Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1895-11-28
THE PAINTING.

In Florence, so long ago that centuries
intervene, woman was performing hcr
eventide duties in "A humble, unpretending
house on the Via San Gallo, where later
famous and exquisite palace raised its no.
bic proportions. She was woman Of tho
people, and rs she worked she sang a
Venetian lullaby that sounded as sad and
sweet AS the silver tinkling of lutte. She
was alone, and when u sudden knock came
to her door She started aud ceNsod singing,
not knowing that she had told her story
of sorrow in her tender ballad.
But, with the confidence of good citizen
ship, she opened tho door and saw by the
swinging lamps rcd light youth with a
remarkable countcnance, so sweet and sim
core was its expression, and Of slight,
graceful figure, clad in Roman tunio,
open at his white throat, around which
tcndrils of long, way hair chung with
picturesque effect.
Can l sleep under this roof tonight"
he inquired in the musical Tuscan sylla-
blcs Of his native tongue.
Nay, sir; we keep not an inn for tray
elers and strangers, tho woman said.
Il have ducats to pay for my lodging,
but have lost my way and am weary.
val. "
The woman hesitated n 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 My husband will be homo
when the music ceases in the streets. You
are hungry and must eat, but l will take
DO pay-nothing but your good word. "
ttNfy MANN il RaubnnI FOO and I thank
you" said the youth. and ne entered tho
house. where tho walls were bare, save for
a cruci6y, and where child's cradle, with
angels carved in rude scrolls upon it, was
the most luxurious piece Of furniture.
Whom Giovanni returned to his home,
his wife Lucia, explained TO him the pres
eucc Of the stranger and told him how she
had refused money for supper and a
nights lodging
"You did well, mia, he said, for that
the saints may comfort our little Raphael
who must miss us Soroy. What sayeSt?
The same name: Who knows that he was
not sent by the Blessed Virgin for this
very purpose: ! will teke a look at him
and hear what he has to say. q"
The youth had that insignia of bearing
which his host recognized as knowledge,
but in what line he could not tell, oven
when he had asked the question, what
dost thou TO earn thy brpad:'
~ am an artisan, the youth replied,
and there the question rested. He was not
noble-they wore, both these plain people,
familiar with the air of nobility. II their
guest would not talk of himself their hos
pitallty forbade them the discourtcsy of
compelling him, and he was interested in
their little angel his ramesake-a pass
port TO their regard.
He told them that he would up and
away in the morning before il 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 curious noise attended hi;
/ movements so that a great fear oppressed
them lest he might burn down their dwell
ing or Go some damage of n strange, mvS
ferrous nature. And before morning they
had made mp their ignorant minds that
this youth with the sweet face was none
other than the evil ono in disguise. They
prayed loudly to the Virgin for aid, and
when it grew light and they heard The
stree: door close they waited until certain
that he mad gone, then stole hand i'll hanc
to his room. And then they saw what
seemed to them "A part of that heaveI
where their affections were.
There was great picture on the wal
that had been bleak and bare when they
saw it. The Virgin was depicted there il
all her serene maiesy If motherhood, witt
her infant son leaning against her knees
There too, was the little comrade of Jesus
/ the infant st. John, bringing his lovins
I gift of IA bird. But the little It. John hat
the exact expression, the eyes and smile Of
their dear boy Raphael The husband anC
wife dropped on their knees and thanked
their gracious Lady for this signal instance
Of her favor, for now they never for a mo
mcnt doubted that they had entertained
an angel unawares. And the splendor o
the paints, vet undried. on the wall, til,
co!ors that were blended with such ex
quisite harmony that they rosemblot
fabrics of silk or velvet filled them witt
ecstatic admiration Of this divine work o
art Even the honey yellow hair of The
little dead boy was reproduced in his pic
ture
The next day all Florence heard abou
/ the miracle of the picture. Although the,
demanded no fee to show their treas ure t
/ the public, Giovanni and his wife Lucif
grew rich by the money given them, {
large share of which they devoted TO tn,
church in gratitude.
1t was not long before these good peopl
learned the truth respecting the painting
on the wall-that it was the work OF
youth Of Urbino come TO Florence t,
study, one Raphael Santi, whose geniu
was undoubtedly a gift from heaven, anC
who, even then, was assisted by pntricar
Florentines and was under the patro4ag,
OF Taddeo Taddei.
They saw him again when he came witt
the humility of genius TO ask their per
mission to reproduce the picture for I
Florentine connoisscur who had hooI
kind to him, and that picture, ''The Ma
donna del Cardellino, - was given to Lo
reno Nasi, the patron who had been kint
to him. and who valued it the more tina
it had first been used in u high and hol,
mission Of compassion. 1t was almost de
stroyed by the great earthquake but after
ward was rescued from obscurity and re
stored to its original beauty by the arts O
renaissance And the name of tho arts
who painted ii is written as master in let
tiers of light,-Detroit Free Press.