Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-07-07

4 WONDERFUL portlIollo, the other Oy
the child's wistful glances and his
rustic beauty.
Busy with bis own thoughts, and
judging from his happy face, they
were very pleasant ones-perhaps
dreams of the time when some fine
picture of his should hang on the
walls of the academy, and by so do
ing help him on the road to fame and
fortune-E ustace Carol had half
crossed the field before he noticed
| Charlie and his father. Then his
quick eye told him the meaning of
the little scene; the quiet, weary
looking child, and the sleeping par
ent, with his untidy clothes and col.
lar and necktie unfastened, and his
face turned up to the blue sky that
looked down upon the nothing so de-
based as this man who God had
made "a little lower than the an
gels, and who, by his own vice, had
thus degraded himself.
With the quick instinct of child
hood, Charlie understood the look of
disgust with which the young artist
turned to him, saying kindly as he
did so:
you are waiting to take your
father home | suppose ~
Yes, sir, replied the child, and
a look of shame spread over bis face
"Well, | think he is likely to lie
there for hours yet. Can't you leave
him 2"
mo, sir, ne might be run over or
fall into the river if left him to
come home by himself.
"Oh!' said Eustace, as he glanced
toward the sleeping nah, and won
dered if it would be much loss to
any one if he did fall into the river
but he checked the thought, remem-
bering that he, with his refined tas-
ties, and many kinds of amusement,
| could form no idea Of the tempta-
tion which drink might have for this
man, with his smaller advantages
of fortune and education; and then
an idea flashed across his mind. and
he determined to act upon it.
Have you had your tea, boy?" he
asked as be unstrapped his knapsack,
and took out small parcel wrapped
in paper.
"Mother will be sure to keep it for
me until / get home, sir" replied
Charlie, too brave to complain to a
stranger.
"That's all right said Eustace.
understanding and respecting the
feeling that dictated the answer !;
meanwhile, | shall give you this
piece of cake, just to pass the time
away. When / was a small boy
stray pieces of cake never prevented
me eating my meals when they,
came, so your mothers tea will not
be wasted. Now you sit still, for
am going to make picture, and
when it is finished l will show it to
you"
Very few dainties fell to Charles
share in those days, and Eustace was
highly amused at the manner in
which he ate his cake, nibbling it off
around the edge so as to make it last
as long as possible; and he succeed
ed so we'll that the picture was fin
ished almost at the same time as
the last currant disappeared.
swell, was it good ?" asked Eus-
tace, as he tied his portfolio.
eyes mother does not put cur
rants in her cakes. Sometimes on
our birthdays, when father has not
been out, we have cake; but then
we have no seeds in it,"
"And those are not nice ?"
"Oh, no, sir, of course not ~ an.
swered Charlie, surprised that any
one should ask such a question.
"Well, | am glad you like it. l
am going back to the city in day
or two, but shall put another piece
of cake in my knapsack in case /
meet you again before | go. Look
here; do you know this is ?"
Charlie glanced at the little pic
ture Eustace held out to him, and
then he gave scream of surprise.
"Why, its me and fatherlo
And so it was and even though
Eustaca shOuld live tn ha an old