The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1895-06-26
THE STORY OF GOTTA.
A Shepherd Boy Who Was Fond of
Drawing Pictures.

Drawing PICTURES.
Giotta was a little Italian boy, dark
eyed and bare-legged and very poor. He
had to be out all day and tend sheep in
the hills, but even while caring for the
sheep he would draw pictures. He
would take chips, and, with a piece of
charcoal, which he always carried with
him, he would draw sheep and lamls
and men and cattle, making them look
very natural. rnH
One day as Giotto was tending his
sheep and, at the same time, drawing on
the fiat surface of a rock, man walked
up and watched him at his work. The
stranger was MISUNDERSTANDING man
and richly dressed. When Giotto saw
him he thought he was some prince and
tried to conceal his drawing for fear OF
the visitors ridicule.
- "Why do that, my lad?' said the
stranger. "You have done nothing TO
be ashamed OF, but rather something to
be proud Of"
do you think so ?" asked Giotto, joy
ously. 81 was afraid the drawing was
incorrect" - - -. - - ''--'
"Not at al, /" answered the man. ." Who
taught you to be so true to nature ~.
mo one has taught. me-" replied Gil
otto. 81 have drawn ever since can
remember"
The stranger meanwhile was studying
the drawing on the rock. 1t was only
that OF sheep, but it was almost perfect
and totally devoid of any conventional
treatment. fN
at is wonderful" he said. "Such art
as you possess ought to make yeu great
painter"
J "And do you think ever could paint
great pictures like those in the churches
at Florence Oh, ii l could paint like
Cimabuei"- "a ftF n g. 80
"What would you do il you could z"
asked his visitor curiouslysf - & ;
ooh, would paint pictures so great
and beautiful. that the whole world
should talk not of me but of my work."
cried Giotto,in his excitement forgetting
everything but his desire to be painter.
"Come down to the city tomorrow
and we will look at some of Cimabue's
great paintings in the Duomo," SAID the
stranger ~
~ cannot leave my sheep" answered
Giotto, "and tomorrow will not be a
holiday, but should like very much to
visit them with you"
"What are you earning day. II you
will tell me, perhaps we may arrange
matters satisfactorily" ..-4-.e,-.-. ---
Giotto named small sum squal to
about 3 cents of our money.
swell, here is pstole, /" and the man
threw gold coin into the amazed lads
hand. snow, do not fail me Tomorrow"
he said, and in another moment he had
walked away. w..
"He must be prince or duke TO be
80 rich," thought the boy and he could
scarcely sleep that night thinking OF the
princely gentleman that had given him
that gold and was to show him great
Cimabue's pictures at Florence on the
morrow.
In the morning his mother combed his
long black curling locks, and, dressed in
his best cap and jacket, Giotto went
whistling down from Yespignons to the
great city on the Arno, which was even
then famous for its arts and treasures.
There he found his visitor of the pre-
ceding day awaiting him, and together
they visited the Duomo and the other
cathedrals where the works OF Cimabue
were TO be found. laat .
One picture there was that held Giotto
spell-bound. II was that OF Madonna
and child-a colossal work designed for
an altarpiece. The soft melancholy face
Of the Virgin and the winning grace OF
the infant Christ, who lay in his mothers
lap dressed in white tunic and purple
mantle shot with gold, completely charm
ed his fancy.
"Oh, beautiful beautiful !" he cried,
clapping bis hands in ecstacy. ..,.
"And you do not see fault in it?"
asked his companion sft2- ~
"Who would look for faults when the
whole Is so grand, so beautifulf' said
the boy, his hands clasped, his eyes gar
ing with look Of alteration at the sub
lime creation. .
Nobody. perhaps, but an artist, and
you are that.my lad and there is nothing
perfect in this world, you know"
A long time Giotto gazed upwards at
the painting, changing his position 80 as
10 view II from all sides. At last he
.iouaI