Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-09-01

very poor. No doubt he lived in a
garret, where he painted pictures and
ate stale bread and thought Of the good
things to eat in Miss Martha's bakery.
Often when Miss Martha sat down to
her chops and light rolls and jam and
tea she would sigh and wish that the
gentle hammered artist might share her
tasty meal instead Of eating his dry
crust In that drafty attic. Miss Mar
tha's heart, as you have been told was
a sympathetic one.
In order to test her theory as to his
occupation, she brought from her room
one day painting that she had bought
ut sale and set 1t against the shelves
behind the bread counter.
1t was Venetian scene. A splendid
marble palazzio $50 1t said on the pic
ture) stood In the foreground-or. rath-
er, forewater.
For the rest there were gondolas
with the lady trailing her hand In
the water). clouds, sky and chiaro-
oscuro In plenty. No artist could fail
to notice It
Two days afterward the customer
came in.
1.-TWO loafs Of stale bread. If you
blease. You haf here a fine bicture.
madam" he said while she was wrap
ping up the bread.
"Yes" says Miss Martha, reveling
In her ewn cunning. 81 do so admire
art and"-no, 1t would not do to say
artists" thus early-"and paintings"
she substituted. "You think It Is good
picture?"
der balace," said the customer. "is
not In goOt drawing. Der bairspective
Of it Is not true Goot morning. mad
am"
He took his bread. bowed and hur-
ried out.
Yes, he must be an artist Miss
Martha took the picture back to her
room.
How gentle and kindly his eyes shone
behind his spectacles! What n broad
brow he had!
To be able to judge perspective at a
glance-and to live on stale bread! But
genius often has to struggle before 1t is
recognized.
What thing 1t would be for art and
perspective If genius were backed by
$1,000 In bank, bakery and sympa-
thetic heart to But these were day
dreams, Miss Martha.
Often now when he came he would
chat for awhile across the showcase.
He seemed to crave Miss Martha's
cheerful words
He kept on buying stale bread. Never
q cake, never pie, never one OF her
RELIGIOUS Sally Lunns.
She thought he began to look thinner
and discouraged.
Her heart ached to add something
good to eat to his meager purchase. but
ber courage failed at the act.
She did not dare affront him. She
knew the pride Of artists.
Miss Martha took to wearing her blue
dotted silk waist behind the counter.
In the back room sne cooked q mys-
terious compound Of ounce seeds and
borax. Ever 80 many people use 1t Tor
the complexion.
One day the customer came IN az
usual, laid his nickel on the showcase
and called for his stale loaves.
While Miss Martha was reaching fof
them there was q great footing and
Changing, and a fire engine came lum'
bering past.
The customer hurried to the door to
look. as any one will. Suddenly In
spired. Miss Martha seized the oppor
tunity.
On the bottom shelf behind the coun
ter was q pound Of fresh butter that
the dairyman had left ten minutes be
fore. With a bread knife Miss Martha
made a deep slash In each OF the state
loaves, inserted a generous quantity OF
butter and pressed the loaves ugn
again.
When the customer turned once mors
she was tying the paper around them.
When he had gone. after an unusual
ly pleasant little chat. Miss Martha
smiled to herself, but. not without