Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-05-26


the next morning, strange TO say, and
Ncttie, with face still sad and troubled,
went TO his room to see what could de-
tain him. The poor boy looked pale
and sick.
"I don't want any breakfast, Nettie,"
said he, "just tell mother that / have
bad headache, and would like to lie still
q little longer"
All, Nettie knew we'll enough what it
was that was making Walter Ill; what
II he should break his heart and never
be well again! She had read of such
things, and the thought was more than
she could bear. Scarcely tasting her
own breakfast, she went absently
through her Saturday morning duties,
followed closely by the longing thought
that she must do something to help
Walter. Had not the busy mother been
so engrossed with her many cares, she
would have seen something was wrong
from the little girls face.
But suddenly, in the very act of wash
ing the dishes, n new, hopeful idea
rushed into Nettie's troubled brain, and
the very moment the task was done,
away she flew upstairs again to Wal
ter's room, and crept in softly. Worn
out with grief and a restless night, he
was now sleeping heavily, and STOPPING
very quietly, Nettie drew the picture from
under the bed, and softly left the room.
Only few squares distant, she had
often noticed the sign of an artists
studio, and had sometimes seen beauti-
full pictures in the window below.
Waiting for nothing more than her bon
M cha hnY.ttad orr,. In tho t,ro
cious picture in her arms, till arriving
at the steps which led to the artists
rooms. she hastened up and, almost
breathless, knocked at the door.
Nettie was naturally very timid
little girl, and when the strange gentle
man answered Immediately her knock,
it seemed for q moment as though all
her senses flew from her, and she stam-
mered out:
"Please, sir, can you, do you think
you can-do anything for lady that
has had her eyes punched out?"
1t was very evident, notwithstanding
the gentleman's kind and gentle face,
that it was difficult for him to keep from
smiling at this funny question, but he
said encouragingly:
Come in, my little girl, and let us
see what is the matter"
Nettie felt little better at this kindly
invitation, and entering the room,
turned toward him the unfortunate
Roman Lady.
"Ah, see." said the artist, another
smile playing around his lips, but which
he kindly tried to hide. al see your
picture has met with an accidentP'
80 yoc cir - o,.;a1 Nattia aona,,1,r
"Walter, my brother, had painted it
for the exhibition, and now that this
has happened. he is in such trouble that
he says he will never, never try again"
The good man looked at the troubled,
eager little face before him. and asked
sympathizingly:
"What were the eyes likeP"
"Like mine, sir,' answered Nettie.
eagerly; just like mine; sat for Wal
ter while he painted them. o, sir, do
you think you can do anything for us?''
"We'll try" was the kind answer,
and, taking piece of canvas, he skill
fully cut two pieces the right size, and
as skillfully, with strong mucilage, fast.
ened them in the right place on the
back of the canvas. "Now then," said
he, turning to Nettie, "just sit still
while | see what can do"
Never had Nettie's dark eyes looked
so beautiful rs now, with the glad
eager hope beaming in them, making
them soft and bright. And after {
short time, during which the artist kat
silently worked. thoughtful look il
his gentle face, he called her to com,
forward and see the picture.
| N yyhof NrnnAarfu1 ptnn hoT 4
come over the Roman Lady! There wer,
the eyes now in which only a close OBJ
server could detect anything peculiar
and no longer with the wide, staring ex
preston that had before spoiled them
but soft and beautiful; few skillfu
touches of the artist-brush had entirel,
altered the full, round lock of the pretty
face, and changed ridges in her hair tt
soft waves.
Nettie clasped her hands in an ectasy
of delight. 30, sir" she cried, 50
don't know how to thank you, and
haven't any money now; but, if Walter
sells the picture, l know he will pay yo,
all you ask"
"Never mind about that, my little
girl" replied the artist, kindly; 81 bu
tell me, has Walter ever had any one II
teach him paintingP'
mo, sir; no one at all" answered
Nettie. "He just loves it so, he tries i
all the time by himself"
"Well, suppose you ask him to com,
to see me, sometime" said the artist
and scarcely waiting longer than to So,
another earnest ''thank you," away Net
tie hurried.
hn hnH hnnr, nj aho,, t,.,N Ia,
when again she crept softly into Wal
ter's room. and to her surprise and de
light, found him still sleeping. Climb
ing noiselessly upon a chair, she hun,
the lady in her former place, and thel
sat down beside Walters bed. Alread,
he was stirring, and, with groan
opened his eyes; mechanically the,
turned, as if from habit, to the wal
where they had rested so often durin.
those hopeful days; and now, with
great start, he sprang up in bed, ex
claiming: "Why, Nettie, what does i
all mean, have l been dreamingp" Ant
then, with sparkling eyes and CLOWN,
cheeks, Nettie told him her story, end
ing with the artists kind message.
And the Roman Lady took her plac
as proudly as any on the following Mon
day morning in the great hall, and will
you believe it, was actually bought, no
for very great sum, but by lady VIII
said: 81 want that picture just for tn
earnest, beautiful eyes"
But better than all this, Walter wen
to study with the kind artist, and when
in time, he, too. became a fine painter
he and Nettie used often to speak of tn
good that had come from what seemed s
great an evil to the dear Roman Lady
~ y. Observer.
Canals on the Planet Mars.