Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1860-08-11
THE PAINTER AND THE POPE.
BY Arsrlx G. RrRpIcK.

Back from the city of Aquila lived an old
peasant named Marno His cot was at the
foot of the Apennines and the mountain tor
rent rushed past his door, 1t was late in the
evening, and the old peasant sat by the fire
side teaching his boy how to make net Lui-
gi Marino was only twelve years old, but he
was bright, active boy and his assistance
was of no small account to his father lie
was not as stout as old Marino could have
wished him. but yet the peasant saw that
what the lad lacked in physical endow-
ments, he more than made up in mental en-
ergy
What makes your hand tremble so father?''
asked the boy.
"Are you sure it trembled, LuigiY
"Ah, yes, and your lip trembles too. And
there is trouble on your brow-and your eye
moves uneasily. What is itG'
"The old man wondered at the aptness OF
his boy,-he wondered how one so young
could be possessed of such keen perceptions;
but he remembered the faithful wife whom he
had put away into the tomb had been being
of rare intellectual endOwments, and he fan
cied that his son partook of her mind and
constitution. The old man had to be ques-
toned the second time before he thought to
answer.
"Tll tell you my boy" he said, II am not
easy here There has been warm rain up
on the mountains this afternoon, and fear
the snow is melting. The torrent roars loud
or and louder every moment"
The boy looked up into his~ fathers face,
and tie unfinished net was laid aside
IF There is danger here, let us &c" he said,
LAYING his hand upon the old mans knee
Hardly had Luigi ceased speaking, when a
low moaning, rumbling noise broke upon his
ear. II was distant, but it was fearfully dis
tinct Nearer and nearer it came, until its
voice was like thunder. Marino started up in
terror and caught his boy by the arm.
ut is upon us, he uttered. "Let us fee at
once O, feared this, but thought not it
would come so soon. Come my boy, you will
need all your strength now
The old man rushed towards the door, and
dragged the boy after him. Away up on the
side of the towering mountain, he could see
the fiery sparks, where tumbling rocks were
crashing against each other in their mad des-
cent, and the thunder of the cataract broke
upon his ear with stunning noise With one
look up the dark mountain he caught his boy
in his arms and fed towards the city On
came the mighty torrent, and on fed the peas
ant, but the contest was fearfnlly unequal
Once Marino stopped and looked behind him,
and then again he hastened on. But his race
was short The mountain avalanche ofrocks
and trees of snow and water, roared madly
behind him, and ere he could gain shelter
he was overtakcn and swept down. He struck
against huge rock that lifted its head from
the earth, and the vengeful torrent swept on
and left him there.
The morning sun broke over the mountain
and valley with It's golden flood; and John de
Castro, the noble Count Of AvelIa, sent forth
his men to search for those who might have
been harmed by the terrific avalanche Of the
night. They reached the spot where Marinu
had lived, but the humble cot had been swept
away Then they followed down the course
of the torrent, and at length they found hu-
man form lodged against rock They pulled
| the form away, and beneath il lay smaller
| form-the form Of boy. They were the bod
! les of Marino and his child Tho father was
dead, hnt the son lived. The boy had moi
been stricken with the death stroke, for the
stout form of his parent had shielded him HC
was only stunned and cold. The men took uI
| the dead and the living, and carried them Il
/ the dwelling of John dc Castro The unior
tunate peasant was laid away in the tomb b.
the side Of his wife, and the boy found a home
with the people of the count
DE Castro had one child-a daughter, ma
med Irene She was nearly Of the same ag,
with Luigi Marino. They we're the only chill
dren in the Counts dwelling, and they spen
much of their time together Luigi loved th'
gentle girl because she was so good and kind
and because she was so beautitul-becaus
she eniyened him with her merry laugh, an'
| consoled him with her tender words An