The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-12-22

back who so eagerly implored his at
tention.
= "what do you call your plctureY'
he asked.
7 "It is view of the Abbey of New
bourg with the village and land
seape," replied the trembling artist.
The auctioneer looked at him,
hummed contemptuously, and asked
his price.
'Whatever you please; whatever
it will bring" was the anxious reply.
HEM with an unfavorabie
criticism-"I can promise you but
three or four thalers."
PoorDuhobret had spent the nights
of many months on that piece. But
he was starving, and the pittance Of
fered would buy him bread. He nod
ded to the auctioneer and retired to
= a corner.
After many painting and engrav-
ings had been sold, Duhobret's was
exhibited. 'Who bids? Three, three
thalars! Who bids?" was the cry.
The poor artist held his breath; no
Iresponse was heard. Suppose it
should not find a purchaser! He
dared not look up; he thought every
body was laughing at the folly of Of
fering so worthless a piece at public
sale. at is certainly my best work,
he murmured piteously to himself.
He ventured to glance at the picture
as the auctioneer held it in a favor
able light. There was certainly a
beautiful freshness in the rich fol-
age, a transparency in the water, a
freedom and life in the animals!
The steeple, and the trees, the whole
landscape, showed the genius of an
artist. Alas he felt the last throb
of an artists vanity. The dead 81
lence continued, and, turning away,
! he buried his face in his hands.
"Twenty-one thalers pa faint voice
called out. The stupefed painter
gnve start Of joy, and looked to
see who had uttered those blessed
words. 1t was the picture dealer to
whom he meant to 60 at first.
"Fifty thalersp' cried the sonor-
Gus voice Of tall man in black.
There was a moments silence.
"One hundred thalersp p' at length
cried the picture dealer, evidently
piqued and anxious.
1.-TWO hundredI'
"Three hundredw
"Four hundredp
"One thousandp'
Another profound silence; and the
crowd pressed around the two op-
ponents who stood opposite to each
other with flushed and angry faces.
The tall stranger bid fifteen hun
dred thalers.
"Two thousand thalersp thun-
dered the picture dealer, glancing
around him triumphantly.
"Ten thousandp vociferated the
tall man, his face crimson with rage,
and his hands clinched convulsively.
The dealer grew pale, his frame
shook with agitation. His voice was
suffocated; but after two or three
efforts he cried out:
Twenty thousand"
His tall opponent bid forty thous-
and. The dealer hesitated. His
adversary laughed low laugh Of in
solent triumph and the crowd gave
a murmur of admiration. The pic
ture dealer felt his peace at stake,
and called out in sheer desperation:
"Fifty thousandw
"The tall man hesitated; the
crowd was breathless. At length,
tossing his arms in defiance, he
shouted:
"One hundred thousandw adding
an impatient execration against his
adversary. The crest fallen picture
dealer withdrew. The tall victor
bore away the prize. He passed
through the crowd of wondering
people, went out, and was passing
along the street, when a decrepit and
lame, hunchbaked wretch, presented
himself before him. The stranger
tossed him a piece of money, and
waved his hand as if dispensing with
thanks.
"May it please your honor" per
sisted the supposed beggar, Il am
the painter Of that picture" He
rubbed his eyes; for he had hardly
been able to persuade himself that
he had not been dreaming.
The tall man was Count Dunkels-
back, one of the richest noblemen in
Germany. He stopped and ques-
toned the artist. Being convinced
of the truth of his statement,he took
out his pocket book, tore out leaf,
and wrote on it few lines.
'Take it, FRIEND" he added. at
is the check for your money. Good
morning.
Duhobret invested his money and
resolved to live luxuriously for the
rest of his life, cultivating painting
as a pastime. But, though he had
borne privation and toll, prosperity
was too much for him, Indigestion
carried him off. His picture had
long an honored place in the cabinet
of the Count, and the curious incl
dent of its purchase was often re-
lated. 1t afterward passed into the
hands of the King of Bavaria.
u.Ivaof+be s1nFo1vsr plant.