Boys Who Became Famous Men

ver! Luigi has built a raft, and we're go

ed themselves before a mud-walled Alpine cabin, the last of a qua

t the throat, his trousers were rolled well above the knee, and over these cool garments he wore a hempen working-apron which was held in place

ted Pablo, pointing exc

nd lifted his chisel meaningly, as thou

old stone-chipping for an hour and come with u

eturned the

isted four alluring voices, bu

his grandfather's stones than go with us on the jolliest

glad to be rid of them and their invitations. He did not tarry in the cleanly sunlit cabin, but hurried out to the rear garden, w

e I have finished the urn for the terrace of the Villa d'Asolo, and it is too late in the afternoon to begin on the Monfumo a

t a holiday,

ver heard of a boy who didn't want a holiday

but I don't want to pole a raft. I'd rather carve my[Pg 179]

like me, Tonin: work is play when it happens to be

ch his skilful fingers had wrought out of fragments of stone left from old Pasino's cuttings. Next autumn, when all the villagers and country folk of the province would assemble at Asolo for their carnival and yearly frolic, Tonin would peddle his pretty fruit among the pleasure-seekers, c

intelligently, and labored through the long hours with such manly patience, that the scanty comforts in the Alpine cabin visibly increased, and all the while the boy was learning the use of the cunning e

adway, caused the stone-cutter and the boy to

the Duke d'Asolo called out, as with difficulty

e, and you are the only one to do it. The duke gives a great banquet to-night, and the

e, Tonin, mayhap you can be o

nova, bearing his tool-box upon his shoulder, while his barefoo

derstood something of the uses of plaster, stucco, and even marble. No other workman in this remote hill country w

trance of a gentleman's country residence. "This'" said

onin. "Please, grandfather! Surely he wouldn't care, for I came once with

his onward way; "we have work to do, and have promi

king backward over his shoulder as long as the

s house from sight, "I'd rather be able to[Pg 183] make a statue as beautiful a

d must be taught-taught, Tonin, and-well, you know the rest: poor folk like us mustn't be gloomy because we can't d

I will take care of you and grandmother." Here the boy began to whistle gayly, seekin

y retainers. Across the terraces they took their way, past arbors, gardens of blossoms, a

A serving-man attended him, carrying a glass aquarium that contained numerous brilliant goldfish. Boy and groom were

ntil this minute. I didn't have any present to give him, so I decided I'd take the goldfish out of the conservatory. He li

eppe was a lad of jovial spirit[Pg 185] who chose his friends wherever he found good comrades, quite regardless of rank and

ather has something to do in the picture gallery befo

up to see the boat some day next week," and beckoning the servant to follow with the aquarium, the young patrician disappeared through the outer door, and the

e[Pg 186] palace. He wore his crimson robe of office, and a stupendous

hurriedly, puffing and pantin

abies are not on view to-night, and as I wouldn't touch them myself for fear of harming them with my clumsy fingers, I called you for the business. There, in that further ante-room, you will find Toretto's[Pg 187] beauties inside the packing cases, and you are to get them safely into these niches. My-o! My-o! What a load of care falls on a poor old man who is keeper of a palace where one hundred noble guests are expected for a feast! Nobody in all Venetia has more worries and responsibilitie

, the evening was nearly spent by the time the glistening statues were[Pg 188] relea

r floated up to them, and fragrances and appetizing od

retto's chisel had effected. He was wholly lost to time and place and was quite unaware that the servants had removed all traces of packing and litter, and that a bevy of maids were now seated in the gallery, weaving garlands at Pasino's order,

r I'll throw you all out of the window! Oh, I shall be disgraced and

, for his scarlet robe was thrown open at the throat, his frosty locks were ru

d a dozen voices, but Tonin darted across

this afternoon as a pres

one, I am dead!" ejaculated th

190] Pasino, laying a quieting hand up

it. I did so, and all has now been served but the dessert, and that will be due in about fifteen minutes. For this fancy piece I have filled a great tray with Parma violets on snow, thousa

