The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-10-18
was solace, and made her Pyios8
and the cross looks and worn Pc oI1
Dadrone did not make her cry YpoA&

Who from the canvas looked 1RuSnlugty ~ ,
9ss e. Is # e;si3s ass 2 Rls IT,
saeh 'e things sas 80 = % %
was engaged, o4aAa, p,tt Ae1s9e{
by Angels ~ and when ne saw Il
Assunta he had thought how well her race
would enter into his composiaon. % "a
painted Assunts aspnesf the sngeh.2 049o1
She had to stand quite still and to keep her
eyes turned up, that she might have ne
proper expression. But that FasSnOt a9MesE
cult, for she thought Of her dream and wnen
she did there came across ner lace susa E
artist almost despaised Of reproducing NJ on
ti,o s,onvos so 80. yfss 10 ssiGstf ~ ~ A'4'
: ! IL $50 happened that while he was endea-
yoring to portray the .evanescent beauty OF
the chi1d's expression, there came lnSv s sn9
who, seeing little Assuntawas SO much struck
Inv her strange, weird lOveliness, SO dinerent
from the round chubby beauty of childhood,
that he also determined TO paint her.
of course, 1.-The Old padrone had No opyec-
tion so Assunta went to the great artists
studio. {, It was much larger than the first
She had been in, andfull of allsorts OF beau
tifnl rand curious things besides PICTURES
But she could not look Mt them Tor more
than a minute, as the artist made her keep
her ewes in one particular direction. He
made an exact likeness of her in her Nea-
pOlitan peasants costume, with her uaV I'M
an Golf on her head, and her hair falling on
her shoulders. The two pictures were I'm
l,ished almost at the same time; and the pof-
trait of Assunta as an angel was placed over
| the altar in the chapelof q Cnrmehte Con-
| vent, where the SUMS rays, falling on 1t
through the lofty window above, lighted up
| what tie nuns thought was the most beau
| tiful of all angels in the picture whilst the
painting of Assunta in her peasant garp
was sent to an exhibition just then open, 70
be admired by everybody.
Every one was interested in the pale deli
cate little girl, with the sweet serious eyes
4 and fair flowing hair and 1t was deciaieu
to be a marvellous piece OF painting ny an
those who knew best amongst whom was
| Great robleman, who pnschased it Mt an I'M
Ssnense price and Euugit in the gallery OF
his palace. Thus the pies6fed eAssunta was
placed under the shelter OF gorgeous root,
surrounded by splend0r, gazeHht and ad-
mired every day, whilst thei lining AssnnIa
remained poor, homeless andunknown.
J Indeed, her life was almost harder now
for since she had been painted by the great
artist, the old padrone brought her about
/; fr,m one studio to another to be hired as q
9 model. She was obliged to stand for hou1
after hour in the, same attitude, TIL mel
limbs were stiff and aching $50 SO t aha sne
| compelled to dance from morning unit
1 night. This the old padronepdid not much
8 mind for the wages of the artists were pet
: ter for him than the sous of the passers- by
and enabled him to spend more OF his tim,
r in his fayoriie haunt, the wineshop. AnS
: when he returned thence he was Away
d very cruel to Assunta, and would at time
d strike her. But she bore it meekiy, for ne
IT beautiful dream had not yet faded from ne
e memory, though sometimes she could no
~ help crying. 8-e
IN And now it was spring; the trees were a.
~ y, in leaf and the lliacs were tDIossolnll.
70 whilst the soft warm air made .Assunt
=. think of Naples, her own dear country. An
~ sometimes of an evening, when the old pa
~ tirouc had gone to the wineshop, she woul
steal out into the cool quiet twilight, whlc
in was her only pleasure. 80 s-i4'. 15fs,
7i' One day it was intensely warm; the o.
X padrone had been drinking, ana what WI
80 the wine and the heat was more than u.s.
np ally excited When he returned late In II
Of evening to the wretched garnet where the
he dwelt he found Assunta saying ner prayer
he and he at once began to mock anu Jeer
ffr her so that the poor child, 'tremplng al
re- frightened, ran into her own corner behii
in an old curtain, where she slept every nigi
no The old man grew tired of railing, ana pc
nj Ettlel Assunta, throwing herself upon I
IL bean of straw which served for her bed, AFT
ent some time cried herself to Sleep -'',i i,
vas + She had not slept long when she v
ing aw akened by a sense or stihing clouus
ing smoke were rolling from behind the curta
ul and when Assunta pulled it aside she
hat horror struck at the scene which present
. itself. ,I,.1,.
the - The house was burning rapidly, and
nth sistance came but slowly to the inmates
rhe the garrett. The ire had caught the TO
you the. flames played iitfully from beam
it's beam, and threatened every moment to
say, veiop the window frame. Inc OLD
went and bemoaned himself, wringing
red hands. 1t was o piteous sight to see b
for weak and wailing as an infant whilst II
AS the window beside which Assunta
ard, praying, he watched for the assista
der, whieh he thou gut would never come
tell cloud of smoke rolling down from the
and drove him back into the room, just as a
ut" ladder was at length brought and req
the against the window. 1t could scarcely
y to seen with the smoke; but sudden burs
you flame which scorched her face enaoleu