The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1870-12-29
A FREAE OF FORTUNE.
~rS Rrom the Catholic worlda

FA1al (Froin the Catholic WorldA
Samuel Duhobret was a deciple Of the
famous engraver, Albert Durer, admitted
into the art school out OF charity. lie
was employed IN painting signs and the
Coarse tapestry then used ~ Germany.
As he was about forty years ofage, sIiiail,
ugly, and uin!5baci.ed, he was the burt
OF i'll jokes among his fellow pupils, and
selected IS a special object Of dislike by
Madame Durer, who tormented the
scholars and dnniosfics. as well as the
1aastcr, by her Nantippicai temper Poor
Duhobret had not q spice Of malice il his
heart, and not only bore all his trials with
patience, eating without complaint the
scanty crusts given .hiu ior dlnner, but
always showed himself ready to assist and
serve those who seaiFed II hiai. His in
dustry was ittfefatigabie He came 20
his studies every morning 1t daybrea&,
and worked TIL sunset. During three
years he podded thus, and said nothing
of the paintings he had produced in his
lonely chamber By the light Of his lamp
His bodily energies wasted under incass-
ant toll. No one cared enough fer him
to notice The feverlsh color in iswrihkle,l
cheek, or the increasing nleagarncss Of his
misshaped frame. No one observed THAI
the poor piiiance setasiiie iorhis midtlay
meal remained untoQcilod for several
days. The POOR artist made his appeal
anee as usual, aud as meekly bore the
gibes of the students OF tisetaunts of the
lady working with the same untifiag
assiduity, theugh his hands trcnbel ana
his eyes were often s,tiiu>ad with tears.
One morning he was missing from the
scene ii his i4bDra, and thou. Il Jokes
were passed about his disap pearan:e, no
one thought Of going to his lodgings to
see if he were Ill or dead. lie was indeed
Dro>trated by the low fever hat had been
lurking in his veins and slowly sapping
his strength. He was half deirious and
uttered Wild and IucoheYent words, fau-
cying his bed snrrnundea by knocking de-
mons touching him With bis inability to
call priest TO administer the words Of
comfort that might smooth his passage
to another world
From exhausted slunibers he awoke
faint and with parche4 bps; it was The
fifth day he had lain in his cell neglected
Feebly he stretched his haad out toward
the earthen pitcher, and found that it
contained not IA drop OF water Slowly
and with difficulty he arose for he knew
that he must procure suateuanle or die IF
want. lie had not kreutzer. He went
to the other end of The room, took up
the picture he had painted last, and re
sols ed 10 carry il to a dealer, who might
give him for ii enough to furnish him
necessarles for a week longer.
On his Way he passed house before
which there was great crowd. There
was to be sale, lie learned, of many
specimens of art collected during years
by an amateur The wearied DuhoJrest
thought he might fad u market for bis
picture He worked his way through
the crowd, dragged himself up Tie steps,
and found the aactlaneer, a busy hide
man, holding u handful OF papers, and
inclined to be rough with the lea I, sallow
hunch back who SO eagerly implored his
attention
What do you call your picture?" he
asked.
1t is a view Of the Abbey of New
tourg. with the village and landscape, !"
replied the trembling artist.
The auctioneei looked at him, hum
med contemptuously,a and asked his price
Whatever you please whatever it
will bring" was The anxious reply.
Hem with an uniavorable criti-
Ne'i t'.N.AA.9N va III i.AOi ILdil
three t:ialers.
Poor Dumbret had spent the nights of
many months on that piece. But he
was starving, and the pittanee offered
would buy him bread. lie nodded to the
auctianeer, and retired TO corner.
Alter many paintings and engrayings
had been sold, iub3Grat' was exhibited.
NV ho bids? Three jhale3sl Who bid~?''
was the cry The pour artist held his
breath ; no response vas heard Sup
pose 1T should not find q purchaser lie
dared not look up: he thought every
body was larshing 1t the folly of Offering
So worthless . piece 1T pRhi; sale 1t
Is certainly my best work I" he hurmur
ed piteously to himself. He venture!
to glanee at the picture as the auc,iouser
held it in favorable light. There w A.,
certainly a beautiful freshness in the rich
foliage, Transparency In the water, a
freedom and life IN the anlInal> The
steeple, the trees. the whole landscana.
showed the genius Of an artist. Alas
he felt the last throb OF an artist vanity
The dead silence continued, and, turning
away. he buried his lace in his hands.
.'Twenty-one thalersl' u faint voice
called out The Supplied painter gave a
start of JOY. and looked to see who had
uttered those blessed words. 1t Was the
picture dealer to whom he FIRST meant to
go.
Fifty thalers" cried the sonorous
voice of a tall man ia lack.
There was moment : silence. ."One
hundred ihalersl' i: lentli cried the
pictare-dea!er. evidently rianea AID
anxious.
= wo hundred !"