fj^Z. anecdotes of Adrian Broor. 25^ 



pretty pictures. One of these young people proposed 

 to him to paint x\\t.five senses at four sous a-piece. Broor 

 executed them so well, that another asked of him the twelve 

 months of the year at the same price. 



Our prisoner thought himself very happy, and conside- 

 red, as a good fortune, the purchase money of these little 

 subjects which he did by stealth, and in some leisure mo- 

 ments ; but the considerable profits which his works brought 

 him determined Hals and his wife to watch him so closely 

 that he (hould net have a single minute to dispose of j these 

 unconscionable guards, not content with exhausting him 

 ■with laoour, diminiftiejd day by day the small pittance 

 destined for his subsistence. 



This dreadful situation was like to drive him to despair, 

 when one of his comrades advised him to make his escape, 

 and even furnifliedhim with the means. Deprived of every 

 thing, and almost naked, Broor strayed through the city not 

 knowing where to g.o, nor what would be his lot. After ha- 

 ving wandered a long time, he stopt at the ihop of a ginger- 

 bread baker, and bought as much as fhould serve him all 

 day, paying for it all the money which he had, and ran to 

 place himself under the organ of the great church. Whilst 

 he was there, ruminating in his mind how he fliould get 

 into a more comfortable situation, he was recognised by 

 an intimate friend who took him back to his master, who 

 had been at much pains to find him, and, overjoyed at re- 

 covering him, promised to use him better in time to come. 



Hals piqued himself upon the performance of his pro- 

 mise j he bought him a suit of second hand clothes, and 

 fed him a little better. Broor, thus encouraged, set about 

 his work with ardour, but always for the pro€t of his mas- 

 ter, who sold very dear the pictures which he had for almost 

 nothing. Broor alone was ignorant of his talents, and the 



