The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-10-14


not give him paper and pencils
brushes, or colors: money only would
do that How he wished that some
one might give him credit! Could he
make up his mind, after his kindness,
10 ask Tom If he had any money TO
spare?
II can but ask him, and I'm sure
can pay him back some day."
Acting upon the thought he VEN
tured.
Indeed. Peter, Id be glad to do
IL, but, bless YOU! i won't get any
thing for three long years To come. I"
This indeed looked dubious.
"Oh, dear" Peter said aloud.
There's no use in trying. What
shall do? can't bear it,"
Now suppose, Peter you get first
piece OF charcoal and draw on my
walls? That won't cost you any
thing, and it will ornament me up,
you know. How would that do,
think"
This of course was a good deal OF a
downfall TO the boys pride, his aspir-
atlOns were SO great. but il was evil
IDENTIFY all he could do at present, at
least, and he was glad TO exercise his
talent even with piece OF charcoal.
When Tom, now greatly interested
brought him piece, he set 10 woIk
vigorously, and there was no end 10
the figures OF every kind and shape
that he put over the walls, until
there was not space left uncovered.
But boys and girls all there lives,
as well as N and women, will find
that if one earnestly desires TO sue.
ceed, some way, somehow, the way
will be opened. So it was with poor
Peter, for rs he was walking the
streets one day, jus: at his feet lay a
well-hlled purse, What JOY! But
the next moment, great as his need
was, he felt he had no claim on the
priZe-for he was honest as we'll as
ambitious-and must try and dnd the
owner Of it.
or course he ran to the attic the
very first thing TO tell his friend
Thomas when he should come up OF
his wonderful luck, and to ask his
advice ABOUT finding the owner. To-
gether they printed some slips, for
they both knew how TO make the let
ters-onIy that. and very little about
spelling-and posted them up in pub
lie places. But no one applied for
the purse.
After waiting for weeks, no owner
appearing. Peter could bear IT NO
longer, and one day, in Toms bsencc,
hn hnnUhf "A
but the whole parapherDalia OF an
artists outfit. Was he happy, think
you? You would have said so if you
could have seen him with is outfit
everywhere in Florence where ere
was a handsome C urch or public
building or statue, drawing as il his
life depended upon it, and only when
it grew too dark TO WORK did re-
turn to the humble lodgings where he
was always welcome, and W ere, II
Tom was not there, he would always
find tucked under the straw bed his
dinner, that II might be kept warm
until he came back.
The place had become home to him
now; il was better than all the fine
things in the world. No one knew
yet Of his coming and going; no one
had ever seen wonderful work on
the walls. Some OF the servants at
the palace often remem bered though,
that even for boy Tom had an un-
common appetite, and wondered WHY
he should keep so small with 50 much
good food TO eat.
The cardinal was a rich man, and
though he lived in an elegant palace,
there were alterations he desired To
make. One day, going over the build
ing with an architect he came at
length TO Toms attic room. Imagine
his astonishment when he saw his
beautifully whitened walls cove ed
with charcoal sketches from top TO
bottom. and not one OF them TO be
despised either.
What could il mean' Calling the
butler, he asked who slept there.
Thomas the boy in the scullery,
my lord"
What a genius. Call him to me. "
The servant obeyed. and our poor
Tom came trembling before the Car
dinal. into whose presence he had
never been before He grew ve.y
red as he looked first at the charac-
ters on the wall and then at his mas
ter.
mo longer are you to be in the
kitchen, Thomas" he said kindly.
But the boy, feeling that the Car
dinal was displeascd and sending him
away, implored that he wouH not.
Il have no home. and shall starve,
and / couldn't take care of letter
then.
Whenever he mentioned Peters
name his eyes lit ". he had grown
so fond of him, yes, and very proud,
too.
"Peter? Who, who is Peter?" the
Cardinal asked.
ooh, only friend Of mine from
Cortona, who has come all the way
TO Florence to learn To lie painter.
See those pictures on the wall" said
he tlmidly tearing least his master