The morning call., 1893-07-16
HOPE DEFERRED.
The Experience of a Paris
Photographer.
THE SORROW OF BEING POOR.
Waiting for CustomerS-A Drama
Incident to Small Business
Ventures.

exceedingly lin tied means and as push
cart could have held all their furniture,
they had been forced to pay their rent in
advance. the rent Of "plaster-dryers." for
they dwelt on the floor of wholly new
house situated rpon one of those grand up
completed boulevards, crowded with bills,
gravel heaps and fenced-off vacant lots.
The smell of fresh paint was strong in the
three small rooms; these were illuminated
by powerful light which boldly brought
out the baroness of the walls. To begin.
there was the atelier, which had sky
light of exceedingly minute dimensions
and a cold, gloomy Russian fireplace on
which lay tiny pile of coke ready to be
lighted in case any one called-and In that
case only. Upon the wall were hung the
family photogra aphs-thOse OF the father.
mother and the three children. who were
presented in every conceivable pose
seated, standing, with arms intertwined
and separated. In addition were displayed
some rural views and pictures OF public
edinces, all more or less faded by exposure
to the sun. These had been taken when
the family were in wealthy circumstances
and the father used the camera by way OF
amusement. Now they had lost everything,
financial ruin having Overtaken them and
the faith being without trade TO which
he could resort was endeavOring to make
both ends meet by utilizing what had for
merry been his Sunday pleasure.
The place OF honor in the middle of the
ateler was mGnopolZed by the camera.
the children timidly approaching it and
viewing it with admiration largely tine
tured by fear. Whatever splendOr or lux
ury might have been possible in the
miserable little suite Of apartments ap-
peared 10 have been absorbed by the shin
ing new brass and big bright convex lenses
of the apparatus. The other articles Of
furniture, which were very few, were aged.
wormeaten and broken. A wretch ed dress
Of threadbare black silk was worn by the
mother, who also had bit of cheap lace
on her head it was the costume of
a shOpwoman in a shop not much dis
turbed by customers. In order to make n
impression on his patrons the father had
purchased for himself a handsome artists
toque and velvet jacket. He looked as
new as his camera In this glossy attire.
with his big moon-like forehead full Of
illusions and his wondering, gond-nalured
eyes. Aud how the poor man stru!ted
abOut!-how seriously he took things! 1t
was comical TO hear him whisper to his
children:
Don't dare to venture into the dark
ronmw
LIE DARK room! OD!-tUe very NOIus
caused the youngsters to shudder.
The real state of the case was that the
unfortunate man was up 10 his very neck
IN trouble. After having paid the rent
and settled the charges for. oal and WOOD
he was utterly pennlless-he had not as
much as single sou left IN his apart
ments. The question pressing on him for
solution was what would the children get
TO eat that night If some customers did not
promptly climb the stairway. It the show
case full Of his latest and best photographs
which was down at the street door did not
attract two or three passers-by He had
by by the be ne nelp of Hau % Everything Was re. re.
paired and theIe was nothing more to shine
up!
Oh! the passers-by lon them now
everything depended.
The minutes of waiting-hours to the
poor photographer and his family-over-
and children all went out on the balcony
TO watch. SO many people were passing
and surely d single patron would be found
among .he lot! Alas! the crowd passed
heedlessly along the sdewalk-came, went
and crossed the street-but not a soul
stopped! Yes, yes--look. look! A gentle
man Lad gone up to the showcase; he was
examining the portraits in 1t one after the
other; he seemed salts fed, he was on the
point Of climbing the stairs. Such was the
enthusiasm of the children al this that
they proposed the coke on the hearth
should be lighted.
The mother, however, was prudent.
Lets wait and see" she advised.
Her advice was good. The gentleman
walked off, idling along. An hour, two
hours passed; the weather became less
clear; great clouds began scudding over
the sky. Still, the atelier was 50 high that
excellent pictures could vet be made.
What did that amount to, however, since
customers did not come?
Excitement, joy and disillusi0ns filed
every instant; steps resounded on the
stairway. came almost up 10 the photogra-
piers door and then suddenly took an
other direction. At one time pull al the
bell gave rise to great joy-but 1T was a
person who wanted to see the former ten
ant. The faces of the waiting family grew
longer, their eyes filed with tears.
Il can't account for this at all!' said the
father. Somebody must have taken down
our sign. Go and see. my child"
A moment elapsed and then the child
came upstairs again. greatly troubled.
Tne sign had not been taken dOwn-it was
still hanging in its place. but nobody
seemed to know it was there; nobody paid
even the slightest attention to 1T.
And, TO make matters worse, it was
raining.
In fact. the drops had begun to fall with
m0cklng little thud upon the atelier
skylight. umbrellas backened the boue-
ward. The photographer and his family
came in and shut the window. The
children shivered, but no one dare light
the coke. which was the last they had.
There was piercing CONSERVATION. The
father cenched his fists and strode about
the room. The mother, feeling her tears
ready to burst forth, fled and hid herself
IN the dark room that nobody might see
her weep. Suddenly one Of the children
who had returned to the balcony during
clearing spell raped briskly on the
window pane
Papa, papa. somebody has stopped and
is looking In the snowcase!' he cried joy
ousy.
The boy was OF mistaken. The per-
son was lady-a very nicely dressed |
lady. She examined the photographs for |
an Instant. hestated and then lifted her
head. Ahl if all the eyes aimed at her
from above had the least bit OF the mag |
net In them how quickly would she dash
up the stairsl
r, AT last the lady reached her decision.
she entered; she was coming up; she was
there! In great haste match was struck.
the coke kindled and the children hustled |
INTO the next room, and while the father
was readjusting his toque the mother hur-
rled to open the door, excited and smiling, |
with the mndaat r1stle of her old silk |