Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-03-13
mingled 1ook Of appreciation and love.

Suddenly he aWokes from his reverie.
He heard slight noise as of persona ad-
vancing behind him, and turning quick
ly round, :beheld all the pupils and his
master at the head. He did not dream
for 9 moment of attempting to justify
himself. With the palette in ono hand
and brush in the other, he dropped his
head upon his breast, and awaited in 81.
lence the punishment which he was con-
WINGED he had rashly provoked. '
For several minutes the most profound
silence pervaded the company-for, if
Sebastian stood petrihed with fear before
them, because he was taken in the very
act, so were also the maestro. Murillo
beckoned to the young men, who could
scarcely restrain the outbursts OF their
admiration, to be silent, advanced toward
Sebastian, and concealing his emotions be-
meath stern, cold gaze, cast his eyes first
upon his trembling slave and then upon
the beautiful head of the Madonna, and
asked him .-.
"Who is your master, Sebastian9"
"You, senor," replied the boy, in an al
most inaudible tone.
"Your master of painting, I mean, Sc
bastian2"
"None other than yourself, senor," said
the terrified boy.
II have never given you any instruc.
tions," said Murillo, amazed.
"You have instructed others in nv
presence, senior, and I could not avoid
learning replied the boy, who began
to take courage at the kind and gentle
voice of his master.
''And you not only heard my instruc-
tons, by st. James of Compostella! but
you have profited by thenl," rejoined the
great painter, whose admiration betrayed
itself against his inclinations. "Geptle-
men," said he, addressing himself to his
pupils, "what shall be done with this
boy; does he merit punishment"
At the word punishment Sebastian
almost lost his consciousness; he raised
his eyes timidly and imploringly towards
his master.
mo punishment, senor!" exclaimed
the young men, simultaneously, ''but
reward!"
"How shall he be rewardedg1demanded
Murillo.
Sebastian began once more to breathe.
with 1T least ten ducatsW said Men,
DEE.
"Oh, fifteen would not be too much, u
said Fernandez.
"Give him a new suit for the fete of
the blessed Virgin" said Gonzalez.
'Speak, Sebastian!'' said Murillo, look
ing at his slave, whose countenance man
Tested no signs of Joy at the proposed re-
wards; "speak, my good bOy; do none Of
these good things accord with your tastes9
I am so delighted With these people OF
your genius, these bold outlines, this ex-
quislte coloring, in fine, with your. beauti-
full Modonna, that viii grant you what
ever you may desire--anything. Speak:
make known your wishes. swear 1t in
the presence of these gentlemen. By
the ghost o. my departed father, whatso-
ever you ask of me, in my power TO be-
stow, that shall you received"
"Ah! my master, if only dared-''
Sebastian fell upon bis knees before
his master, seized his hands, and anyone
might have seen by his half-orened lips,
might have read in his large, dark eyes,
burning with expression, one consuming
thought which his timidity alone prevent.
ed him from disclosing.
"Why do YOU not ask for gold2" whisp-
cred Mendez.
ASK for suit Of fine clothes p suggest
ed another.
"Beg to be admitted among the number
of his pupilsv' added third.
A CLEAN ofjoy frightened the eye OF
the trembling boy at these words, but be
shook his head and looked mournfully at
the floor.
"Come, come, Sebastian" said Murillo,
while he smiled at what he supposed to
be the indicision of the youth, "make
up your mind-decide upon something!
from the lips of Sebastian; he raised his
eyes, suffused with tears, emploringly to
his master, and said with a faltering
voice:
"Forgive me, senior; but oh! grant me
the freedom of my father!'
"Your own freedom and his also, my
good boy!' cried Murillo, who could NO
longer restrain his deep emotion, but
caught Sebastian in his arms and en-
braced him. "From this day forward
you shall be my pupil. Happy man thai
lam! Ihave accomplished more thar
the making of pictures. have created
a painter!"
Murillo kept his word, and Sebastian
Gomez, more generally known under
the name of "Murillo's creole" soon rose
to eminence in his profession, and sub
sequently became one of the greatest
painters that Spain ever produced.