The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-10-16
Paid for Doing his Best.


David Bruce was a young artist in /.
Philadelphia nearly forty years ago. 4
He painted portraits until he made I
money enough to take him to Rome for /
two or three years. When he came /
back, he had gained high and just ideas /
OF art and much technical skill. But /
very few people bought pictures forty I
years ago, and the times were as hard I
as they are now.
David, with his mother aud sister TO
support, soon found himself without
dollar.
"pH hav, to come to you for work."
he said bitterly enough, TO his uncle .
Ben, who was a carpenter. al can drive
a nail and handle a saw II | can't paint
pictures worth buying"
INA, na, my lad. When ye've got
trade, stick tilpt," said the hard-faced .
old Scotchman. Though l wish ye
he'd a decenter one-my own, for exam
ple."
SO young Bruce contented himself
with a diet OF black bread and milk, to
give his mother and little Jeanie a full
share Of provisions.
Matters were fast coming to an eX-
tremity. There was but little bread aud
milk in the larder for anybody, when
David received an offer of work from
manufacturer of wallpaper, who was in
need of new designs.
HIS Uncle Ben brought the man to 4
see him.
"Here's a rare chance for ye, lad. Mr. /
Jenkins will pay ye well, nae doot. My |
nephew has been for years learnini his I
trade 10 the capitals of Europe" turning
TO the manufacturer, a red, pudgy little
mau. "Yel fud he's fitted himself
10 design your paper TO your satisfac-
ton"
"Why, uncle" cried David, red with
rage, "i N not a dauber Of signs aud
wallpaper! l paint landscapesAgre
historical pictures
"Yere a fule 90 whispered his uncle.
"Have you mind yer mither shall
starve? Look at her thin cheeks yOn-
ner."
David glanced into the other room.
He was very civil to his visitor after
that, though secretly gnashing his teeth
with modification.
''Nou must put your best touches on,
Bruce" said the manufacturer. "I'm
not easily pleased. I never pay for the
first design, but, il l approve it, I'll be
liberal patron"
81 imagine you'll be satisfied" said
David, loftily.
The next day the carpenter came to
see how the work progressed.
'rrhere are half a dozen designs /
dashed them of this morning." said
David, indfierently.
Ben looked at them through his spec
tacles.
"Tm no Judge Of such matters Are
these good, David ?"
"Good enough"
as it the best ye can do?p
Certainly not Do you think I'd
put my best work on wallpaper Did
/ 90 to Rome for that ?"
"Diuna We mind the guide Book says,
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do
it with thy might Now, there's my
jOurneyman, Jock Sawtree," laying the
papers carefully in a pile on the table;
"J0ck says to me this mornin', Ben
says he, why dye plane OFF the top
planks of the porch as smooth as the
bottom? It's wastin' OF time says he.
'NObody'd know if you slighted them
Jock says I, I'D know"
David looked at the old man a min
ute, and then be gathered up the de-
signs and threw them in the FIRE.
you're a better artist than >" be
said
81 know naething aboot art, but !
know wha's honest," said Ben.
David spent the rest Of the day on a
design. II was the best he could do. To
the evening be showed it to his mother
and Jeanie.
'iAIy idea is the paper Of q chamber,
in which the occupant, waking from
sleep, shall have a glimpse Of the field
outside"
The ground Of the design was the pale
blue Of the air, against which waved
long fine grasses and white wild daisies,
with here and there a joyous song spar
row IN flight or poised to sing.
ITS the field where you used to play
when you were boy, David % cried his
II know, mother.u
DANi1 had put so much feeling and
MS teuuerest recollection into the sketch
that be ielt it must succeed Rnt 10
next day be Received a curt note fro,,
the manufacturer, stating that he conid
mot feel Justified in emplovi,,,, H.,
This design, being the first. was ~
course, his property"
David. sA''
Several weeks later, ne saw in tba
windows OF the manufacturer. in High
street, paper printed in his design. II
sold rapidly. But the truth was. The
manufacturer chose to employ cheaner
and inferior workmen.
The times began to revive soon after
that. Young Bruce had a commission
to paint the portrait Of the Mayor. and
so became well known. Presently bis
landscapes were sold. Slowly and sure
ly be went on his way to fortune, carry
ing his dear old mother aud Jeanit
with him; aud, after a little, wifi,
and baby were added TO the happy house
hold