True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-10-13

above the common peasaniry by habits,
principles and education, and stimulated
his children to more than ordinary attain
ments, while they still kept the innocent
and graceful simplicity of fheir rank. II
was 10 him that the painter applied for
permission to introduce his daughters
figure into the work, and the vine dresser
thonghl that SO honest face as antonio
possessed might surely be trusted. Still
his falherly care induced him to wait for
her in the ante room Of the studio al seve-
raj successive sittings, till he was sure
his child was as safe in the care Of the
painter as his own. Had she descended
from line Of kings, Antonio could not
have been more deeply respectful than he
was to the peasant girl.
One more sitting, and then allegro
might be lost 10 him forever. This was
the thought which revealed to The painter
The state Of bis own heart. Young, mex
perienced, and unambitious, save in the
single mater Of his profession, Antonio
would not have blusbed to exhibit the
italian peasant girl to the whole world as
his chosen wife. His father, he knew,
had higher hopes for him but his gentle
mother would smile. and be content with
bis choice. lie thought Of allthese things
while Allegra was sitting there with her
calm, serene. religious face, her soltliquid
eyes turned upward as If in prayer. and
her long hair lying in thick huiings of jet
upon her cheek and neck. There were
tears, too, in those beautiful eyes and
!. Antonio was not blind 10 the belief that it
was for him she wept-for the breaking
Of those tender ties which their short in.
tercourse had established between them.
She did not, could not comprehend his
meaning at once, and her wondering look
made him repeat his words. When at
length she understood him, her face light
ed up like the sunshine Of a summer day
That night, both sorrow and happiness
. we're in the vine dresser's home, fo
, Allegra was the light of that homo, al
. though thoy rejoiosd in her new hopes
still it would be very desoate without hel
presence.
. Allegra y he said, IN the loves
tones of that voice which had been such
. sweet music to her ear, could you leave
, home and kindred 10 follow the uncertain
fortunes Of an artist y
1t was summer when the young bride
/ groom carried his beautiful bride to the
! pleasant home on the banks Of the Elbe
0 and the father and mother welcomed witt
] kindness the chosen of,,,their son.
s Daily, almost hourly AuIonio's reput
Q tion increased, and with it came troops o
s friends, powerful ones, too, and each ant
: all paid the homage Of the heart to th,
' beauty and virtues Of the artists peasan
t wife. AT twenty six Antonio was ap
pointed director Of the new academy il
the capitol. Invited to Spain by Charles
: ILL.,, he executed the Descent from th,
i Cross, and other paintings; and returned
e to Rome, where he was now induced Il
l. take up his RESIDENCE, as he was employee
a by the Pope on large allegorical paint
/ ing in iresco. Here he collected a larg
}, number of drawings, vases, engravings
h and all the expensive paraphranalia Of hi
II art and everything which refined tast
d and ample compensation Of his labsr
a. could command, was bestowed upon Al
RI legra and bis children. Beautiful as ser
apis, those children were not destined
r, a long life; most of them passed ava
m in early childhood. Blu: they lived upo
te their fathers canvass, some with dat
rt eyes and raven hair Of the mother. SON
$. with golden locks, and orbs "soft as Il
Of blue eyes Of poets child" the try
Iy German complexion.
n. Another summer day in Rome. TT
lis setting sun sheds its last gleam over
n long procession, the slow passing on
IN which indicates that no festal nor triun
u phant occasion has called out the tmonl
el ing multitude. There are the great, Il
ii. gifted and the mighty. Princes, and N
ks bles, and poets, the flower Of Roman ct
IS ton and Roman genius, thought il no d
he graduation to follow him to the grave wi
was deemed worthy to lie beside the i
of comparable Raphael, And 10 I! the
RI, cometh the peasant girl of the Tiber, wi
a her fair children, TO gaze once more
Wy tha, noble face, which for twenty-eig
to years she has never looked on save in jo
until now.
,m A noble monument marks the rssti
nd place of the artist, beside him who "
ng his model upon The earth. |. was ere
ng ed to his memory by his friend, the 81
he alier d'Azara. Another, erected by
loo Empress of Russia, stands in 81. Peter
Ter SO that the mighty Of tbe earth may v
ally be said to bear deep tribute 10 the memo
be of the once lonely and unknown chi
ain, who through the silen. hours at the :
ess tine Chapel brooded over the thoul
be that genius would never be stamped
ass any Of his productions. ae
He ------.e.+ ----------
, 10 EVERY person who wishes to- be int
10 gent and well educated, must study