The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-05-19
Murillo's Boy.

More than two hundred years ago a
little dark-eyed Moorish boy raped
at the door of stately house in
Seville, Spain, and asked if the mas
ter was within.
The attendant ushered him into a
large room where grave, sad-looking
man was talking to group of young
artists. They were all listening atten-
lively, for the man was the greatest
painter of his time-Bartolome Este
ban Murillo.
"Well, my boy, what can do for
you?" inquired Murillo.
"I heard you wanted boy to sweep
your room, grind paints, and wait
upon you. I have come for the, posi-
tion."
"Well, you can have it, you little
monkey. And you can go right to
work?'
In this way little Sebastian Gomez
was introduced into the studio of the
great Murillo. He remained there un-
til he was fifteen years old, doing all
the odd jobs for the painter and his
pupils, and taken very little notice
of by any of them.
There were a dozen or more of
these young painters studying under
Murillo-gay, snowy fellows, and dis
posed to be somewhat careless in their
work. Often the great Murillo was
obliged to lecture them sharply for
their shortcomings.
One morning, when they had been
worse than usual, he scolded them un-
mercifully. "You can never expect to
become painters, he said, "if you do
not put more care and labor into your
work. Why, Sebastian yonder, who
knows nothing of colors, might do
better work than some of you"
Murillo intended it for sharp re-
buke, and the young painters so &C
cepted it. Their faces flushed with
wounded pride, and they promised to
do more efficient work. No one paid
any heed to the poor Moorish lad who
had heard the words and who was
blushing as furiously as some Of Mu-
rillo's pupils.
The next morning when the pupils
assembled, several of them noticed
that their pictures we're not as they
had left them the previous night.
Hello! who has been here?" cried
curly-headed Vincenzo, one Of tho
brightest of Murillo's pupils. Some
one has put a child's head on MY can
vas, that is none of my work.
"And here is Virgins face on
mine," said Jose Pareda, the LATEST
of the school,, "Who could have done
it,"
Others were exclaiming meanwhile,
for every canvas had received a touch
of some kind, and it was all admir-
able.
While they were discussing the
matter the door opened and Murillo
entered.
LET me congratulate; you; you
are improving" said the master,
"Why, Pareda, that is very good for
you"
"But it is not my work, master" +"
said Jose, falteringly.
mot yours; whose is it them"
"That's the puuzzle," answered
Vincenzo.
And a puzzle it continued to be for
several mornings, for the most Won
derful things were done by the in
visible painter.
"Well, gentlemen, think this has
gone far enough" said the master,
tomorrow morning we will come an
hour earlier than usual and see if we
can not catch this unknown artist at
his work.
Surprised enough were they the
next morning to see, seated at one OF
the pictures, the little monkey" Sc
bastian Gomez.
"Who taught you how to paint,
boy?" asked the artist.
''You, master"
"But I never gave you lesson"
81 listened to what you told those
gentlemen, and I remembered it,
Bravo, Sebastian!" cried the
school. "You have beaten us ALL
"And I have made painter" said
Murillo.-Youth's World.