Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-07-31
The hoy who tool a noard.r.

boy stood, one morning, al the door OF a
palace In Florence, and looked about him.
Why he was standing there, 1 do not
know. Perhaps he was watching for the
butcher or the milkman, for he was
kitchen boy In the household Of rich and
mighty cardinal. He was twelve years
old, and his name was Thomas.
Suddenly he felt a tap on his shoulder
which made him turn around, and he said,
with great astonlshment:
"Wbatl Is that You, Peter2 What has
brought you to Florenoe.1 and how are all
the people in Cortonaf"
"They're all WE'LL" answered Peter, who
likewise was boy of twelve. "But I've
left them for good. I'm tired Of taking
care of sheep--stupid thingsl want TO be
a painter. I've come TO Florence to learn
how. They say there's a school hore where
they teach people"
but have you got any money!" asked
Thomas.
"Not penny"
"Then you cant Re u painter. You had
much better take service In the kitchen
with me here in the palace. You will 10
sure of not starving TO death, at least"
said the sage Thomas.
do you get enough 10 eat ?" asked the
other hoy reflectively.
"Plenty. More than enough"
al don't want to take service because l
want to be painter" said Peter. "But l'n
tell you what we'll do. As you have more
than you need TO eat, you shall take me to
boald-on trust at frst, and when I'm a
grown-up painter, I'll settle the bill"
agreed" said Thomas, after q mo-
menrs thought. ~ can msuage IL. Come
up Stairs 10 the garret where sleep, and
I'll bring you some dinner by and by"
So the two boys went up TO the little
room among the chimney-pots where
Thomas slept. 1t was very, very small,
aud all the furniture in It was an old straw
bed and two rickety chairs. But the walls
we're beautifully whltewashed.
The food was good and plentiful, for
when Thomas went down into the kitchen
and forsged among the broken meats, he
found the half ofa fiue mutton-pie which
the cook had csrelessy thrown out. The
cardinals household was conducted upon
very extravagant principles.
That did not trouble Peter, however, aud
he enjoyed the mutton-pie hugely, and
told Thomss that he felt as II he could fly
TO the moon.
80 far, so good" said he; but, Thomas,
I can't be painter without paper and pen
ellis and brushes and colors. Haven't you
any money!"
NO" said Thomas despairingly, "and
don't know how TO get any, for I shall re-
ceive no wages for three years"
"Then l can't be painter, after ALL"
said Peter, mournfully.
"I'n tell you what" suggested Thomas.
"I'll get some charcoal down in the kltch-
en-, and you can draw pictures on the
wall"
So Peter set resolutely TO work, and drew
so many figures OF men and women anc
birds and trees and beasts and flowers, tha
before long the walls were all covered with
| pictures.
At last, one happy day, Thomas came in.
TO possession of a small piece of silver
money. Upon my word, don't know
where he got il. But he was much toc
honest boy TO take money that did not be
long TO him, and, presume, he derived Il
from the sale Of bis "pSrquisites."
You may be sure there was joy in The
little clearinghouse up among the chin
ney-pots, for now Peter could have pencil,
and paper and India-rubber, and a few
other things that artists need. Then ht
changed his way of life a little. He wen
out early every morning and wandered
| about Florence, and drew everything hC
could 6nd TO draw, whether the picturei
in the churches, or the fronts OF the ole
palaces, or the statues in the public
squares, or the outlines of the hills beyond
the Arno, just as It happened. Then
| when it became too dark TO work any long
er, Peter would go home to his boarding
house, and find his dinner all nicely tuck
ed away under the old straw bed, wher,
landlord Thomas had put 1t, not 50 much
to hide it as to keep 1t warm.
Things went on In this way for abou
two years. None of the servants knew tina
Thomas kept a boarder, or if they die
know it, they good-naturedly shut thel
eyes. The cook used to remark some
times, that Thomas ate a good deal for
lad of his size, and 1t was surprising b
didn't grow more.
One day, the cardinal took it into hi
head 10 alter and repair his palace. II
went all over the house In company will
an architect, aud poked into places that b
had never in all his life thought Of before
AT last, be reached the garret, and, as lucl
would have it, stun led right into Thomas
boarding house.
why, how's this :" cried the gres
cardinal, vastly astonlshed at seeing tn
mean little room 50 beautifully decorate,
in charcoal. Have we an artist among us
Who occupies this room :"
"The kltchen-boy, Thomas, your Emi
nence."
"a kitchen-boy But so great genIu
must not be neglected. Call the kitchen
boy, Thomas"
Thomas came up In fear and trembling
He never had been in the mighty cardinal
presence before, He looked at the char
coal drawings on the wall, then into th
prelate's face, and his heart sank With
him.
"Thomas, you are no longer a kitchen
boy" said the cardinal, kindly. ..
Poor Thomas thought he was disnlsse
from service,-a then what would bC
come of Peterf
"Don't send me awayp he cried i'm
ploringly, falling on his knees. al bav
nowhere to go, and Peter will starve-sn
he wants 10 be painter so much ~
"Who is Peterf" asked the cardinal.
"He is a boy from Cortons, who board
with me, and he drew those pictures on th
wall, and he will die II he cannot be
painter"