Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1879 — A Romance of Real Life. [ARTICLE]

A Romance of Real Life.

Many of my readers have read Grimm’s Goblins "and other fholes, I should like to submit a fable from actual life: There lived in Berlin a very brave widow—a washerwoman. She had a son. That son, although not endowed with money, had plenty of brains. He was apprenticed to a goldsmith, but displayed such excellent talent as a draughtsman, that the attention of a painter, a friend of the goldsmith’s, was drawn to him. The Eainter insisted upon having the boy in is studio. He became so fond of the lad that he soon took him. into the bosom of his family. The boy became a youth, the youth grew into a man and an artist of whom his teacher was proud. Avery high lady, herself an artist, a mother of many promising sons, soeing a picture by this young Eainter, bought it and desired to make is acquaintance. He was summoned to her presence. In a conversation with him she ascertained that he thought he had a talent for marine painting. However, the poor fellow could not dream of carrying out his wishes in this respect, for he was tied to his town, being unable to meet the expenses of a voyage. The lady hit upon a plan. Her son, who was about to take a two .years’ trip round the world, would find the painter a very pleasant and agreeable companion. When our friend—we will call him Charles, which is his Christian name—was informed by letter that he had been chosen as this young gentleman’s companion, he thought he must be dreaming. Yet, with a heavy heart, he was compelled to decline the proffered appointment, although be would be fed ana clothed on the voyage. Where could he get the money fog his expenses on landing at various ports? Visits to foreign countries cost money! The dream seemed to dissolve. But high ladies sometimes do not do things by halves. The patroness of our painter hit upon a very good Idea: The .young man had a splendid picture in the Berlin Exhibition of Painters. This she bought, and for it she paid a high price. Tlie example of the great lady was catching, somebody else also bought onei of Charles’ pictures, and he was therefore enabled to undertake the voyage with money the reward of his own talents, which had,not the degrading effect of almsgiving. And now our young painter is ou the high sea*, in a vessel carrying, the sgn of a lady of very high station. Two mothers ore following that ship with theithprayors —the one living in a great palace, life othir in a lowly cot, both longing for the safe return of their offspring. Of the, latter, one is destined to be the Ad-

roiral of the German fleet, and the otiyjr hope* to beoome a great master of marine painting. I need hardly add that the Illustrious lady is the German Crown Prinoess, our own Prinoess Royal.— London Mayfair.