The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-08-20


that before long the walls were all cover
ed with pictures M
At last one happy day, Thomas came
into possession Of small piece of silver
money. Upon my word; | doA't know
where he got it. But he was much too
honest boy to take money that did not
belong to him, and so, I presume, he
derived it from the sale of his "perqui-
sits"
Yoa may be sure there was JOY In the
little boarding house up among the
chimney pots, for now Peter could have
pencils and paper and India rubber, and
a few other things that artists need. Then
he changed his life a little. He went out
early every morning and wandered about
Florence, and drew everything he conld
find to draw, whether the picteres in the
churches, or the frunts of old palaces, or
the outlines of the hills beyond the Arno,
just as it happened. Then when it be
came too darn to work any longer, Peter
would go home to his boarding house,
and find his dinner all nicely tucked
away under the old straw bed, where
landlord Thomas had Put it, not so much
to hide it as to keep it warm.
Things went on in this way for about
two years. None of the servants knew
that Thomas kept boarder, or if they
did know 1t, they good-naturedly shut
their eyes. The cook used to remark
sometimes that Thomas ate great deal
for lad of his size, and it was surprising
he didn't grow more.
One day. the cardinal took it into his
head to alter and repair his palace. He
went all over the hause in company with
an architect, and poked into places he
had never in all his life thought of
before. At last he reached the CARED,
and, as luck would have it, stumbled
right into Thomas's boar ding house.
"Why, how's this?" cried the great
cardinal, vastly astonished at seeing the
mean little room so beautifully decorated
in charcoal. Have we an artist among
US? Who occupies this rooms'
"The kitchen-boy. Thomas, your
Eminence." -ga
"a kitchen>boy But SO great genius
must not be neglected. Call the kitchens
boy, Thomas"
Thomas came up in fear and trem bling
He never had been in the mighty cardi-
nails presence before. he looked at the
charcoal drawing on the wall. then into
the prelate's face, and his heart sank
within him.
Thomas, you are no longer kitchen
boy" said the cardinal, kindly:
PoorThomas thought he was dismissed
from service-and then what would
become of Peter?
Don't send me away p he cried,
imploringly, falling on his knees. ar
have nowhere to 60, and Peter will
starve-and he wants to be painter so
much"
"Who is Peter ?" asked the Cardi-
nal.
"He is boy from Cortona, who boards
with me, aud he drew those pictures on
the wall, and he will die if he cannot be
a painter"
"Where is he now?'' demanded the
cardinal.
"He is out, wandering about the
streets to find something to draw. He
goes out every day and comes back at
night"
''When he returns tonight; Thomas
bring him to me-" said the cardinal.
"Such genius as that should not be
allowed to live In garrett"
But, strange TO say. that night Peter
did not come back to his boarding house.
One week, two weeks went by, and still
nothing was heard of him. At the end
of that time the cardinal caused search
for him to be instituted, and at last they
found HIM IN convent. It seems he
had fallen deeply in love with one of
Raphaels pictures which was exhibited
there. He had asked permission Of the
monks to copy it, and they, charmed
with his youth and great talent, had read
lily consented, and had lodged and nour-