Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-06-24
SI1omth' & Column.
The Boy who Became a Sculptor.

In niue Italian Village GIleIt once
lived jolly stone-cntter named Pisa
no. He was poor of course, or he
would not have been a stone cutter;
but he was full of good-humor, and
everybody liked him.
There was one little boy, especial
". who loved old Pisano, and whom
Pisano loved more than anybody else
in the world. This was Antonio
Canova, Pisano's grandson, who had
come to live with him because his
father was dead, and his mother had
married harsh man who was unkind
to little Antonio. Antonio was
frail little fellow, and his grandfather
liked to have him near him during his
working hours.
While Pisano worked at stone-cut-
ting, little Antonio played at it, and
amused himself with making clay fig
ures, drawing, and cutting into shape
the small pieces of rock which lay
about the yard. The old grandfather
soon saw that the pale-faced little
fellow at his side was wonderfully |
skilful at such things.
As the boy grew older he began to
help in the shop during the day, while
in the evening his grandmother told
him stories or sang to him. All these
things were of great value to him,
for, without his knowing it, they were
improving his taste and awakening
his imagination.
1t so happened that Signor Faliero,
man of great wealth and rare under
standing in matters of art, had pal
ace near Pisano's house, and at GER
tain times entertained many distin-
guished guests there. When the
palace was full of visitors, old Pisano
was sometimes hired to help the SER
wants with their tasks; and Antonio
sometimes did work there, for a day
or two, when some great feast was
given.
At one time, when Signor Faliero
was to entertain a very large compa-
ny at dinner, young Antonio was at
work among the pots and pans in the
kitchen. The head-servant came in,
just before the dinner-hour, in great
trouble. The man who had been at
work upon the large ornament for the
table had sent word that he had spoil
ed the piece. What was to be done?
The poor fellow whose business it
was to put the table in order was at
his wits end.
While every one was wondering
what it would be best to do, the little
boy came forward and SAID,
''If you will let me try, think l
can make something that will do
"You!'' cried the servant land
who are your"
81 am Antonio Canova, the grand
son of Pisano," answered the pale
faced little fellow.
"And, pray, what can you do?'
81 can make you something that
will do for the middle of the table,"
said the boy, elf you will let me try"
The servant, not knowing what else
to do, told Antonio that he might try.
Calling for large quantity of butter.
the boy quickly moulded a great
crouching lion, which everybody in
the kitchen said was beautiful, and
which the now rejoicing head-servant
placed carefully upon the table.
AT the dinner that day there were
many of the most noted men of Ven
ice-merchants, princes, noblemen,
and lovers of art-and among them
were many skilled critics of art-work.
When these people came to the table,
their eyes fell upon the butter lion,
and they forgot the purpose for which
they had entered the dining-room.
They saw there something of higher
worth in their eyes than any dinner
could be, namely, work of genius.
They looked at the lion long and
carefully, and then began praising it,
and asked Faliero to tell them what
great sculptor he had persuaded to
waste his skill upon a work in butter,
that must quickly melt away. But
Signor Faliero knew as little as they,
and he had, in his turn, to ask the
chief servant. When the company
learned that the lion was the work of
a boy, Faliero called the boy into the
dining-room, and the dinner became
a sort of feast in his honor.
But it was not enough to praise the
lad. These were men who knew that
such genius as his belonged to the
world, not to a village, and nothing
could please them more than to aid in
giving him an education. Signor
Faliero himself declared that he
would pay the lads expenses, and
place him under the instruction of |
best masters.
The boy, whose highest wish had
been to become village stone-cutter,
and whose home had been in his poor
| old grandfather's cottage, became at
once a member of Signor Faliero's
family, living in his palace, having at
his command everything that money
could buy, and being daily instructed
| by the best masters in Venice.
But he was not in the least spoiled
by this change in his life. He was
still the same simple, earnest, and
faithful boy. He worked as hard to
gain knowledge and skill in art as he
/ had meant to work to become q good