Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-11-28
EUsTACE CARROLL's SKETCH.

they must wall, anu i shail 10 M !
choose"
:" But father"
"Now don't you talk to me about
'huts,' Charlie, because won't have IT,.
shall sit down here, and you can go
I'D tell your mother not to wait,
l., watt" the man repeated, raising his
voice with t!.e stupid anger Of intoxica-
tDr.
Sill, in spite of threat and refusal,
80 child persisted in pleading that his
rather should go home; but his words
only seemed TO strengthen the mans
obstinacy, and all the boy could do was
to get his father to turn aside from the
high road into field close by, where
the man threw himself full length on
the grass, somewhat under the shade Of
the hedge, and in few minutes he was
sleeping heavily. whilst the child sat
down at little distance, with a strange
kind of childish patience on his features,
to wait until his father should wake.
Poor little Charliel he knew too well
how useless any attempt on his part
would be 70 rouse his father from that
sort Of sleep.
Rather more than halt an hour had
pissed IN this dreary waiting, and Char
lie was beginning TO find all his small
sources OF amusement fail him. He
had watched large bee that kept how
ering over the convolvulus blossoms III
the hedge, and wondered if he had not
nearly finished his days work; had
placed snail out of harms way and
had been tempted TO chase beautiful
nainted butterfly that fitted past him;
but he began ~ last to lose his interest
in bees and butterflies, for II WIS now
tea-time, and Charlie was growing ter
ribly hungry. Still he did not think Of
dosertiug his post, for no one but the
child himself knew how often ho had
kept his tipsy father of the country
road when carts or carriages were com
ing along, nor how he had managed To
guide him III safety, over the marrow
bridge that le1 across the river to their
cottage. 50 Charlie sM there quietly,
though he was growing more tired and
hungry every moment, until the sound
of Il whistle nt little distance attracted
his attention, the sound gradually com
ing nearer aud sounding more distinct,
until u young man jumped over the
stile Mt the end of the field and approach.
cd the child, who then knew him to be
il gentleman he had often met during
tho last few weeks, sometimes sketch
ing, sometimes wandering about with
his knapsAck on his back and his port.
folio under his arm. Indeed, n kind Of
halEacquaintanc had sprung up be-
tween the young artist and Charlie-one
attracted by the plimpses he had caught
OF the pictures contained In the won.
derful portfolio, the other by the chid's
wistful gances and his rustic beauty.
Busy with his own thoughts, and, .judg-
ing from his happy face, they were very
pleasant ones--p perhaps dreams of the
time when some wonderful picture Of
his should hang on the walls of the
academy, and by 10 doing help him ON
the road tn fame and fortune--E nstace
Carroll bud half crossed the field before
he noticed Charlie and his father. Then
his quick eyes told him the meaning Of
the lt,lo scene; tho quiet, weary-look-
ing child and the sleeping fitther, with
his unlidy clothes and his collar and
necklie uniaslened, and his face turned
up to the blue sky that looked down
upon nothing 40 debascd as this man,
whom God had made "a little lower
than the angels" aud who, by his own
vice, had thus degraded himself.
With the quick instinct of childhood,
Charlie understood the look of disgust
with which tho young artist turned to
him, snying kindly IA he did 40.
You are waiting to take your father
home, | supposeY"
Yes, sir" replied the child. whilst II
flush Of shame spread over his face.
"Well, | should think ho IL likely to
lie there for hours yet. Can't you leave
him y
"No, sir, ho might he run over or fall
into the river, il | left him TO come
home by himself"
"Ohl' said Eustaoe, as No glanced To-
ward the sleeping man, and wondered
il it would lao much loss to amy one il
he did fall into the river; but he check.
ed the thought, remembering that he,
with his refined tastes, and many kinds
of amusement, could form no idea Of
the temptation which drink might have
for this man, with his smaller advan-
tages Of fortune and education; and
then All idea flashed across his mind,
and he determined TO net upon it.
Have you had your ten, boy p he
asked, NJ he unstrapped his knapsaok
and took OH II small parcel wrapped III
white pnpcr.
Mother will be sure TO keep il for
me until | get home, sir," repli, q
Charlie, too brave to complain to n
stranger.
"1hat's III right said Eustace, IN.
Outstanding and respecting the feelings
that dictated the answer; meanwhile,
shall give YOU this piece Of cake, just
TO pass the time. When was small
boy, stray pieces Of cake never pre-
vented my eating meals when they
came, so your mothers tea will not be
wasted. Now you sit still, for | am
going to paint picture, and when il
is finished will show il to you.
Very few danties fell to Clarifies
share in those days, and Eustacc was
highly amused Mt the way in which he
ate his cake, nibbling it off round the
edge AZ a. Ia make il last M long ns nos.