The Portland daily press., 1862-06-25
MISCELLANEOUS.
Maria's Dover.

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One day in the year of grace 1850, a fisher
man landed in front of the palace ofSt. Mark
crossed that celebrated place, and stopped at
the door of hostelry, over which the emble-
matte lion of Venice was rudely deneated.
He was tall and powerful man; his en-
Drowned features were full of that force and
intelligence so often observed among the in
habitants of that favoted climate, but his eyes
had lost their usual lustre, and the boatman's
broad forehead was bowed down by painful
recollections. Entering the tavern, he per-
ceived in the darkest corner ofthe hall a stran-
ger, who appeared plunged in profound thought.
He, too, had those manly and striking features
which generally accompany moral energy. His
dress was of severe simplicity; doublet and
hose ofblack velvet covered his powerful limbs
silken cap, cut out at the temples, and f;as-
tened by two bands under the chin, as was the
fashion of the day, concealed in part his thick
and curling hair, some grey locks of which fell
carelessly over his neck.
"Giannetini,' said the gondolier addressing
stout, ruddy man, who was walking up and
down the room, "do you still persist in your
refusal?,
81 do" answered the Venetian.
Il am too poor to be your son-in-law. sup
pose," replied the boatman. "Before thinking
of your daughters happiness, you think of her
fortune; and, Giannetini, must l. TO influence
you, remind you of the gratitude you owe me
Have you forgotten that saved your life to
Lepanto, when Venice armed even her women
to defend the republic against the soldiers of
Barbarossa? Don't you know that Maria and
were brought up together, and have sworn,
ever since we were children, to live always for
each other? and that these pledges were re-
newed, when age gave strength and constancy
to our attachment? Do you want to make her
and me unhappy? Are you the doge, that you
orsaI,f al.
80 ungrateful?"
4No, but am rich, Barberigo"
And l shall be rich, Giannetini. / have
strong arms, bold heart, youth, and faith in
God. Fortune may, some day or other, alight
on my gondola."
"Castles in the ar!- said the innkeeper.
"Who knows?" answered the boatman.-
Lorenzo de Medcis, was amerchant. Francis
co Sforza was drover, why may not l be
general one of these days ?r
because, Barberigo, Fortune disappoints a
million for every three she favors. AT any rate
/ will not be father-in-law of man whose
whole fortune is a skif Maria might better
BE particulars mistress than a gondoer's
wife; she had better slumber in ill-gotten
wealth, than live obscure and honest"
True, Maria has taken the eye ofthe prove
ditores nephew. This young nobleman has
been to see me, and offered
ITO marry her?'
NO, demonio Much as the mobiles of Venice
try. to make themselves popular, they don't
sell their titles SO cheaps
ITO buy her, then?"
"Just sov
Wretch! and for how much doyousell your
daughters honor?"
"The bargain is not yet closed. / ask two
thousand ducats, and the nobleman offers fifteen
hundred; but as know the worth and search
ty Of my goods, will not bate sequn"
The stranger. who had listened attentively
to the conversation Of the two venetians, rose.
and clapping Barberigo on the shoulder, told
him:
aBoatmanl Maria shall be thy wife"
"Never!' said the host.
"Wby you jew. not If this man brings you
two Thousand pistoles as wedding present?'
"Oh, In that case, Barberigo should be my
son-in-law, and wouldsign the contract cheer
fully; but consider, signore, that this poor lad
owns nothing but the four planks of his boat;
and unless he should be lucky enough to find
the doges ring"
without looking to such chance as that.
you shall finger the money sefore long,
But where sm l to get it, signore ?"
stammered the astonshed boatman.
mot out OF my pocket, my good fellow re-
Piled the stranger, "because l am just now
poor as a lazzaroni. There is so much suffer-
ing to relieve from Florence to Venice, that /
could not find single paul in it. But be of
good cheer; my poverty is sister to wealth,
and my art fills my purse as often as charity
empties it.,
So saying, the stranger opened a portfolio.
took from it parchment, which he spread on
the table, and in few minutes sketched
hand, with such surprising perfection, that the
boatman, ignorant as he was in matters of art.
could not repress cry Of astonishment
Here" said the unknown artist, handing
hfc has o1-af.l Al. a
parchment to Cardinal Pietro Bernbo. whom
you will find at the palace of st. Mark, and tell
him that painter, who wants money, wishes
to sell it at two thousand pistoles."
1.-TWO thousand pistoes!' cried the innkeep-
er, wondering. "This man is a fool-he must
be dumb, or crazy. would not give sequin
for it."
The gondolier went, and returned in an hour
with the sum required. with which the Secreta-
ry of Leo X, had sent letter. in which he ur
gently begged the artist to honor him with a
visit
The next day Maria and Barberigo were
married in the church of San Stefano. The
stranger wished to enjoy the commencement
of their happiness, by witnessing the ceremony:
and when the boatman, overwhelmed with
gratitude, begged of him to tell him his name
he answered thathe was called Michael Angelo.
Twenty years after this little adventure, An
tonic Barberigo, by one of those enigmatical
changes, the key Of which belongs to Proyi-
dence alone, was general of the Venetian re-
public. But however intoxicating this un-
hoped-for elevation was to the boatInan. he
never forgot his ilustrious benefactor: and
when Buonarotti died at home. after the most
glorious old age and most brilliant career that
artist ever knew, it was the hand of the boat
man that traced, above the Latin epitaph com
posed by order of Paul Ill. for his hyorite
those two grateful lines which time has respect
ed, and which may yet be read on the monu-
ment of this great man.
As for the sketch mentioned in this story. il
was brought from Italy in the knapsack of one
Napoleon's corporals.
A SOUND MANA suckers idea of sound
ness is aptly illustrated in the remark of an
Old beee-hunter In one of the Egyptian coun-
tes. Inc tunes were the topic of coneersa-
ton among group of villagers at the store,
and the soundness Of the various Illinois banks
was under discussion. Among these is the