The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-09-07
THE ARTISTS PICTUPE.

There wait for us, at home.
THE ARTISTS PICTURE.
II was small cottage Of the poorer Sort
but had an air OF neatness that made II at
trac. the attention Of passers-by, though
there were few who went that way VINO
did not know the cottage and its inmates
for strangers. or the people from the great
civ few miles Oh, did not often pass along
the out-Ofihc-way road that lay before the
little house. At long intervals strangers
would pass that way, and on one warm
afternoon a man from the city stopper DE-
fore the cottage It's mistress was busy
l.omOng her flowers near the door. rs he
looked upon the wcll-kept yard, ana saw
the shining .milk-pans airing beyond the
house. and noticed the tidy and pretty form
Of the mistress, he wondered if she would
| not make good wife.
..MaN | have a drink of water - he asked.
| "Cortainly." she answered, and, turning,
displayed pair OF bright eyes ana TWO req
| cheeks that made the man again wonder II
| she Would not make a good wife. The
| water was brought, and, after drinking IT,
| the man asked: "D0 you live here with your
husbandT
NV husband" laughingly exclaimed
| the girl, and her cheeks appeared to grow
more red. "lndeed. no, sir have none
| such. / live here with my only brother,
| VINO is an artist
AN artist" replied the man. Il am an
artist. too. My name is Barnardo.'
| IL have heard Of YOU and Of your grand
! pictures: and 20 has otto. my brother ana
| be often saws he wishes he could paint as
| Won do. for he has met with poor success.
People do not seem anxious for ms pc
| lures"
| perhaps he needs a little instruction To
| perfect himself. ] would gladly give 1t to
him." said Barnardo. 60,
"How kind of You. and how glad ne VIII
he" answered the girl. whose name was
Gertrude. II will tell him at once. lie j.
now inside, painting"
you need not tell him. Let me see Ms
! work without his Knowing who am
| said the artist,
| onto was busy mt his easel when Barnar-
| do entered. ON seeing a stranger he stopped
| his work, as the thought Of patron entered
| his mind. Though he had heard OF the man
| before him and seen hi. pictures he had
never before seen him.
| "lour picture seems almost ilnlshed'
said Barnardo.
| Yes. though must admit it does NOT
| quite suit me. and requires little more
| work, though have put much on It,
| lUU ilNfl. hiiNN'Af "a AAi' '4''''.'''
have experimental too much 10 get the de-
sired effect. instead at knowing beforehand
| what you wanted TO do
| Are YOU painteT?' asked otto.
| Eyes. ami am willing 20 help you, II You
| wish it. Nv name its Bamardo.'
| "Indeedi" exclaimed the young man.
| Then | must hide lIy work from youreleS.
| How fortunate; but do You really mean II 2
| Then people viii be anxious for my pictures.
| rs they are for yours
| IL none more anxious. But tell me- what
| is this picturey Evidently sick man ana
| a poor boy bringing him food
| Yes" answered otto. who was delighted
| 10 think so great an artist SHOULD take IN
ferest i'm his work. eyes, the man II one
| who has spent an his years in doing good
| for others. and is now ycry sick. having
been kept to his bed for many months. And
he is very poor. The people whom he mas
| helped have all forgotten him. ANA De would
| starye but for the bow who is his son. see
| the room is almost bare Of furniture. lie
| has parted with his few possessions. little
at "a time in 0rdcrto keep life I'm himself and
son and the faithful dog. who is considered
| a member OF the family. The boy has drawn
| the bed 10 an open WINDOW. 80 ihai ms
| fathorcan see the beautiful trees. the blue
| Sky. aud the clear water Of the lake. winch
| appears 10 be bearing in It's depths counter
| parts Of the ileecy clouds nOallns IN the ar
| above. lie is now watching the white sails
Of the boats in the distance ana thinking
of the Great ship that went 20 the bottom of
| the deeD ocean ten years before. carrying
his LOVING wife and al his dear little ones
| executing the boy at his side. who. with
| himself. was lifted i'm The arms Of the waves
| aid laid unconscious on the sandy shore.
| which makes only narrow line al the
| horizon to the lett of the high mountain
yOnder. See, the boy tries to look
| happy i'm order 20 cheer his father
| though in fact be Is very mlscraDie,
| for be is hungry and has given the last NOR
| sci in the house 10 his father FOR break
/ fast. lie denies himself almost everything.
| And ne and the poor dog by his side. after
| going To bed -dUpcriess, often arse ln the
morning without the prospect OF q breakfast.
But he keeps all this from his father. And
| the doc keeps the secret too. and wags his
tail and acts and looks "a though ne was
happy. There on the bed are some flowers
The old man loves flowers. The boy went
great distance 10 get them. see ont the
window. across the lake, beside the road
where the stone bridge with the broken
arch is-there is where the flowers came
from. The boy and deg were up before day
| light and walked there for them"
While otto was talking the artist seemed
greatly Interested and let him run on With
out interruption until the young man
seemed 10 realize his imagination was car
rying him too far and stopped suddenly.
"lOu Will some day De great artist |
said Bernardo, land people will Dee more |
anxious for your pictures than for nine
"DoyOu really believe it,. and VIII You |
give me some instruction." asked the en- |
thusiastic boy.
Yes to bOtn your questions answered |
Bernardo. But have favor TO ask Of
YOU"
IL will grant it,"
1T is not much. ! wish YOU would write
the story of the picture as You have told il;
only do not stop 50 short rs you did. bui
finish and tell all youl thoughts while paint
Ing it, will call for the stor tomorrow"
Il will take pleasure in writing 10 for
YOU" said otto. land Will try 10 have il
ready by 10 in the morning.
Before going Baruado had a little chat
with Gertrude, and did not appear very
anxious TO leave the neat little cottage.
On the morrow he returned. more than an
hour before the appointed time, and did not
appear sorry TO learn he must call again,
because otto was unable 10 finish his task.
which bad grown beyond his expectation.
Though otto offered 10 deliver his story in
the city, the artist said he liked 10 walk
into the country and would call again the
next day.
He came on the following morning and
the story was finished. lie asked Gertrude
To read TO him, which she did. He was de-
lighted with the story and with Gertrude,
and he sat and talked about it with her for
more than an hour. lie called again the
next day and handed two l0-flOrn pieces to
otto.
"what are these for;' asked the young
man.
IL have sold your story and this is the
pay answered BarnlrdO. Nov, | want
YOU to write long story-a book. | said !
on would be a great artist. and so you will,
but your pictures will be painted with the /
pen and people will be anxious for them. {
promised to help you anc so will. l viii 7
come and hear Gertrude read your story as 4
1 progresses. if she is willing
She was willing. q
The book was written, and Gertrude read /
I TO Barnardo chapter by chapter. When I
I was finished Otto wrote another. and !
'thers. They were read and anXiously i
ought for by the people. lie became a r
amOus writer. Ills brush was laid aside a
md with his pen he wrote word pictures {
hat delighted thousands. n
For a number of months Bernardo con-
la 4 IL.