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painting, amused himself, in his leisure hours, 
by representing the landscapes amidst which 
he lived. The mill, the cattle of his master, 
the beautiful verdure, clouds, smoke, light 
and shade, were all pourtrayed with an ex- 
quisite truth. As soon as a picture was 
finished, he took it to a colour dealer, who 
gave him its value in materials to produce 
another. One feast day, the innkeeper of the 
place wishing to ornament the hall where he 
received his guests, bought two of these pic- 
tures. <A celebrated painter stopped at his inn, 
and, admiring the truth of the landscapes, 
offered and gave a hundred florins for that 
which had not cost a crown, and promised, at 
the same time, to take all the artist could 
produce. Thus the reputation of the painter 
was established, and his fortune made. As 
wise as happy, he never forgot his dear mill ; 
we find the representation of it in all his 
pictures, which are so many master pieces. 
Who would believe that plants have the same 
fate as men, and that they require a patron to 
appreciate them ? 
Coltsfoot, notwithstanding its sweet smell, 
had remained a long time unknown at the foot 
of Mount Pila, where no doubt it would still 
have bloomed in obscurity, if a learned botanist, 
M. Villau de Grenoble, had not appreciated its 
beneficent qualities. This perfumed plant 
