Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-03-24
miscellaneous.
THE YOUNG SCULPTOR.

In one of the poorest, narrowest streets
Of beautiful foreign city, lived woman
and her little son, whom we will call Henri,
The boy had no recollection of his father
who had cruelty deserted both his wife and
child. Their only means of subsistence
was what could be obtained by the wo
mans labor such household work as could
be obtained in the dwellings of the rich. -
Sometimes she had to walk long distance
to and from her occupation, but no MUIR
muir ever escaped her lips save one of re-
greet that her little fair haired boy had to
be left alone in her absence. and that she
could not earn money enough to send him
to school. Nature, however, all unaided,
was teaching him without thAaid of books
or masters, and everywhereSin Florence
uhe city of 1owers) there was more than
sufficient to excite the admiration and sat
isfy the cravings of this child of genius,
whose inquring ewes would always rest on
whatever was beautiful such was to
be met with in every nook and corner OF
the gland old place. The 'purpie and
transparent shadows" which flooded the
whole city at eventide, and lit up the gor-
gevus palaces and churches fair, made for
him 80 many glowing pictures, on which
his poetical imagination dwelt long after
the first impression had passed away.
During his mothers absence, the greater
part of his time was was spent IN what we
should call grubbing in the street cutters,
making oddlooking things OF any soft M
terial he could shape to the needed conss-
tency, Just as one sees children making
sand.houses at the seaside. These little
Juveniles generally set up, and then de-
molish their buildings; Henri did nothing
of the sort. Every one ofthese little Jumps
were moulded into some form copied either
from nature or art for in that beautiful
city every street is a museum. Projections,
bosses, finals all are specimens of real
architectural beauty OF a peculiar and dis
tinctive type. For a long time the young
boy continued to fashion objects of this
sort, until, by kind of fresh inspiration,
he aimed at representing the human form 4;
the only difficulty seemed to be how TO OBJ
tain the models from which to work.
At length happy thought occurred to
him. He had no money, but he could cas-
lily reward the sitter by giving him his next
meal, and to loose that was nothing com.
pared to the joy he felt at having some
chance Arab who wouldauswer hispurpQse,
and who could be enticed by so small q
guerdon to the artists humble studio. In
spite of his mothers circumstances, Henri
worked away early and late, every day be.
coming more passionately attached to his
beloved art.
Years sped on without any public recog-
milton of his TALENT but his resolute per-
severing nature would not allow him to be
discouraged. Ii is true that he WAS poor,
but then he was rich III hope, and sustain
ed by The consciousness of that inward
power which is the accompaniment of real
genius. He never dreamed OF envying 9th.
ers, but thought only of making himself
perfect in what he determined should be
the masterpiece of all his hitherto attempt
ed studies; one which was now growing to
ample proportions beneath his busy flu.
gers,
Al length his task, or rather his labor of
love. being complete, he told his mother
that he should ask permission to show it
Mt an exhibition of sculpture which was
shortly to take place in his native city, lie
applied for permission, and his request was
kIhnttu, on conulllph luAt lHt STATUE
should be sent forthwith to tAe uail of iu-
spection
"That gentemen, is impossible, r..
piled Henri. "ium very poor; and the
apartment in watch live is So small thas
my work could only be removed 10y taking
OIL the roof
The men looked at each other iu amaze.
meut, but there was SO much simplicity
and honesty in the youth that, after con
terring together for a few moments, they
proposed to accompany HIM home 70 see
the marvellous production, TO which Heuu
at present dsciiucd'to giyeauy name. They
followed him up thenauow staircase 10 the
little garnet, and looked around in vain tor
the wonder .hgy had come 90 behold. r
Henri saw their surprise, and with the u
word threw back baIzs curtain from the
door aGd revealed to them tine Ry.hsure.
line size, otG murdered mAn. The gentle
men started h3okn ama2am. mt S0ldy5-
~, 10 death, were tho lineaments Of thai
exquisite Face 50 tau..ess inform, no Eau.
drausly Expressive purity andiunoceate.
that they eould.uo, believe it the work OF
on Vufn4tvE.1 v,e4h eysft...H. y..-.,1 54F...E