The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-07-31
THE PICTURE.
'Shan't 20 Il step farther 10

q
"Only just little way we shall soon
home now, and mothers waiting. -
VI don't care. I've made up my
mind that I've walked too far already,
and Pm just going to sit downand rest ;
they must wait, and | shall do as l
choOSe.'
"But father---n
Now don't you talk to me about
butts, Charlie, because L wont have it.
shall sit down here, and you can go
and tell your mother not to wait-not
to watt" the man repeated, raising
his voice with the stupid anger of in
toXication.
Still, in spite of threat and refusal,
the child persisted in pleading that his
father 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 at length
on the grass, somewhat under the shade
or the hedge, and in a few minutes he
was sleeping heavily. whilst the child
sat down at little distance, with Il
strange kind of unchildish patience on
ms features. to wait until his father
should wake. Poor little Charlie !! he
Knew too well how useless any attempt
ON his part would be to rouse his father
from that sort of sleep.
Rather more than half an hour had
passed III 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 hover
ing over the convolvulus blossoms in
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
painted butterfly that fitted past him
but nc began aI Iast 10 lose ms Interest
in bees and butterflies, for it was now
tca-tmc, aud Charlie was growing ter
ribly hungry. Still he did not think of
deserting his post, for no one but the
child himself knew how often he had
kept his tipsy father off the country
road when carts or carriages were COM
ing along, nor how he had managed to
guide him in safety over the narrow
bridge that led across the river to their
cottage.
So Charlie sat there quietly, though
he was growing more tired and hungry
every moment, until the sound of il
whistle at little distance attracted his
attention, the sound gradually coming
nearer and sounding more distinct, un-
til Il young man jumped over tho Stile
at the end OF the field and approached
the child, who then knew him to be Il
gentleman he had often met during the
last few weeks, sometimes Sketching,
sometimes wandering about with his
knapsack on his back and his portfolio
under his arm. Indeed a Kind Of half
acquaintance had sprung up between
the young artist and Charlic-one at
tractcd by the glimIses he had caught
OF the pictures contained in The wonder
ful portfolio, the othor by the child's
wlStful glance and his rustic beauty.
Busy with his own thoughts, and
Judging from his happy face they were
very pleasant OncS-pcrllaps dreams of
the time when some wonderful picture
OF his should hang on the walls Of the
Academy, and by SO doing help him on
the road TO fame and fOrtunc-EuStace
Carroll had half crossed the field before
he noticed Charlie and his father. Then
his quick eyes told him the meaning of
the little scene the quiet, weary-lcok-
ing child and the sleeping father, with
his untldy clothes and collar and neck
tie mtastcncd, and his face turned up
To the blue sky that looked down upon
nothing so dcbasca as this man, whom
God had made "a little lower than the
angels" and who, by his own vice, had
thus degraded himself.
with tho quick instinct Of ohildl,uuu
Charlie understood the look of disgust
with which the young artist turned TO
nm, saying kindly as he did so:
"1 on are waiting to t,ke:your father
home, | suppose :"
"Ycs, sir" replied the child, whilst
flush Of shame spread over his face.
"Well, l think he is likely to lie there
four hours yet. Can't you leave him ?n
"No; sir, he might be run over or fall
into the river if 1 left him to come home
by himself"
"Oh - said Eustace, as he glanced
toward the sleeping man, and wonder
ed if it would be much loss to any one
if he did fall into tho river: but he
checked the thought, remembering that
he, with his refined tastes, and many
kinds Of amusement, could form nc
idea OF the temptation which drink
might have for this man, with his small
ler advantages of fortune and cduca.
tion and then an idea flashed across
his mind, and he determined to act
upon it.
''llave you had your tea, boy?" he
asked rs he unstrapped his knapSack
and took out small parcel wrapped III
paper.
'Mother will be sure to keep it fol
me until get home, sir" replied Char
lie, too bravo to complain to IL stranger
'"That's all right" said Eustace
understanding and respecting the feel
ing that dictated the answer ''mean
while, shall give you this piece o
cake, just to pass the time away. Whel
l was a small boy, stray pieces of CAKE
never prvented me eating my meals
when they came; SO your mothers tc;
will not be wasted, Now you sit still