t in the centre of the

mid of apricots and nectar

?" inquired Pasino, earnestly endeavo

g

ori; "lighted things

agreed Pasino

t might be pretty," v

t?" Vittor

low-retainers, and whispered to Pasino apart. The old ma

but it ought to be good-yes, ye

t my reputation to this stripling whether I like it or not. Saints help him, for if the work is a failure, woe to poor Vittori! Have your ornament ready in the lowe

givings lest he had been both rash and bold in his offer o

a pail of the coldest spring w

hands into the water-pail, holding them there until they were sufficiently cooled for his purpose, then attacking the butter with his dripping fingers, he rolled and patted it into a goodly loaf, with motions so quick a

rown fingers, the loaf vanished, and in its place appeared a noble lion, quite as though Tonin's chi

e appeared

e appeared a

Tonin, heedless of their chatter, sought out his grandfather with questioning glance. He received a quiet nod from Pasino, and drying his hands on a corn

entered from the opposite doorway. The seneschal joined them immediately, and without a word set Tonin's lion in the centre of the snowy field

th this hastily contrived decoration, Tonin read at a glance; and im

ight, Master Vittori! Try somet

o send, so I must stand or fall by your butter-toy. Al

pressed his keys tightly to his breast, Pasino withdrew into the shadow, and Tonin waited in acute suspense, wondering whether in his desire to relieve the seneschal's dilemma he had been guilty of a childish and ignorant blunder.

rom beyond the velvet-hung portal, but non

stepped into the corridor. Each person in the rear pa

g

es the seneschal

"mercy knows what he'll do to m

t his linen neckcloth, the seneschal concealed his distress a

is hands toget

untain-to dare to set up my little work before grand persons like t

e seneschal

t once! His grace has se

ing toward the stair door; "I should

g

onkey! Do you think you can k

ed the boy by the arm, giving him a push tha

ng with vines and banked with flowers; that a table like a huge cross ran the entire length and nearly the breadth of the room; that the Duke d'Asolo s

ous of his own workaday garb. He came to an abrupt stop, standing with downcast eyes before the[Pg 198] Venetian company,

elf," said the duke in a tone surprisingly gentl

lbow, and raising his eyes just far enough to get a glimpse of

master of the feast, indicating the o

admitted T

other figure

, si

did you

ndfather,

g, as also have been my guests,[Pg 199] at

Tonin in a panic. "Perhaps

t examine it closely, and we all agree about it. How should y

" cried Tonin, his face alight with th

es

ddess like that than to be a

is outburst, and Tonin trembled

be able to make this," pointing to the lion; "and if[Pg 200] you are willing to keep on working, you may learn to do great things. You sh

a chance to learn anything so

up in his throat that choked him. Twice he tried to finish his eager speech, but the words did not come

clear water and unspoiled childhood are the purest things of earth. Ladies and gentlemen, I offer you our little friend, Tonin [Pg 201]Ca

nk, went t

turned to withdraw, he whispered

u'll tell all the people for me how a boy feels w

man one day in autumn. His air was that of an experienced trav

t attire who was walking in the opposite direction. The rider bent curiously, and gazed down at

g

n't you re

ranger blankly, then some memory out of his boyhood seemed to awaken,

d furies, you are the last man in

I suppose you are still the leader of the to

ek, but he merely waved his hand toward the e

mine. Tha

urse must be ready to overflow, afte

and nodded. Then half timi

g

see you aga

fted his han

iend, and not in any wise changed from the l

grown powerful

an never make me anythin

gave you a pension for your whole life, b

e has been

eat people of Rome a

e, b

en your name in the gold

did;

u to his court, and that the German

ir compliments and gold upon me, my heart has turned back to my native village and the dear simple friends of my childhood. I have left the great world for a time, and have come back to see the old faces; and Pablo, on that slope, near the little cottage,"-here his voice broke, as he point

nder and pride of all the villagers. When the builders had finished and had gone their way, the man who had designed it all put on his apron, to

the giver of so splendid a gift. Warmly they bade him farewell when his task was at length

his heart grew strangely still, the friends about him, a brilliant company, carried hi

eachers who had paid him their devotion to the last, wound their way slowly down to the turbulent wo