"I painted another for him. Then the cholera broke out, and my wife, who was far from well, wanted to go to the seaside for a few days. Cribb had not paid me for my second picture--I wanted the money, so I called on him. He sat reading the paper for one hour and a half by the clock in Covent Garden Market, without speaking. "I woke him up again with my request to be paid. "'Look here,' he said, suddenly, 'I don't think young men should have so much money to run about with!' "However, he paid me £10 on account." The estimable Mr. Cribb lost a trifle by his meanness towards the great painter in embryo. A Mr. Carpenter, a Bond Street dealer, had found young Cooper out, and gave him a commission to paint a picture for £30. It was exhibited in 1833, at the Suffolk Street Gallery--and on the line--a half-length picture of "A Kentish Farm." The Press were most enthusiastic. "Here's a new man," the critics said, "a new man who will create a great school." The news sheets were full of praise, and Mr. Cooper told me how his wife and children made a scrap-book by cutting out all the laudatory notices in the papers and pasting them in. Young Cooper went to the private view, and the keeper came up to him and said that Mr. Vernon wished to be introduced to him. Mr. Vernon--Robert Vernon! He was one of the great art patrons of the day; the kindest and most liberal of men towards artists. So they were introduced. He wanted to buy the "Kentish Farm," but it was in the hands of a dealer, who was asking a hundred guineas for it; and Robert Vernon never bought from dealers. However, Mr. Vernon would call--he had his address from the catalogue. The first two men to shake hands with Sidney Cooper on his success were Stanfield and Roberts. Mr. Cooper had now moved to St. John's Wood. A few days passed by, when three gentlemen called. One was Mr. Vernon; the other Fawcett, the comedian; and John Maddison Moreton, who has made us cry with laughter over his "Box and Cox." "I sold Mr. Vernon," Mr. Cooper said, continuing this delightful narrative, "a little picture for £15. It was a group of cattle and a woman with a donkey, the donkey bearing baskets, in one of which sat a child. That was my own little girl--now the only survivor of three daughters. "Fawcett had been examining the sketches in my room. Suddenly he cried out:-- "'Vernon, Vernon, look at this!' It was a picture I had begun for the Academy and one I called 'Tunford Farm.' "Vernon seemed delighted with it. "'What's the price?' he asked, suddenly, after a good look at it. "'Well, sir,' I said, 'seeing that it is the same size as that exhibited at Suffolk Street--£30--I had £30 for that.' "'Yes,' said Vernon, 'and the dealer asks a hundred for it. I'll give you a hundred for that on the easel--on condition that you annul the purchase of this little £15 picture!'