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tremendous noise at the door。
〃Who is there？〃 asked somebody from within。
〃It is I；〃 said he。 〃Bellissima is gone。 Open the door； and then
kill me。〃
Then indeed there was a great panic。 Madame was so very fond of
Bellissima。 She immediately looked at the wall where the dog's dress
usually hung； and there was the little lambskin。
〃Bellissima in the watch…house！〃 she cried。 〃You bad boy！ how
did you entice her out？ Poor little delicate thing； with those rough
policemen！ and she'll be frozen with cold。〃
Giuseppe went off at once； while his wife lamented； and the boy
wept。 Several of the neighbors came in； and amongst them the
painter。 He took the boy between his knees； and questioned him； and；
in broken sentences； he soon heard the whole story； and also about the
Metal Pig； and the wonderful ride to the picture…gallery； which was
certainly rather incomprehensible。 The painter； however； consoled
the little fellow； and tried to soften the lady's anger； but she would
not be pacified till her husband returned with Bellissima； who had
been with the police。 Then there was great rejoicing； and the
painter caressed the boy； and gave him a number of pictures。 Oh；
what beautiful pictures these were！… figures with funny heads； and；
above all； the Metal Pig was there too。 Oh； nothing could be more
delightful。 By means of a few strokes； it was made to appear on the
paper； and even the house that stood behind it had been sketched in。
Oh； if he could only draw and paint！ He who could do this could
conjure all the world before him。 The first leisure moment during
the next day； the boy got a pencil； and on the back of one of the
other drawings he attempted to copy the drawing of the Metal Pig；
and he succeeded。 Certainly it was rather crooked； rather up and down；
one leg thick； and another thin； still it was like the copy； and he
was overjoyed at what he had done。 The pencil would not go quite as it
ought；… he had found that out； but the next day he tried again。 A
second pig was drawn by the side of the first； and this looked a
hundred times better； and the third attempt was so good； that
everybody might know what it was meant to represent。
And now the glovemaking went on but slowly。 The orders given by
the shops in the town were not finished quickly； for the Metal Pig had
taught the boy that all objects may be drawn upon paper； and
Florence is a picture…book in itself for any one who chooses to turn
over its pages。 On the Piazza dell Trinita stands a slender pillar；
and upon it is the goddess of Justice； blindfolded； with her scales in
her hand。 She was soon represented on paper； and it was the
glovemaker's boy who placed her there。 His collection of pictures
increased； but as yet they were only copies of lifeless objects；
when one day Bellissima came gambolling before him： 〃Stand still；〃
cried he； 〃and I will draw you beautifully； to put amongst my
collection。〃
But Bellissima would not stand still； so she must be bound fast in
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
。