Mr. Oakball's Winter in Florence. 1882.

For Sale is Four Pages removed from "The Graphic, Christmas Number, 1882, showing Colour Lithographs drawn by Randolph Caldecott, telling the Story of "Mr. Oakball's Winter in Florence."

IN DECEMBER WE FOUND OAKBALL  lolling on a bridge over the Arne.  To overcome lowness of spirits and improve appetite his mother had sent him alone to try the light climate and interesting life of Florence.
So we got him to meet a few pleasant and intellectual people at dinner :  but without good effect.  Then we tried the paintings of Cimabue, Giotto, and other early masters upon him;  and showed him celebrated frescoes of the last judgment and the torments of the wicked.  They did not cheer him, however.
We also tried him at a quiet and soothing evening in the most respectable Anglo-American society, yet this did not improve him. 
Hoping much from the varied excitement of the cotillon, we next took him to a dance ; but, when a beautiful girl threw down a orange with the object of taking as a partner the sucessful scrambler after the golden fruit, he only gaped.
At last we came upon him in the Ulffizi Gallery-deeply interested in the copying of a picture.
And at a Fancy Ball in the Palazzo Violini he shone with true British lustre.
He had discovered at the Ball the Picture Copyist in the garb of a goose-girl :  but before hehad had enough of her conversation she was led off by a grim old gentleman.
After this he spent most of his time in the galleries studying pictures.
And at last he has a serious interview with the grim old gentleman-Signor Dante Allegretti-and the Signora, his wife-an American lady-parents of the goose-girl.  
On being assured of the stability of his income they excused Oakball's nationality and very insular appearance, and accepted him as a son-in-law.
With the prospect of a happy and delicious future, when he can have pictures copied and geese minded in the sweetest manner as often as he may wish, he recovered his spirits, and gave his last bachelor's party.

Condition is Very Good.