Summary

After Nello’s grandfather went to sleep, Nello went outside to the secret outhouse where he liked to paint. Only Patrasche knew about the outhouse where Nello had made himself an easel. Even though he had no money for paints, and no one had ever taught him anything, he could not help his desire to paint. He was currently working on a portrait of old Michel the woodman, and he had been doing so for most of the year.

Patrasche had watched as Nello painted the portrait every day after his work. He knew that Nello wanted to send it away to an art competition in Antwerp that was offering 200 francs a year to the winner, with the only requirement being that he needed to be under 18. Three of the biggest artists in Antwerp were to judge the competition.

Nello told no one...