For Our Young Readers.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 11, 16 July 1897, Page 11

For Our Young Readers.

THE BUTTER LION. A great company of guests had gathered at the mansion of Senator Falieri, by invitation of that princely entertainer and patron of art. There were noblemen, and princes, and noted Venetian merchants ; and the banquet, which was the occasion of the assembly, had been arranged to the most minute particular. Just before the hour appointed for the dinner, the head servant was confounded by a message from the confectioner announcing that he had spoiled the elaborate piece intended for the centre of the table. The major-domo was at his wit's end, when a little pale-faced boy. who had been employed about the house as scullion, quietly said :—: — " If you will let me try, I think I can make something that will suit." '• You !" said the head servant. " And who are you to under* take to fill the place of one of the best artists in town ?" " I am Antonio Canova," said the little fellow. "My grandf.ither is a stone-cutter. I have helped him. Please let me help yo.i and my master." •• ell. for mercy's sake make so-net !»ing. K1 !" answered the heal s.>r\ant. well-nigh driven to desperation. " WLv. material do you require .' ' ■• .1 ust some bulter. ' '• Give this iO y all the butter he wants." the man commanded ; and in a few minutes Antonio had moulde 1 in that plastic material a large crouching lion. The work was done with great skill and perfect taste. The gues-s wer> u-h>red into the dioing-nom, and a shout of delight went up. They did not scos e0 the jewelled dishes and the costly flowers, but only the beautiful butter lion which crouched among them as if to spring. '• Ah ! my dear Senator." said one of the most distinguished noblemen, " you have ever some fresh surprise for us. Now tell us how you managed to coax a great artist to waste his skill with so temporary a material as this." Then the secret came out, and the feast was turned into a banquet in honour of the stone-cutter's grandson ; Senator Falieri himself declaring that such a genius should have the benefit of the best masters. He kept his word, and placed him as a pupil in the studio of the best sculptor of the time. Two year* after— when Canora wa-- oDly twelve years of age— the boy sent his patron a gift of two marble fruit-baskets, of his own workmanship, of remarkable merit, which still adorn the Falieri palace at Venice. Antonio proved well worthy his kindness and even when he became the renouned Canova. with a world-wide reputation, he was just as simple-hearted and modest a.s when he scoured knives in the kitchen of his good friend.