Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-11-18

painter was 1rSG OF ali. 1ulS WOulu
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,
to ask Tom if he had any money to
spare?
81 can but ask him, and I'm sure
can pay him back some day."
Acting upon the thought, he ven
tured.
Indeed. Peter, I'D be glad to do
it, but, bless you! l won't get any
thing for three long years to come. "
This indeed looked dubious.
"Oh, dear!" Peter said aloud.
There's no use in trying. What
shall l do? 1 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-
ations were so great. but it was evil
IDENTITY 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 to work
vigorously and there was no end to
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 liYes,
as well as men and women, will find
that if one earnestly desires to sue
coed, some way, somehow, the way
will be opened. So it was with poor
Peter, for as he was walking the
streets one day, jus: at his feet lay
well-hlIed purse. What joyl 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 find the
owner of it.
OF 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-only 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 1t no
longer, and one day, in Toms absence,
he bought not only pencils and paper.
but the whole parapherDaIia Of an
artists outfit. Was he happy, think
you? You would have said so if you
could have seen him with his outfit
everywhere in Florence where there
was a handsome church or public
building or statue, drawing as If bis
life depended upon it, and only when
it grew too dark to WORK did be re-
turn to the humble lodgings where he
was always welcome, and where, If
Tom was not there, he would always
find tucked under the straw bed his
dinner, that 1t might be kept warm
until he came back.
The place had become home to him
now; it was better than all the fine
things in the world. No one knew
yet of his coming and going; no one
had ever seen the wonderful work on
the walls. Some of the servants at
the palace often remembered, though,
that even for boy Tom had an un-
common appetite, and wondered why
he should keep so small with so much
good food to eat.
The cardinal was 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 establishment when he saw his
beautifully whitened walls covered
with charcoal sketches from top to
bottom, and not one Of them to be
deSpised, either!
What could it mean2 Calling the
butler, he asked who slept there.
Thomas, the boy in the scullery,
my lord"
what genius. Call him to me-.
The servant obeyed, and our poor
Tom came trembling before the Car
dlnal, into whose presence he had
never been before. He grew very
red as he looked first at the charac-
tiers on the wall and then at his mas
ter.
''No longer are you to be in the
kitchen, Thomas" he said kindly.
But the boy, feeling that the Car
dinal was displeased and sending him
away, implored that he would not.
81 have no home, and shall starve,
and l couldn't take care of Peter
then"
Whenever he mentioned Peters
name his eyes lit.up, he had grown
so fond Of him, yes, and very proud,
too.
"Peter? Who, who is Peter?" the
Cardinal asked.
'Oh, only friend of mine from
Cortona, who has come all the way
to Florence to learn to he a painter.
See those pictures on the wal.?" said
he timidly fearing least his master
would be angry that he had allowed
Peter to draw them. II couldn't do
Such work aS that He'll die If hn