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possessed his brain。 No one had ever taught him anything； colours he had
no means to buy； he had gone without bread many a time to procure even
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STORIES
the few rude vehicles that he had here； and it was only in black or white
that he could fashion the things he saw。 This great figure which he had
drawn here in chalk was only an old man sitting on a fallen treeonly that。
He had seen old Michel； the woodman； sitting so at evening many a time。
He had never had a soul to tell him of outline or perspective； of anatomy
or of shadow； and yet he had given all the weary； worn…out age； all the sad；
quiet patience； all the rugged； care…worn pathos of his original； and given
them so that the old； lonely figure was a poem； sitting there meditative and
alone； on the dead tree； with the darkness of the descending night behind
him。
It was rude； of course； in a way； and had many faults； no doubt； and
yet it was real； true in nature； true in art； and very mournful； and in a
manner beautiful。
Patrasche had lain quiet countless hours watching its gradual creation
after the labor of each day was done； and he knew that Nello had a hope
vain and wild perhaps； but strongly cherishedof sending this great
drawing to compete for a prize of two hundred francs a year which it was
announced in Antwerp would be open to every lad of talent； scholar or
peasant； under eighteen； who would attempt to win it with some unaided
work of chalk or pencil。 Three of the foremost artists in the town of
Rubens were to be the judges and elect the victor according to his merits。
All the spring and summer and autumn Nello had been at work upon
this treasure； which if triumphant； would build him his first step toward
independence and the mysteries of the art which he blindly； ignorantly； and
yet passionately adored。
He said nothing to any one； his grandfather would not have understood；
and little Alois was lost to him。 Only to Patrasche he told all； and
whispered； 〃Rubens would give it me； I think； if he knew。〃
Patrasche thought so too； for he knew that Rubens had loved dogs or
he had never painted them with such exquisite fidelity； and men who
loved dogs were； as Patrasche knew； always pitiful。
The drawings were to go in on the first day of December； and the
decision be given on the twenty…fourth； so that he who should win might
rejoice with all his people at the Christmas season。
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STORIES
In the twilight of a bitter wintry day； and with a beating heart； now
quick with hope； now faint with fear； Nello placed the great picture on his
little green milk…cart； and took it； with the help of Patrasche； into the town；
and there left it； as enjoined； at the doors of a public building。
〃Perhaps it is worth nothing at all。 How can I tell？〃 he thought； with
the heart…sickness of a great timidity。 Now that he had left it there； it
seemed to him so hazardous； so vain； so foolish； to dream that he； a little
lad with bare feet who barely knew his letters； could do anything at which
great painters； real artists； could ever deign to look。 Yet he took heart as he
went by the cathedral； the lordly form of Rubens seemed to rise from the
fog and the darkness； and to loom in its magnificence before him； while
the lips； with their kindly smile； seemed to him to murmur； 〃Nay； have
courage！ It was not by a weak heart and by faint fears that I wrote my
name for all time upon Antwerp。〃
Nello ran home through the cold night； comforted。 He had done his
best； the rest must be as God willed； he thought； in that innocent；
unquestioning faith which had been taught him in the little gray chapel
among the willows and the poplar…trees。
The winter was very sharp already。 That night； after they reached the
hut； snow fell； and fell for very many days after that； so that the paths and
the divisions in the fields were all obliterated； and all the smaller streams
were frozen over； and the cold was intense upon the plains。 Then； indeed；
it became hard work to go round for the milk while the world was all dark；
and carry it through the darkness to the silent town。 Hard work； especially
for Patrasche； for the passage of the years that were only bringing Nello a
stronger youth were bringing him old age； and his joints were stiff and his
bones ached often。 But he would never give up his share of the labour。
Nello would fain have spared him and drawn the cart himself； but
Patrasche would not allow it。 All he would ever permit or accept was the
help of a thrust from behind to the truck as it lumbered along through the
ice…ruts。 Patrasche had lived in harness； and he was proud of it。 He
suffered a great deal sometimes from frost and the terrible roads and the
rheumatic pains of his limbs； but he only drew his breath hard and bent his
stout neck； and trod onward with steady patience。 〃Rest thee at home；
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Patrasche； it is time thou didst rest； and I can quite well push in the cart by
myself；〃 urged Nello many a morning； but Patrasche； who understood him
aright； would no more have consented to stay at home than a veteran
soldier to shirk when the charge was sounding； and every day he would
rise and place himself in his shafts； and plod along over the snow through
the fields that his four round feet had left their print upon so many； many
years。
〃One must never rest till one dies；〃 thought Patrasche； and sometimes
it seemed to him that that time of rest for him was not very far off。 His
sight was less clear than it had been； and it gave him pain to rise after the
night's sleep； though he would never lie a moment in his straw when once
the bell of the chapel tolling five let him know that the daybreak of labor
had begun。
〃My poor Patrasche； we shall soon lie quiet together； you and I；〃 said
old Jehan Daas； stretching out to stroke the head of Patrasche with the old
withered hand which had always shared with him its one poor crust of
bread； and the hearts of the old man and the old dog ached together with
one thou