The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-05-19
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1t was in vain that he appealed to the
Judgment Of others. Those who knew
Judge Rufley, knew too much to think to
please him by discovering his likeness in
the picture. On the contrary, they abused
Flint's talent without mercy. The judges
portrait became a standing joke, and it
caused the artist a greater humiliation than
anything that ever happened. If he had
been fearful of Rufley before, he now hated
him from the bottom of his heart, and
there was nothing be did not say in his dis
favor.
A series of misfortunes followed the ar
lists indiscretion in the matter of the por-
trait. He lost much patronage there was
sickness in his family; a rich invalid, on
whose dying favor he had counted left all
his property to somebody else; and the
Flnts appeared to trace all these disastrous
! circumstances to the evil Influence of the
judge. To ease his conscience FOR having
accepted fifty dollars from the latter, Alex
ander painted Squire Hawleys youngest
child for nothing-if we accept the tatter-
ing attentions of the lawyer.
The crowning catastrophe was yet to
come. One day Mr. Flint was returning
from neighbor's house, where he had been
painting an old lady who was unable to go
out; and he was just passing Judge Ruhey's
residence-the sight Of which revived a host
of unpleasant associatons-when hearing
cry of fire, he looked and saw flames
bursting through his own roof.
Alexander was almost stupefied with the
suddenness of the calamity, In the great
est extremity of fright, he began to cry fire
at the top Of his voice, and to run to the
utmost of his might. He did not go so
fast, however, as to prevent another person
passing him. Who should that be, but the
portly and blunt Judge Ruhey Who
would have thought he would run to help
save the portrait-painter's house? 1t is
impossible to say what most astonished the
artist--the fire or Judge Ruhey
Flint was by no means fleet of foot. Be-
fore he arrived at the scene-of the catas-
trophe, the judge had saved from burning
one Of his sick children, that must have
perished had not some person risked his
life to save it. AS for Mrs. Flint she was
too much terrified to do anything. The
judge had dashed through fire and smoke,
and brought away the child unframed.
BY this time, number of the neighbors
had assembled, and every effort was made
to save the house. But the village knew
no engines or ire-annihilators in those
days and before ladders and buckets could
be brought into operation, the flames had
the mastery. They scared through the
roof, and burst out on every side.
"Save the furniture p cried Judge
Rufey.
And no man worked harder than he tc
save it. He was worth fifty like Alexander
Flint. Everything he did was done with
design, rapidity and precision. 1t was
chiefly owing to his efforts that the greater
portion of the furniture was got out of the
burning house.
Then Alexander and his family stood il
the street watching the progress of the de
vouring element, and weeping over theil
misfortunes.
"Don't stand here p cried the Judge
/ at will not do for sick children. Take
} your family right to my house, Mr. Flint
will see to your affairs here"
Alexander looked at him in astonish
ment. There was no such thing as misun
derstanding Judge Ruhey, however; no
could the poor man neglect this unexpected
proffer Of hospitality.
} Before night, the judge had stored thu
houseless furniture, as well as given thu
houseless family the shelter of his roof
Moreover, he had given the Flints an in
sight into his true character. They coulC
, not but feel grateful for what he had don'
and was doing for them, and they coulC
not but know that kindness and benevo
lence alone prompted him thus to act.
The judge contracted his own famil,
into close quarters, to make room for that
of his neighbor. He also took care that
they should be surrounded by comforts al
long as they remained in his house. The
next thing he did was to head subscrip
tion list the design of which was to rebuild
the portrait-painter's cottage, ON which
there was no insurance.
, Never neglect so important a thing az
an insurance p said the judge to Alexan.
der. "It is ruinous way Of saving few
dollars"
The judges tone and manner were as
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