The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1868-07-11
TIE "LaST SgpPER- OF LEONARDO
De WINCH.

Rec|ined on his couch lay the excellent
old Andrea Verocbia.s The dews of death
Eloistened his furrowed aud pale forehead
yet his eyes sparkled stiil with a deep en-
had cyIarieted for tli6 sssa 5.sster de p&foM-
byeass. 1t was the baptism of our Saviour ;
zi-ar. It vas not the work Of his own pencil
that he was contemplating: it was the
tirisge of an angel, which his youthful pupil
Leonardo de Vinci, had introduced. He
Ind given it a celestial expression, an ethe-
real smile, that tie master felt was far
hapnr,d lis f,-s.-~~.. .e.ssr.
Al that moment his pupil entered. My
son.'' sid he, II have closed my easel and
laid ,.s lie my pencil forever. But not with
me expires my art-to thee bequeathe these
implements; thou shalt go forward, and thy
fiIne extend over Italy; in thy hands they
may reach an excellence unknown before /;
bat rencnaber, that in mine they have never
been degraded to an unworthy use! Guard
them, my son ; but, above all. guard thyselfp'
Leonardo kissed the ctnaeiated hand
which pressed his own. :. Ny more than
father" he exclaimed, /" thou knowest my
iiaperfections. that l am proud and head
strong. passionate and easily otfended-re-
veneaful, aud prone TO disposition to
rid:ca,e aas. caricature. Thou knovest my
lfNtaDs - sOs~Ss Nv eAy sSsS
glance, can subdue my oyer-beariuS rem
per; bat withoutthee what am
My son." said the old man, smiling
Family, thou must DO that for thyseii
wi!inia Icannot do for thee. Thou hast the
seeds Of great good and great evil. To
n,atare Ire one. and repress the other, must
be the devoted object If thy own perpetual
sell. vigilance. Iieave thee my precepts, as
i. they have fulsoften been repeated, ana II J
sxa,nl,le, such as it has been; and were J
living I could give thee no more.s l know,
indeed, thy nesdre-it is capable OF the
most glorious efforts bit beware OF the
first Impulses Of every emotion unworthy OF
il. Why, tell me. vert thou cold and lndit-
ferens Yesterday when / appiaaded feru-
gino's work Beware of envy J"
The color of Leonardo rose high. and his
ewes sparEled with an unwonted fire. "To
that ehargeJ not gailsy," he quickly ex-
claimed. Il looked coldly on the work
because | fels that he bad not done his
noble subject justice. Envy, ut least, has
no share in my comrositiop."
81 beliege thee" said Andrea, ..remeIn-
Der that i perugino has his own merit-thou
thine. Seek not TO obscure that OF eacs
other. Always bear in mind, that it Is fol
the perfection of thy divine.art thou ar
iabosing. not for thy own glory. There are
p,any paths TO eminence. Observe hoN
multiplied u1a ~arieas the. forms O
i,ature-how endless the realias Of imagina'
ton Cultivate a patient and humble tenn
per; be open to reproof, and learn Il
subdue thy irritable nature. II thou ar
suffering under the scourge of oppression
or the bitterness of undesersed eaiumny
pr6fane not thy exalted art by low AM
satiricai revenge, which can have no part II
truly great minds | repeat to thee. as
it for no ignoble purposes. Let pur
soul animate thy. works. Tread with gene
roas steps the Path of fame. Make roou
for thy. compeers, if they oseriake thee, an
honor the excellence to which, perhaps
,hoa n,ayst not attain"
81 have been gazing on thy wosk, con
tiauei he, n and confess to thee, Leonardo
that we're my life to- be prolonged, | woul
not retouch that picture. ! feel that tn
yiftis beyond nina l rejoice that it is ST
i have cast but faint light around me
thou wilt illuminate distant regions; ye
rcr.lenber. thy brightness viii not be hk
>the splendor of noon day. but like the risin
beam of the morning, or the mild iustre
the evening. Thy powers are various
thou art not born. to fill the ideal alone.
nerceive ia thee the. germs of invention al
usefulness; cultivate them, my son ;sna
row not thy path of life--liye for Z:
fellow men, for thy age; and long after y
name eeTe-ugino is forgotten. may that
Leonardo de Vinci be preserved by Its ov
brightness. Virtue creates imtaortaht!
genius may ombiazon the name OF an arr,
IN this iosrer world, but his virtues are
find t,feir reward iu heaven. lie It yon
to liye in the blessings of poster.ty Q
lock Only to another existence tor tn
rcco,npense. Ny strength is fast failing ;
.yerocnia was goldsmith, or graver, musieis
,,,ns.rc;a, and sculptor before he became paan
Il would seen. from many Instances that the arts
more Intimately connected ia forie, times than ~
snt. ard yet how many mast unite TO form the * !
artist His sacress casting was very great MS a. :.
- in 1890 Is said have been accustomed by pesn