106 A DOG OF FLANDERS.

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 cherished — of 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 pen-
cil. Three of the foremost artists
in the town of Rubens were to be
the judges and elect the victor ac-
cording to his merits.