Two boys, mistreated by their employer, ran away, taking the road to
Rome. They reached the Eternal City. Peter was taken as cook’s boy in
a cardinal’s house, Michael could find nothing to do, so he almost
despaired and almost starved. But he liked to visit the churches and
gaze at the fine pictures therein.
Something stirred within him, and he took bits of charcoal and
sketched pictures on the walls of Peter’s attic room. One day
the cardinal discovered them. The boys were frightened, and
Michael declared that he would rub them all out. But he did
not understand the cardinal, who was amazed at their accuracy
and power. He took Michael to a drawing-master, and gave Peter
a better position in his house. Michael worked diligently and
became an enthusiast in his art.
His other name was Angelo. This was the humble beginning of
the man who was almost a universal genius--painter, architect,
sculptor and poet. (Text.)
(1202)
=Genius Neglected=--See FRIENDSHIP.