The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-07-02
leart-searing consultations. Again and again
lave | Striven to persuade myself that |

| SAAH6 SOhoOAoehOuos ouN ofo@Au
have | Striven to persuade myself that
acted wisely in delaying our union. | al
the time even took praise for vanquishing
the warmth of my love, that we might feel
the delay! Alas | knew not woman
heart My coolness panied and piqued her
and while | was allintent upon acquiring
wealth which she was to enjoy with me,
another was warming that heart which ]
had chilled. She was wed unknown to me.
| met the marriage party in the church.
What would | have given, to have been
able to roll back the wheels of Time, and
throw upon them all my hopes Of wealth,
with the curse which they deserved
In this reverie l stumbled upon an artist
lie was drawing the scene of my dreams.
A few words passed. He resumed and l
gazed upon the happy group which he was
ably sketchiDg, till early recollections raised
a sigh almost amounting to a groan. The
stranger started, and inquired if l was un-
well. The sincere and sympathising tone Of
bis voice interested me, and l requested to
have the pleasure of looking at his sketch
Z" You are most welcome" be replied !:
T" but it is mere scratch. will be en-
abled to do much better soon. | mean it
for the foreground of picture l am paint
ing, sir. am one Of the most fortunate
fellows in the world l always get what
wish just at the moment want it, or at
least soon after IT,"
This speech struck me as a most singular
one from the person who made it. He was
apparently about thirty years of age, with
an open, generous countenance, which,
though not handsome, exhibited the glance
of the eye and lofty brow that spoke intellect
and feeling.
am no judge of painting or drawing
further than of what gives me pleasure" "
said and | looked upon bis sketch with
a melancholy delight for he had drawn
the group-as they really were-true to
nature, and fancy enabled me to see, in
one of the females, her had lost ! spoke
. my praise in the warmth of my feelings for
again enjoyed the scene so much, that it
conquered my love Of money, and at once,
and for the first time in my life, resolved to
purchase picture.
looked from the sketch to the artist, to
examine the man | was to deal with, that
might judge how to make my bargain for,
strong as my inclination was to have the
picture, my mercantile habits were equally
strong. His dress was much the worse for
the service it had seen; and there was an
appearance Of penury about him that made
me aHticiDate a poOd harrain
Do you paint for amusement only"
said |, cor do you dispose Of them ?"
l paint for fame and fortune, my good
sir, said he "but am yet only novice
in the noble art, however long may have
been an admirer"
Is your present work bespoke - again
said l.
Oh no, sir" replied he; but l win
soon get it off my hands when it is finished
for | am, as l told you, fortunate man"
How much do you expect for it 2"
If had as much money as purchase
frame for it," said he, 81 mig ght get FIVE
pounds, but, that Is not tho oaGo, ] must
take what 1 can get from dealer-perhaps
pound, or less"
For the first time for many years, | felt
the generous glow of doing good to fellow
creature at the expense Of my cash but, if
the truth will be told, it was the recollection
of the good and gentle Helen that at this
moment operated upon me.
We'll, sir, if you will sell me this
sketch and the finished picture for two
pounds, | will be tho purchaser" said l.
Il accept your Offer," was bis reply,
. and | feel grateful for your patronage, as
| am yet unknown but | feel confident |
shall succeed at length in this my present
aim at fame and fortune. The goddess has
eIuded me often, doubtless even when l
was sure held her in my grasp. But that
is nothing. | was happy, as | am at pre-
sent, in the pursuit for all my life has
been a series Of anticipations supremely
happy"
We had strod during this discourse; my
eye was on him; ana could see the glow
that was upon his face. How strange to
me it seemed: l, too, had lived in anticipa-
ton of being rich, yet never felt the thrill,
the full joy, of hope which possession
banishes. How justly may anticipation
and fruition be compared to youth and
age the one, joyous and buoyant, moves
along the rough walks of life, with hope
pointing the way and smoothing his path !;
fruition, like an aged traveller, feeble and
spent, sees over length of way before him,
rendered rougher by cares for what he has
attained, while all behind him is nothing
One of my gloomy fits was coming over
ne-my mind was turning in upon itself,
when be aroused me, by inquiring where he
should have the pleasure Of bringing bis
work to me. / gave him my address, and
we began to return to the city. Long be-
fore we reached the last stile, be had SO won
upon my regard, that invited him home
with me to supper, under promise that he
should give an outline of bis life. lie re-
deemed his pledge thus
My father, Andrew Elder (said be), lived
in one Of the villages not far from town,
where | was born. He was not rich, bds
well enough to do; by trade a joiner,
tolerably we'll read, of shrewd and argu-
mentative turn of mind, and the oracle Of
, the village, at time when it was distracted
by the politics Of the period, which ran high
between the aristocrats and democrats The
French Revolution had attained the climax
of its horrors, and the best blood Of France
. was poured forth as water. Once a de-
mocrat, be had changed his former opinions
and his antipathy was as intense against
the bloody miscreants who, in the public
commotion, had wriggled themselves into
3 their bad pre-eminence, as bis sympathy had
been strong at the commencement in favol
) of an erslaved people. was scarce seven
t teen-an anxious listener to all that passed
a in the shop between my father and its oppo
D nents. All he said was to me was as true
s as holy writ; and those hearers who doubt
s ed one word he said we're deemed worthy