The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-09-05
SELECTED TALES.
lFrom Chambers Edinbvrgh Journal. ]
THE UNKNOWN PAINTER.

'he year 1880, several youths of Seville an.
: preached the dwelling of the celebrated
painter Murllo, where they arrived nearly
~ 'he same time. After the usual salula-
> "ons' they en,ered the studio. Murllo
was not yet there, and each of the pupils
W",Neo up quickly to his easel to exam,n,
u 'he pn'ni had dried, or perhaps admire
y MS WORK "i the previous evening,
MendeZ, with n careless mir. nnnro,eb.,t
u his easel, when an exclamation of o.,n,,~
$ ,shment escaped him, and he ,nyed i,
c mute surprise on his canvass, ON which w,s
roughly sketched most beautiful head Of
! The virgin, but theexpression was so admirn-
J bic, the lines so clear, the coutour SO prac,.
iui, that compared with the figures by which
II was enclrcled, 1t seemed as il some heay.
enly ,lsI'ont had descended among them.
All, what is the matter 7" suid rough
voice. The pupils turned at the sound, apc
all made respectful obeisance to the area,
master.
Look, Senor Murio, look :" exclaim.
> ed the youths, as they pointed TO The easel
Of MendeZ.
"Who has painted this--who has paint-
ed this head, gentleman 7" asked Mnrillo,
eagerly. Speak, tell me. lie who has
skeiched this Virgin will one day be the
n'aster Of us nlI. MurilIo wishes he had
done It. What n touch what u delicncy
what skill Mendez, my dear pupil, was
hyou "
mo, senor," replied MeLdcz, in a sor-
rowiull tome.
Was II you, then, Isluriiz, or Fcrdi-
mand, or Carlos 7"
But they al gave the same reply ny Men.
deZ. " IL could not, however, come here
without hands" said Murillo, impa,ien,ly.
This is certainly a curious niriir, yen-
tlemen," observed MurilIo, "but we shall
soon learn who Is this nightly visit1nl. Sc
bas,ian,' he continued, addressing a little
mulato boy about fourteen yenrs old. who
appeared at his call, " did ! not desire Won
to sleep here every night?"
| Yes, master" said the boy. with ,;m;d-
itv.
And have you done go p
Yes, master"
Speak, then who was here last Diybt
and IhIs morning before these gentleman
camel Speak, slave, or III make YOU ac-
qnaInled with my DUNGEON" said MurIlo
"ngrIly TO tile boy, who continued to twist
the band ofhis irowsers without replying.
"Ah. you don't cboo.. "a ,,ns,,,rn
Murillo, pulling his ear
"No one. moster. mn ono " ,o,I;.l H..
trembling Sebastian with eagerncss.
THAT is false" exclaimed M,r,iio
No one but me. svea, ,o on, NM,
ter" cried the muiatto. tbrow;ng h;m..Ie
on his knees, in the middle nr RI. s,nJ;n
and holding out his liuIe hands !, s,,nl;...
ton before his master.
"Listen to me" nursued M,,a,o .I
wish To know who bns ske,cb.d ,h;s hoaJ
of the Viryin. and nll ,he f;on,.s ,.h;oh ,nn
pupils find every mor,iny here ~, con,;na
the studio. This ui,h, i, ,l,c. or uo;,,e -,
bed, Won shall keen witch . aud
morrow YOU do not disc,yer " bo ,Le cnI,,,,
is, YOU shall have tw.o,v-Gve s,,,L.s C,,,.,
the lash. You bear-j have so;d IL. nnv
70 nnd grind the colors: and Won gen,I.-
men, to work"
1t was night, and the studio Of Murillo.
the most celebrated painter in SeyiIl,-,bis
studio, which during the dny WAS So cheerful
and animated, was now silent ns the prsye,
A single lamp burned upon n marble table.
and a young boy. whose sable hue b.r.
mOUl/cu WIN the surrounding darkness.
but whose eyes spsrkled like diamonds at
midnight, lent against nn easel.--" Twenty.
five lasbe, to-morrow If I do mt tell VII,
sketched these figures, aud pcrhaps more
If do. Oh, my God, come to my aid !"
aud the little mula,,o threw himself upon
the ma, which served him for a bed, where
he soon fell fast asleep.
Sebastian awoke at daybresk it was
only three O'Clock any other boy would
probably have gone to sleep again not 80
Sebastian, who had bot three hours he
could call his own. I
"Couruge, courage, Sebastian" he ex-