Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-11-07
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SOMETHING DIVINE.

farmer, but became at very early age
the servant of a sculptor of some celebrity
in his day, named Pulci, who had removed
from Florence to Rome, to court inspira-
ton in the metropolis of art for good
work. He was grave, serious man, and
after having instructed Maria in the duties
required OF her, retired within himself
and allowed her to do pretty much as she
liked; SO she governed his little house.
hold in her own way. She was "A comely
girl, of quiet manners, and soon became
favorite with all Pulcis visitors. The
| The engravcr, Sayorini, was struck with
| love at first sight of her. and offered to
make her his wife, but she replied calmly
that she had engaged with Slginor Palci
to be his servant for three years, and could
not think of breaking her engagement.
81 will find substitute said Savorini,
II cannot be replaced" she replied The
engraver called her a Proserphine of
pride, and his courtship ended for the
time.
One day Pulci invited some of his friends
| to dinner, Savorini among the rest. The
meal was taken in the studio, and the
conversation naturally turned upon art.
All spoke enthusiastically, for all We're
Italians, and We're deeply devoted to their
various departments. Savorini, who still
retained a strong sentiment for Maria, and
perhaps, wished to dazzle her (she was
moving quietly to and fro performing her
usual duties, but listening to all that was
said with respectful attention. rather eX-
aggerated the dignity and the privileges
OF the profession to which they all be-
longed. Kings and emporers, the Pope
himself, he said, ranked below great ar
fists, and it was better to have produced
that Diana, (pointing to a clay model
which Pulci had just finished) than to
guide the councils of nations. Il place
my art he added. mot quite on an
| equality with yours, Signori, but own no
superior except you, but | also feel that
have spark of something divine within
me-
lie talked much in this strain, being ex
cited by the good Lachryma Christi, and
by the presence OF Maria. Although the
girl admired what he said she in no wise
set it down to his account i'll the way he
would have desired. She looked upon
him only as an interpreter of truth, and
went about the room, and backward and
forward between it and the kitchen, pom
dering whether she had not something of
the spark OF the divine within her. Yes,
have it," she said at length. As she said
this she pushed against Angela, an old
dame who had come in to assist her in her
duties, let go the dish that held the stew
ed prunes, and broke it, splashing the rich
red juice over her own white stockings.
"Are they quite spoiled?' inquired Savo-
rni. She gave him a familiar push as if
she was removing one of her fathers heif-
ers out of the way.
LET her alone said Pulci, ''we must
not punish her for her accident. She has
not Clipped a statue or model since she
has been with me-"
II would rather break one of my own
limbs" she replied.
bravo cried they all. and after COM
plimenting her they went on talking of
their art, as cheerily as if they had not
been disappointed of stewed prunes.-
Meanwhile Maria became more and more
convinced that there was spark of some
thing divine within her
From that time she began in secret-in
her own little room-to endeavor to pro-
duce some of the forms of beauty that
filled her mind, The clay became life-like
in her hands; and in very short time she
| almost started with surprise at beholdng
IA lovely countenance looking out from the
! informed mass which she had placed on
| her window sill. A natural fear of being
ridculed and repressed, prevented her
| from confdng her projects and her studies
| to her master. But her secret was too
troublesome to be coniided entirely to her.
self. At first she thought of the engraver
Savorini; and possibly it would have been
well had his honest love found favor in her
ewes. But the remembrance of his rough
| galantries made her fearful of contiding
IN him. There was Caterina, the daugh-
ter of Angelna.--but when she came to
| gossip evenings, all her talk was about
| the handsome cavaliers who looked at her
in church-impious men-and followed
her home talking nonsense. This was not
Il proper contidante, SO she chose old doe
| tor Corona, who had attended her in i'll
nes, and had won her confidence by his
benevolent manners. She went to him,
made him promise secrecy as II she had
been going to confess murder, and re-
vealed that she felt the power to become
a great artist.
My fame will fill the world !" said she.
| "But will it fill your heart? p
That is full aiready-of hope
| He saw that she came not for advice but
| encouragement-andh he encouraged her
He would have preferred had she told all
to Master Pulcl; but that artlst thouSh
good and kind had something cold and sar-
tirical in his manners. "He VIII never De-
lieve in me-" said Maria, ''until he sees
can do something. He is not man OF
faith. Besides, who will admit genius in
the person who cooks ones dinner. These
hands that have made so many messes,
can do nothing but spoil marble, he will
think"
"She must take care" thought Corona,
mot to deceive herself as to the motive
that makes her unwilling to communicate
her ambition to her master. If mistake
not, she wishes to dazzle him.
| But the doctor was mistaken. Maria 5
whole being was from that time forward
devoted to art, and art alone. 1t is true
that she did not fail to perform her house
hold duties; but she did so mechanically,
and if Master Pulci had been anything ol
a gourmand or fidget, he would have
found daily grounds of complaint How
ever, matters went on very well, and Meth
er he nor anybody else ever suspected
that the girl had turned her bedroom into