The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-10-13
Two Pictures.

y
wandering through the streets of his
native city, saw little boy whose coun-
tenance bore beauty so wondrously
pure that, in contemplating it, he for
got the troubles and anxieties thrust
upon him by pecuniary embarrassments.
" How should like to portray those
features" soliloquized the ertist.
"Will you come to my studio, my lit
tie lad? 1 should like so much to paint
your picture" ...... ...
Most willingly the boy accompanied
the painter, and soon enjoyed the pretty
sight of another little lad-his second
self-smiling down upon him from the
artists easel. .... ...-.- 81 rt"s
The painter often sank his every
thought in contemplation of the lovely
picture. When the bitterness of life
made him weary of living, he needed
| but to lift his eyes to the beautifu pic
ture that graced the wall of his studio,
and its look Of innocence and hope
would drive the shadows OF despair
piness. Many were the offers to buy
the portrait of the lovely child but
the artist, though often in want, stead
fastly refused to sell "his guardian
angel" as he called him.
Years passed. Many times as he sat
and gazed upon the blooming beauty
of the face before him, the artist ques-
toned himself as to the probable fate
of the pretty child. 81 would like to
see him once again; would like to sec
how he looks" He would say to him
self, SCI wonder if would know himP
Has he grown to be a man, good and
true, or q knave-a ne'er-do-well; or
dees he dwell in heaven?' And, as
once again the artist sauntcred through
the streets of his beautiful town, he
came upon youth whose features bore
the stamp of vices so terrible, of
degradation 80 low, and an expression so
diabolical, that its sight caused him to
I should like to sketch those features
as q contrasting piece to the beautiful,
pure innocence of the boy portrayed
years ago." said the artist to himself.
The youth, having noticed the inter
est with which the artist scanned him,
begged for money, for he was both
beggar and thief. -..
"Come with me to my studio; let me
paint your portait, and will pay you
what you may demand"
The youth followed the artist. When
the sketch had been completed, and he
had hidden in his pockets the coins the
artist gave him, the beggar turned to
go. As his gaze fell upon the picture
of the little boy he started as if stung
by serpent; while his eyes seemed
riveted on the painting, he paled as if
in death. 1t seemed as though he'd
ask question, but tears appeared to
choke his utterance. He pointed to the
picture, and, throwing himself down on
his knees, he wept and walled aloud.
"Man, man, what ails you?' asked
the astonished painter.
"But twenty years ago you bid me
como to you, as now, and then, as now,
you portrayed me; see-yonder face was
then-mine own and now? You see
me wreck-a ruin-a human being,
so degraded that all the pure, the good,
will turn their faces in disgust -
The astonished artist could hardly
credit the testimony of his senses.
"But tell me man, whence this terri
ble changer"
The youth told his sad story An
only son and of great beauty; his pa.
rents spoiled him; bad companions
taught him their vices; brothels and
gambling dens became his home, until
he had lost his all, and then-unable,
or, 1ather, unwilling to work, and, as
yet, ashamed to beg, he began to steal
caught in the act, he was thrown into
prison; and then he went on to tell
how each bad act appeared to contain
the germ of another-appeared to
create the desire aye, the necessity to
commit another and worse one.
His story, as told by himself, sounded
terrible and brought tears to the paint
ers eyes. He adjured the youth to
give up his felonious career, and offered
his assistance in so doing. His kind
endeavors came too late; sickness, the
consequence of vice and dissipation,
threw tie unhappy youth upon bed
of pain. He died before he had an op-
portunity to prove the sincerity of his
repentance. ...
The artist placed his portrait by the
side of that beautiful boy and when his
patrons asked him why he put so terri
bic face beside another of such won--
drous beauty, he answered, sadly: "Be
tween yon demon and yon angel, there
are but twenty years of vice, e,"-Wm.
Richter