Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-09-14

1
What are they? asked Murllo. s,i
lost in admiration of the head of the V,rri
by the unknown artist.
According 10 your orders, senior, an
swered Ferdinand, I'VE never leave IN
studio without putting every thing in order
| cleaning our paettes, washing our brushes
| and arranging our easels but when we re
turn 10 the morning, not only is every thin
in confusion, our brushes filed with pain,
our pal|eites dlrted, but here and there or
sketches beautiful sketches 10 be sure the,
are, sometimes OF the head of an angel
sometimes ola demon. then again the pro
file Of a young girl, or the figure of an oil,
man, but all admirable, as you have secl
yourself, senor.'
This is certainly a curious affair. gentle
men, observed Murllo, but we shall soor
learn who is this nightly vistant. Sebas
tian,' he continued, addressing q little mu.
atto boy about fourteen years old, who
appeared at his call, did not desire yot
to sleep here every nght?'
Yes, master said the boy with ,midity
And have you done so''
Yes, MASTER
Speak. then who was here last nigh,
and this morning before these gentlemen
Gamer Speak, slave, or shall make you
acquainted with my dungeon said Murillo
angrly to the boy, who continued to twis,
the band Of his trowsers without replying
'Ah, you don't choose 10 answer said
Murilo, pulling his ear.
mo one. master, no one,' replied the
trembling Sebastian with eagerness.
That is false exclaimed Murillo.
mo one bu, me, swear to you, master, ;
cried the mulatto, throwing himself on his
knees. in the middle Of the studio, and hold
ing out his little hands in suppcation be-
fore his master.
Listen 10 me-, pursued Murrllo. Il
wish to know who has sketched this head
of the Virgin. and all the figures which nv
pupils find every morning here on coming
to the studio. This night. in place of going
TO bed, you shall keep watch and if BY to
morrow You do not discover who the cuprit
is, you shall have twenty-five strokes from
the lash. You hear-l have said it; now
60 and grind the colors and you, gentle.
men to work."
From the commencement till the termin
alton of the hour Of instruction, Murllo
was too much absorbed with his pencil ,c
allow word to be spoken but what regard
ed their occupation. but the moment he
disappeared, the pupils made ample amends
for this restraint and as the unknown
painter occupied oil their thoughts, the
conversation naturally turned to that SUBJ
ject.
Beware, Sebastian. Of the LASH said
Mendez, and watch well for the culprll
but give me the Naples yellow
You do not need it, Senor Mendez; Won
have made it yellow enough already; and
as to the culprlt, | have already told you
that it Is the Zomb.'
Are these negroes fools or asses with
their Zombl? said Gonzalo laughing
pray. what is Zombi''
'Oh, an imaginary being. of course. Blu,
take care, Senior Gonzalo. continued Sc
basllan with a mschievous glance at his
easel, for i, must be the Zombi who has
stretched the left arm of your St. John to
such length, that. if his right resembles
It, he will be able 10 unite the shoe -str,nps
without STOPPING
DO you know. gentlemen said Is.urilz,
as he glanced at the painting, that the re.
marks OF Sebastian are extremely Just, and
much to the point
'Oh, they say that negroes have the face
OF an ape and the tongue of a parrot re.
olned Gonza'o, in tone of Indifference.
with this distinction observed Ferdin-
and, that the parrot repeats by ro,e, while
Sebastian has judgment in his remarks
Like the parrot, by chance retorted
Gonzalo.
who knows, said Mendez, who had no,
d'gested the Naples yellow, that, from
grinding the colors. he may one day aston
sh US by showing he knows one from an.
olher?'
10 know one color from another, and TO
know now to use them. are two very differ
ent things, replied Sebastian. whom the
liberty OF the studio allowed to Join in the
ofthe pupils; and truth oblig.
IS US 10 confess that his taste was so exoul
site, his eye SO correct, that many of them
did not dlsdain to follow the advice he Ge.
quenl'y gave them respecting their paint
ing. Although they sometimes amused
l"e"se'Ves ny teasing the little mulatiO,
ne was great favorite of them all and
his evening, on quitting the studio, each,
giving him friendly tap on the shoulder,
him to keep strict watch. and
"a CHI the Zombi for fear of the lash.
1t was night, and the studio of Murillo
he most celebrated painter in Seville ,hi,
studio. which during the day was so cheer.
Ful and animated-was now silent "a tho
grave. A single lamp burned upon the
able. and a young boy, whose sable hue
aarmonised with The surrounding darkness
but whose eyes sparked like diamonds at
midnight, leaned against an easel. Immo.
vable aud still, he was SO deeply absor bed
IN his medita'ions, that the door of the
studio was opened by one who several
times called him by name, and who on re.
ceW'ng no answer, approached and touched
h'm' Sebastian raised his eyes. which