The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-22
THE PAINTING.

bic proportions. She was a woman of the
people, and as she worked she sang Il
Venetian lullaby that sounded as sad and
sweet as the silver tinkling of a lutte. She
was alone, and when sudden knock came
to her door she started and ceased singing,
net knowing that she had told her story
of sorrow in her tender ballad
But, with the confidence of good citizen
ship, she opened the door and saw by the
swinging lamps red light youth with a
remarkable countenance, so sweet and sin
cere was It's expression, and of a slight,
graceful figure, clad in Roman tunic,
open at his white throat, around which
tendFils of long, wavy hair chung with
picturesque effect.
Can l sleep under this roof tonight?"
he inquired in the musical Tuscan sylla-
bles of his native tongue.
Nay, sir; we keep not an inn for trav-
elers and strangers, ;" the woman said.
Il have ducats to pay for my lodging,
but I have lost my way and am weary.
Besides all the inns are full for the carni-
val
The woman hesitated moment before
answering. Then she said: :. For the sake
of my little Raphael, who is now but an
angel in heaven, you may sleep in our
spare chamber. Ny husband will be home
when the music ceases in the streets. You
| are hungry and must eat, but 1 will take
no pay-nothing but your good word. "
My name is Raphael too, and L thank
you!n said the youth, and he entered the
| house. where the walls were bare, save for
a crucifx, and where a child's cradle with
angels carved in rude scrolls upon it, was
the most luxurious piece OF furniture.
When Giovanni returned to his home,
| his wife, Lucia explained to him the pres
| ence of the stranger and told him how she
! had refused money for supper and q
nights lodging.
You did we'll, mia, - he said, ''for that
the saints may comfort our little Raphael,
who must miss Us sorely. What sayest?
The same name? Who knows that he was
not sent by the Blessed Virgin for this
very purpose? I will take look at him
and hear what he has to say
The youth had that insignia of bearing
which his host recognized as knowledge,
but in what line he could not tell, even
when he had asked the question, What
dost thou to earn thy bread!''
81 am an artisan the youth replied,
and there the question rested. He was not
noble-they were, both these plain people,
familiar with the air of nobility. If their
guest would not talk of himself, their hos
pitality forbade them the diseourtesy of
compelling him, and he was interested in
their little angel, his namesake-a pass
port to their regard.
away in the morning before it was light,
and he took the box that he carried with
him to his room that he might not disturb
them on going, but he did not seek rest on
the rough but clean pallet provided for
him. All night they heard him moving a
little, and a curious noise attended his
! movements, so that great fear oppressed
them lest he might burn down their dwell
ing or do some damage of strange, Inys-
nj hofora i-,cr how
had made up their ignorant minds that
this youth with the sweet face was none
other than the evil one in disguise. They
prayed loudly to the Virgin for aid, and
when it grew light and they heard the
street door close they waited until certain
that he had gone, then stole hand in hand
! to his room. And then they saw what
seemed to them a part of that heaven
where their affections were.
There was a great picture on the wall
! that had been bleak and bare when they
saw it. Tne Virgin was depicted there in
all her serene majesty of motherhood, with
her infant Sen l. aiming against her knees.
There, too, was the little comrade of Jesus,
the infant St. John, bringing his loving
gift of d bird. But the little St. John had
the exact expression, the eyes and smile of
their dear boy Raphael The husband and
wife dropped on their knees and thanked
of her favor, for now they never for a mo-
ment doubted that they had entertained
an angel unawares. And the splendor of
the paints, yet undried, on the wall, the
/ colors that were blended with such ex-
ouisite harmony that they rcsembled
fabrics of silk or velvet filed them with
ccstatic admiration of this divine work of
art. Even the honey yellow hair of the
little dead boy was reproduced in his pic
j ture.
The next day all Florence heard about
the miracle of the picture. Although they
demanded no fee to show their treasure to
the public, Giovanni and his wife Lucia
grew rich by the money givon them,
large share of which they devoted TO the
I church in gratitude.
! 1t was not long before these good people
learned the truth respecting the painting
/ on the walI-that it was the work of
youth of Urbino come to Florence to
study, one Raphael Santi, whose genius
was undoubtedly u gift from heaven, and
! who, even then, was assisted by patrician
Florentines and was under the patronage
! of Taddeo Taddei.
They saw him again when he came with
the humility of genius to ask their per-
mission to reproduce the picture for a
FloTentine eonnoisseur who had been
kind to him, and that picture, 1.-The Ma
donna del Cardellino, p" was given to Lo-
renzo Nasi, the patron who had been kind
to him, and who valued it the more that
it had first been used in high and holy
mission Of compassion 1t was almost de-
stroyed by the great earthquake, but after
ward was rescued from obscurity and re-
stored to it's original beauty by the arts of
I renaissance. And the name of the artist
/ who painted it is written master in let
tiers of Iight.-Detroit Free Press
Measuring Starlight.
An English astronomer named Minchin