Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1896-01-17
THE PAINTING.

eNentlu0 duties III humble, unpretending
house on the Via San Gallo, where later a
famous and exquisite palace raised its no.
bic proportions. She was woman of the
people, and as she worked she sang q
Venetian lullaby that sounded as sad and
sweet as the silver tinkling Of Lutte. She
was alone and when sudden knock came
to her door she started and ceased 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 red light youth with a
remarkable cOuntenance, so sweet and sin
cere was its expression, and of a slight,
graceful figure, clad in Roman tunic,
open at his white throat, around which
tendrils of long, wavy 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; 'cp not an inn for tray
elers and stran ~ the woman said
81 have duc.,, 80 pay for my lodging,
but have lost my way and am weary.
Besides all the inns are full for the carni-
val.
The woman hesitatcd 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 cat, but l will take
no pay-nothing but your good word"
"My name is Raphael, too, and l thank
you'll" said the youth and he entered the
house, where the walls were bare, save for
a cruCiflx, and where 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
nights lodging.
"You did well, 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? 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?"
II 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 discourtesy of
compelling him, and he was interested in
their little angel his namesake--a pass
port to their regard.
10 ha
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 a strange mys-
terious nature. And before morning they
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 tho
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 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. The Virgin was depicted there in
all her serene majesty of motherhood, with
her infant Son l,aning against her knees.
There, too, was the little comrade of Jesus,
the infant St John, bringing his loving
gift of a 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
their gracious Lady for this signal instance
of her favor, for now they never for 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-
quisite harmony that they resemblcd
fabrics Of silk or velvet, filled them with
ecstatic admiration of this divine work of
art. Even the honey yellow hair of the
little dead boy was reproduced in his pic
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 given them,
large share Of which they devoted to the
church in gratitude.
1t was not long before these good people
learned the truth respecting the painting
on the wall-that it was the work of a
youth of Urbino come to Florence to
study, one Raphael Santi, whose genius
was undoubtedly 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
Florentine connoisseur who had been
kind to him, and that picture, 1.-The Ma
donna del Cardellino," was given to Lo-
renzo Nasi, the patron who had been kind
to him, and who valued it the moro that
it had first been used in high and holy
mission of compassion. 1t was almost de-