Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-06-15
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 II the master 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 at
tentively, for the man was the greatest
painter of his time-Bartolome Este
ban Murillo.
We'll, my boy. what can do for
your" inquired Murillo.
II heard you wanted a boy to sweep
your rooms, grind paints and wait up
on you. have come for the position"
well, you can have it. you little
monkey and you may go right to
work"
In this way little Sebastian Gomez
was introduced into the studio of the
great Murillo. He remained there till
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 disposed to
be somewhat careless in their work.
Often the great Murillo was obliged to-
lecture them sharply for their short
comings.
One morning, when they had been
worse than usual, he scolded them I'M
mercifully. you can never expect to
become painters" he said, eff you do
not put more care and labor in your
work. Why. Sebasticn yonder. who
knows nothing Of colors might do bet
ter work than some Of YOU
Murillo intended it for sharp re-
Duke, and the young painters so ac-
cepted 1t. 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 hecrd the words and who was
blushing as furiously as some Of Muril
los pupils.
The next morning when the pupils
assembled, several of them noticed
that. their pictures were not as they
had left them the previous night.
Hello who has been here?' cried
curly headed Vincenzo one of the
brightest of Murillos 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 WIS all admirable.
While they were discussing the mat
ter, the door opened and Murillo en-.
tered.
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 1t, them
That's the puzzle" answered Vim +,
cenzo.
A puzzle It continued to be for sew.
eral mornings. for the most wonderful |
things were done by the invisible |
painter.
well. gentlemen, ] think this has
gone far enough" said the master; Ito
morrow morning we will come an hour /
earlier than usual and see If we cannot |
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 Sebastian
Gomez
WHO taught you how to paint boy?"
asked the artist.
"You, master"
But I never gave you lesson
Il 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
World.
Frances Ellen FOuts -