The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-01-14
THE YOUTHFUL SCULPTOR.

One morning more than hundred
wears ago, there was man in the town
of Posagno, in the ancient Venetian
States, who was in asgreat perplexity as
ever man could be. He was head cook
in the household OF one John Fsllieri, q
mighty Senator of Venice. His master
was to give grand dinner that evening
to a number of beautiful ladies and gal
liant gentlemen whom he had invited t.
his country-seat to pass the shooting sea.
son with him. He had charged upon his
cook to do the very best and show him
self credit to his country.
The poor cook tried hard. because he
was faithful and conscientious servant.
But at last his Invention has failed him.
TIE table would not be complete without
an ornamental centrepiece-patriotic and
allegoric-and the cook, not being u man
of much imagination, was sunk In the
blacklist kind of despair. He really did
not know what he should do. SO he sat
down and began to cry, as Italians often
do when they are in trouble.
Just then very small boy slipped into
the kitchen. He saw the cook IN tears.
and stole quietly up to him to find out
what the matter was. lie was on very
good terms with the lord Of the kitchen,
and many nice bit OF pastry had found
its WAY between his two rows OF shining
white teeth through the kindness OF the
cook. In fact, he and his parents sub
sisted to a certain extent upon the crumbs
that fell from John Falieri's table, for
they were very poor. Antonlo's clothes
were old and torn, but he did not mind
that, because he was only ten years old,
and had not vet reached the age OF
trieolity. Besides, he had his talent to
comfort him, so that on the whole he was
rather happy than otherwise.
90. nv dear Antonio" cried the coo X
Winning his eyes with his sleeve, 81 am in
such troubled! If you could only help
Inc nowl | must have Il grand orna-
mental centre-piece for the dinner-tabIe
tonight, and | don't know what to do
about it. Just help me, like good boy,
and tomorrow morning Ill give You
the incest piece of frosted cake You ever
saw, ras pberry jam between the layers
too" :,
Antonio thought momert in silence.
al ought to be able to help him. he said
n himself "If / could only turn my
modelling and wood carving to some nc,
count now, What's the use of know
ing how to do things if you can't help
other people with them? have II
llurrah! >,
Antonio was decidedly inspired. lie
ru,bed through the door like mad boy
CRYING only to the astonished cook, "keel
nm your courage! Iii be back in III
hOur!'
And all the cook did was to roll up his
eyes ana clasp his hands AID say, Mercy
ON US! Tia. boy will BE- somebody yeti
True to his word, Antonio came back
in an hour. with large lion carved IN
wood under his arm. The noble beas'
was reclining with his tail curled around
and the tablets of the Venetian law oil
the writings of St. Mark, whichever you
choose TO call thsm, under his right
paw. OF course you know that this wa'
the emblem of the Republic of Venice
and therefore the most appropriate cen
trepiece imaginable for the table OF q We
netian Senator The cook was dellghtec
with the model, and gave Antonio rec
apple on the spot.
.OnIy, of course, YOU don't mean me
to send up this wooden thing to The
table? You must mold it in something
eatable.
"Of course. stupidl' returned Antonio
sharply. Butter is the thing l want
Give me all the butter in the house
Before night You'll have Is pretty hor
AS any in Venice
At dinner that night all the guests re
marked the cleverly carved centre-piece
They found it an excellent subject 10 fsi
hack upon when conversation Jagged, an(
a, last the rumor OF the admiration /
excited reached the ears OF the master o
the house, =.
..whv, it is a fne beast" said he, motto
inc it for the first time.
"Who can have done it? Can 1t b
that nv cook has developed talent 10
sculpture? must cali him up and com
p!iment him on it
The cook was sent for and came. Tn
Senator began to praise bis work, lnquir
ed II il had cost him much time and trou
Bile and assured him ofthe satisfaction
had given him-john Fslieri-in com
mon with all his guests. The cook wa
overcome and began to cry. His nerve
had been heavily strained by the excite
ment of preparing the banquet.
"Why, what is the matter" asked tn