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one position。 He tied her head and tail； but she barked and jumped；
and so pulled and tightened the string； that she was nearly strangled；
and just then her mistress walked in。
〃You wicked boy！ the poor little creature！〃 was all she could
utter。
She pushed the boy from her； thrust him away with her foot； called
him a most ungrateful； good…for…nothing； wicked boy； and forbade him
to enter the house again。 Then she wept； and kissed her little
half…strangled Bellissima。 At this moment the painter entered the
room。
* * * * * * *
In the year 1834 there was an exhibition in the Academy of Arts at
Florence。 Two pictures； placed side by side； attracted a large
number of spectators。 The smaller of the two represented a little
boy sitting at a table； drawing； before him was a little white poodle；
curiously shaven； but as the animal would not stand still； it had been
fastened with a string to its head and tail； to keep it in one
position。 The truthfulness and life in this picture interested every
one。 The painter was said to be a young Florentine； who had been found
in the streets； when a child； by an old glovemaker； who had brought
him up。 The boy had taught himself to draw： it was also said that a
young artist； now famous； had discovered talent in the child just as
he was about to be sent away for having tied up madame's favorite
little dog； and using it as a model。 The glovemaker's boy had also
become a great painter； as the picture proved； but the larger
picture by its side was a still greater proof of his talent。 It
represented a handsome boy； clothed in rags； lying asleep； and leaning
against the Metal Pig in the street of the Porta Rosa。 All the
spectators knew the spot well。 The child's arms were round the neck of
the Pig； and he was in a deep sleep。 The lamp before the picture of
the Madonna threw a strong； effective light on the pale； delicate face
of the child。 It was a beautiful picture。 A large gilt frame
surrounded it； and on one corner of the frame a laurel wreath had been
hung； but a black band； twined unseen among the green leaves； and a
streamer of crape； hung down from it； for within the last few days the
young artist had… died。
THE END
。