Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-10-01
githout the prospect of a breakfast. B

Without the prospect of breakfast. Bu,
he keeps all this from his father And the
dog keeps the secret too, and wags his tai
and acts and looks as though he was happy.
There OF the bed are some flowers. The
cid man loves flowers. The boy went a
great distance to get them. See out the
window, across the lake, beside the road
where the stone bridge with the broken arch
| lis-there is where the flowers came from.
The boy and dog were up before daylight
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 SEEM
ed to realize his imagination was carrying
him too far and stopped suddenly.
''You will some day be great artist, :"
said Barnardo. "and people will be more
anxious for your pictures than for mine."
''Do you really believe it, and will you
give me some Instruction." asked the en-.
thusiastic boy.
Eyes to both your questions" answered
Barnardo. "But ! have favor to ask of
you"
II will grant it.''
'.It is not much. wish you would write
the story of the picture as you have told it;
only do not stop so short as you did, but
finish and tell all your thoughts while paint
ing it. [ will call for the story tomorrow"
81 will take pleasure in writing it for
you," said Otto, sand will try to have it
ready by 10 in the morning."
Before going Barnardo had little chat
with Gertrude, and did not appear very anx.
ious 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 to finish his task,
which had grown beyond his expectation.
Though Otto offered to deliver his story in
the city, the artist said he liked to walk in
to country and would call again the next
day.
He came on the following morning and
the story was finished. He 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. He called again the
next dsy and handed two 10.forin pieces to
Otto.
"What are those fo1?" asked the young
man.
81 have sold your story and this is the
pay" answered Barnardo. SHOW, / want
you to write a long story-a book. I said
you would be great artist, and 30 you will,
but your pictures will be painted with the
pen and people will be anxious for them. 1
promised to help you and SO will. will
come and hear Gertrude read your story as
it progresses, if she is willing"
She was willing.
The book was written, and Gertrude read
it to Barnardo chapter by chapter. When
it was finished Otto wrote'another, and 9TH
els. They were read and anxiously sought
for by the people. He became famous
writer. His brush was laid aside and with
his pen he wrote word pictures that delight
ed thousands.
For number of months Barnardo con-
i nued to visit the little cottage, and the
ofteuer he wentthe more firmly he was con-
vinced that Gertrude would make good
wife. Finally he asked her what she thought
of it, and she said she was willing to try to
be q good wife to him. And so be was.
Otto had found a place in the world for
his talents, and Barnardo had found wife
who made him happy SO long as he lived.
To this day her beautiful face may be seen
in many of his pictures.