Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-01-04

YOU"
requirement Of music, a study which
was her greatest delight next to the
one in which her genius lay. To the
world she was still the simple Elisa
BETA, daughter of the painter sirani,
distinguished by no outward signs
from her young sisters Barbara and
Anna, or from her companions among
the Bolognese maidens No one knew
what her hidden talents were, save
her father-who shut his eyes upon
them as much as possible-and her un-
falling friend, the Conte Malvasia.
At last, when Elisa BETA had rea ched
her sixteenth year there came a
change. A slow and painful disease
stole over the unfortunate Andrea
Siraui, crippling all joints, so that day
by day the exercise of his art grew
more difficult, until at length it became
almost impossible for him to WELD the
pencil. In vain did Elisa BETA chafe
the poor mum bed hands with her soft
fingers; they would work no more; and
life itself seemed riven from the des.
pairing artist thus deprived of the
power to EN- body his conceptions
at is all in vain, Elisa BETA" cried
Sirani one day when the brush had
fallen from his crippled fingers, which
could no longer guide TIT is all in
vain; l shall never paint more!"
He looked at his powerless and dis
figured hands, and tears rolled down
the cheeks of the strong man. M
wonder that the gentle Elisabetta
wept too, and threw her arms around
her fathers neck, in vain attempts at
consolation.
DO not give me hope, my child"
he answered mournfully: 81 know
this disease is incurable. l am no
moro an artist. Holy mother of mercy!
how shall l find bread for my chill
dren?"
Elisabetta's checks flushed, her eyes
sparkled, words rose to her lips; but
she stopped, thin%ing of the pain they
would give to her helpless father. At
last she said timiIly:
Father, you know l have been your
pupil these four years; in that time,
thinii-I hope-I have learned enough
to gain something by my paintings
viii you let me try?"
Andrea shook his head "Impossi,
ble girl not nineteen, and l have
teen painter these twenty years
But it is long since l have seen thy
work, child ne added in some confu.
sion; bring it hither"
Elisnbetta, deeply joyful that her
woman's tact had thus effected what
She thought wouli he discovery 10th
difficult and painful, quickly paced
before her father Madonna so per.
feet that the artist at once saw Tn
renius of his neglected daughter l.
was in vain to nou'ish jealousy; for,
alas! there could te no rivalry between
them now. lie kissed Elisa eta
ROW, and prayed the Virgin, whose
sweet face she ha depicted so we'll, to
tl->s his good and talented child.
Elisa besta tecame painter. When
only nineteen, her first exhibited pic.
ture made her the wonder and pride u
aer native city. 1t was Il religious sui.
jsct, such as the gentle and pious gir,
loved delineatinr-the saints of hel
church st Ignatius and St Franci.
Xavier. The purchaser was the Mar.
cheese Spala; and the sum Elisa lett,
thus gained was large enough to trinr
thrill OF proud delight to her heart
with the consciousness that the future
was her own. Her little sisters laughed
and shouted at the sight of the purse
of gold; her young companion, Ginevra
Cantofoi, whispered in her ear how
many personal adornments it would
purchase; but Elisa betta went straiyh,
to her fathers cham Der, and lail the
first fruits of her talents and Industry
on the bed where the suffering artist
was now confined.
My father" she said in meek and
blushing humility, I'VE have gained
thus much by my picture: seel'
Thou sayest we, Elisa oettal
answered sirani why not l?' This
money is all thine"
Not so, dear father" said the young
girl all have learned in paint J
owe to thee. I am only thy hand to
work in thy stead until 1t shall please
she blessed Msdopna to restore thee