Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-11-13

- oAeS, ob Va lllC Sht VI
New Zealand, never awakened an ides
of art In his head. The drawings in
the album of the young girl, with theil
crayon shading and precise forms, were
something entirely new to Petit Pierre.
The pictures in the parish church were
SO black and smoky one could distIn
guish nothing. Besides that he hardly
dared to raise his eyes to them from
the porch where he knelt.
That night Petit Pierre dreamed he
was in a valley more beautiful than
anything he had ever seen, while the
beautiful vision that had drawn him II
the afternoon came smiling toward:
him, saying:
ut is not sufficient to look-you
must work.
So saying, she placed ON his knees a
board, drawing paper. and a sharp
pencil, and stood over him while he
began TO trace a few lines, but with SO
trembling hand that the liLes ran into
each other. Petit Pierre would have
given anything not to have been SC
awk ward-everything he drew grew into
irregular and ridiculous zigzags. His
anguish grew greater than he could
bear, until the lady, seeing his misery.
put stop to 1t, by placing in his hand
a pencil whose point flashed like fire.
Petit Pierre's difficulties vanished as il
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 instructreSs, leaning on his
shoulder. followed his work with an
air OF approval, saying from time to
time:
Good, very goodl that is the way
go onl''
This dream made great impress on
on Petit Pierre. From that day he
seemed different personals head ami
his heart alike seemed on fire. He had
suddenly awoke to consciousness of the
talent within him, and determined, if
possible, to make somethingfles of him
Taking a coal from those shoulder
ing on the hearth, Petit Pierre began
his studies in charcoal on the outside
walls of the cabin instead of on paper
or canvas. What should he begin with?
Make picture of his best, or rather
only friend, Fidelel For this orphans
family consisted only of his dog. His
hrst effort, it must be confessed, re-
sembled hippopotamus more than a
dog. by dlnt of trying over and over
Fidele was the most
patient model in the world-the hippo
potamus was succeeded by crocodile,
then calf, and finally figure that re-
Sembled nothing so much as a member
OF the canine race. To describe the
that Petit Pierre felt when
he had accomplished this would be
difficult. Michael Angelo, when he had
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 dearer
or deeper joy. III that beautiful lady
oSuld only see Fidele's porsraiti" cried
the little artist.
To do him justice, 1t must be said
that this blindness lasted only short
time. He soon learned how unfinished
was the sketch, how different from the
real FIdele. The next time, he tried
to draw a sheep, and did little better;
he was gaining experience-but the
charcoal broke in his fingers and the
rough boards were very exasperating.
''If had paper and pencils could do
better, but how can L get them?"
Petit Pierre forgot he was a capital
lst. Suddenly he remembered, and one
day confiding mis- flock to a comrade,
resolutely TO town and boldly
a store asked for the necessa-
rles for drawing. The astonished mer-
chant gave him several kinds of paper
and pencils. Petit Pierre, elated at
having accomplished this heroic and
lifficult task in buying so many strange
q SeS mOutOns, and
neglecting them, consecrated
10 drawing all the time that ordinary
shepherds gave to play on the pipe,
carving crooks, or making snares for
The birds or foxes.
Scarcely realizing the influence that
guided his steps, he often led his flock
10 the spot where he had posed as a
model for the young girl but he did
not see her very soon-'.the beautiful
IA v" as he called her, more radiant
than ever in his dream, with the golden
pencil in her hand. Though he did not
realize t, she was the mine of inspira-
ton to HIM.
One day he heard a horse CalIopirg
full speed along the ruad. FIdele
Oarked long and loud; in another mo-
nent he saw the lady of his dream on a
runaway horse. While she tried in
vain to restrain him with curb an bit
he only ran the faster, and turning
threw ] er violently to the
yrouni before Petit Pierre, who had
run as quickly as he could, was able TO
rrach her. He found she had tainted.
Paler than the unfortunate lady, Petit
Pierre saw where the rain had collected
in the hollow of fallen tree. Throw
ng some of this wat on her face he
discovered red drops slowly ooZlng from
ler fol ehead. She was wounded. Petit
Pierre drew from his pocket a poor
little ragged handkerchief and rever-
entity wiped away the blood now ming
ing with her ha r Then she recovered
and looked at Petit Pierre
with a vague sort of recognition that
went to his heart.
Suddenly the noise of approaching
wheels was heard, the rest of the party
and after many ordinations
-aiSed her and put her in a carriage
md drove away, leaving Petit Pierre
.lo with his stained handkerch eff to
remind him of the event.
he season grew late, the inhabitants
II the chateau returned 10 Paris. and
hough Petit Pierre had only seen at
distance the white gown and straw hat
hat he cogniZed after the accident.
till he felt very lonely. When he was
'addest he took the handkerchief that
lad staunched the unknown lady's
and kissed the stain. 1t was
lis only consolation. He drew a great
leal, and made rapid progress, for he
lad no master, no m.thod came be-
ween him and nature; he drew what
'ver he saw. His drawings were rude
md uncouth, but full of originality and
He worked solitary and
lone, under the eye of God, without
Idvice of guide, only his own sad
leart 10 inspire him. Sometimes in his
Trans he saw again the beautiful lady
With the golden pencil, and flaming
'oInt, and with her by him drew won
Ierful pictures; but in the morning
vanished-pencilsw were OBJ
innate and Petit Pierre used up all his
Drell crustS rubbing out