The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-04-28
Dick JOhnsOn's Picture.

Dick kept the fashionable saloon in
town. 1t was in style. Every glass was
polished to perfection. The liquors
sparkled in the decanters. The counter
was all over carving and gliding, and the
barkeeper was the daintiest young man
in Fiddleburg. Dick himself was proud
of THAT here establishment" as he
C, He'd it. He would look in the mirrors
with pride, as he beheld his own picture
in their polished faces.
Fiddleburg had new painter. He
was an artist. A picture by Nichols was
a real gem. Most of the stores had one,
in some shape or another. The livery
stable man had a horse painted that peo-
pie came miles to see. The butcher had
a COW that you could almost hear calling
her calf, so lifc,like did she appear. The
restaurant man had pie, and some
cakes and doughnuts so eXquisitely done
that when he put them in his window
the boys just felt like grabbing at them.
And the milliner had wooden dummy
in her window, with face and neck so
tinted and fixed that the men all stopped
to gaze at that lovely thing
Well, to make long story short, Dick
johnson thought he would have a sign
for his saloon. With Dick, to think was
to act. Cost was nothing to him, so that
his fancy was tickled "Halloo, old
fellow" said Dick, as ne entered the
paint-shop and saw a splendid figure for
a cigar stand just finished, GIVE got job
for you. 1t must be something hifalutin
and the bill amt limited"
Now this was just what our man of
colors wanted. He was ambitious, though
poor, and very glad to paint something
really fine, if he could only get the pay
for it.
What is it to be-"
81 want a sign" said Dick. 81 want
a sign like these other folks. Something
to show what do; something to suggest
the business, you know. Just any good
thing that you can think Of. You are a
painter, and can tell better than l can
what is right"
"1'll do it, said the knight of the brush,
and Dick was off without another word.
The painter went to work He GOT a
long board about four feet wide and
filled it with human figures almost life
size, and so near life in appearance that
you could almost see them stir. Begin
ming at one end was a goodlooking
young man coming to take drink. The
next figure was the same, Just little
drunk. Then he was down in the gut
ter; then in Jail; then in fight, and
lastly poor, wretChed, broken-dow
creature was dangling at the gallows.
Alongside of him, in different stages of
his life, were his mother and sisters
weeping at his fate; his poor wife beg
ging her bread with the children at her
side. Then his boy was seen in the In
dustrial School, and his girl in the Poor
House. Oh! it was beautifully done.
And underneath was written in fine large
characters: We make these things
here "
When Dick was told it was done, he
ordered it put up at once, and settled
the bill, and thought no more of the
picture. 1t was covered with paper till
dark, intending to surprise the natives
of Fiddleburg at daylight.
And it did. AS Dicks customers came
by for their morning dram, they saw that
picture and stepped back.
Not a man crossed his threshold that
day. Dick had played late, and slept
till noon. When he came downstairs
the saloon was empty. Not a soul had
been in. Barkeeper said the whole
town had seen that picture, but not one
had called for drink.
Dick went out to look, too. He saw
the point, and then-well, that sign
came down.-Li0ermOre (CaL.) Herald.