off to
fetch II In the mean time | mentioned
you 70 hun, ard you may expect him, |
tase it, any minute
Halo, Brother Daubs, what's the
news at That moment came from an ugly
face, with a red stubby beard and mus.
tache, and ocherish looking hair, carried
behind the ears, peeping in at the door.
was just passing-looked in, you know
Done businesS with your friend, ChareygH
addressing my companion, "Ilallo, old
fellow, your foliage is rather heavy ain't
itF" TO me. BY The by showed him
the agent to Lord -, mean-that little
Thing spoke Of Delighted with it, sir, =
delighted Shall sendt up to Wimpolc
street al once suppose he hasn't called
on you, has be ~ he ad led, turning to me
"Dy the way don't like that sky; there.
NO weather in He told me Lord ----
wanted paintings by men Of note only
and So