The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1889-12-20

Il FE.yftf ~
New ZeSlanl, noyerllwjskeiiSd Mntldea
Of attn MIA heal. The drawings iii
the album or tile young girl, with their
crayon shading and precise forms. were
something entirely now to Petit Pierre.
The pictures i'll the parish church were
so black and smoky one could distin-
guish nothing. Besides that lie hardly
dared TO rnise his eyes to them from
tho porch where he knelt.
That night Petit Pierre dreamed he
was in a valley more beautiful than
anything lie had ever seen, While the
beautiful vision that had drawn him Ill
the afternoon came smiling towards
him, saying:
ut is not sufficient to look-you
must worlk.n
So saying, she placed on his knees a
board, drawing paper, and u sharp
pencil, and stood owe him whilo lie
began to trace q fow lines, but with so
trembling a hand that tho liLes ran into
each other. Petit Pierre would have
given anything moi to have been so
awk ward-everything lie drew grew into
Irregular and ridiculous ztgZags. His
anguish grew greater than he could
bear, until tho lady, seeing his misery,
put Il stop to 1T, by placing in his hand
Il pencil whose point flashed like fire.
Petit Pierre's difficulties vanished as if
by magic. Out OF confusion came
order, trees threw out bold and hardy
trunks, the leaves looked natural, and
plants with their foliage were true to
life. His instructrGss, leaning on his
shoulder. followed his work with an
air Of approval, saying from time to
time:
Good, very goodl that is tho way
60 ont"
This dream made a great impression
on Petit Pierre. From that day lie
seemed a different personals head and
his heart alike seemed OH fire. Flo had
suddenly aWoke to consciousness of the
talent within him, and determined, IL
possible. to make soinottiiiiGfle5 OF him.
Taking a coal from those shoulder
ing on the hearth. Petit Pierre began
his studies III charcoal on tho outside
walls Of the cabin instead Of on paper
or canvas. What should he begin withP
Make a picture Of his best. or rather
only friend, Fidelel For this orphans
family consisted only Of his dog. His
lirst effort, it must be confessed, re-
scmblcd q hippopotamus more than u
dog. by dint Of trying over and over
| HEtt'ti" tlifilCsJ u itClO NTttJ UitO lllOJu
patient model in tho world-the hippo
pctamus was succeeded by Il crocodile,
then a calf, and finally Il figure that re.
Semblel nothing SO much as a member
OF the canine race, To describe tic
satisfaction that Petit Pierre felt when
lie had accomplished this would be
difficult. Michael Angelo, when lie l:al
given the last touch TO the Sistine
Chapel, and lain down, with his arms
crossed upon his breast to contemplate
his immortal work, never felt II dcarcr
or deeper joy. 'tIf that beautiful lady
could only SEQ Fidele's portraitl'' cried
tho little artist.
To do him justice, 1t must be said
that this blindness lasted only q short
time. lie Don learned how unfinished
was the sketch, how different from the
real Fidele. The next time, he tried
to draw q sheep, and did Il little bettor;
he was gaining eXpericnce-but the
charcoal broke in his fingers and tho
rough boards were very cXasperatlng.
"1f | had paper and pencils L could do
better. but how can | get them2'
Petit Pierre forgot he was Il capital
ist. Suddenly lie remembered, and one
day confding his flock to u comrade,
marched r%esolutoly 10 town and boldly
entering q store asked for the neceSsa-
ries for drawing. The astonishcd mer-
chant gave him several kinds of papSer
and pauGils, i'tti llell3, elNtcl II
haYiNg accomplished thls herQie attj
dilicutt TASK Ia huyinS Sc llnny stttllee
dhjcctS VI '+iU,}lGl t ss Uasll.lS aui
Wtt}ioGa neGlsctba8 tiionl, G0the4r0gcj
70 lreNtng all lhc tili9 tlt3t ollinarV
shepherds gtyG 70 MA. 81. thu p.yc,
carving crooks, OF making snares for
the birds or foxes.
Scarcely realizing the influence that
guided his steps, he often led his flock
to the spot where lie had posed as a
model for the young girl but he did
not seq her very sOOn-.'the beautiful
lady" as he called her, more radiant
than over in his dream, with the golden
pencil in her hand. Though he did not
realize it,, she was the mine Of inspira-
ton to Inn.
One day he heard u horse galloping
full speed along the road. Fidele
barkcd long and loud; in another mo-
ment he saw the lady Of his dream on a
runaway horse. While she tried in
vain to restrain him with curb an lit
he only ran the faster, and turning
suddenly threw her violently to the
ground before Petit Pierre, who had
run as quickly as he could, was able IL
reach her. lie found she had tainted.
Palcr than the unfortunate lady, Petit
Pierre saw where the rain had collected
in the hollow OF Il fallen tree. Throw.
ing some Of this water on her faco Inc
discovered red drops slowly oozng from
her forehead. She was wounded. Petit
Pierre drew from his pocket a poor
little ragged handkerchief and rover,
emily wiped away the blood now ming.
ling with her haIr Then she recovered
CONSCIOUSNESS and looked at Petit Pierre
with n vague sort Of recognition thai
went to his heart.
Suddenly the noise Of approaching
wheels vas heard. The rest Of the party
appeared, and after many EXPLANATIONS
raised her and put her in u carriage
and drove away. leaving Petit Pierre
alone with his stained handkerchief to
ramind him Of tho pynnt