"Forth from the Urbino's gate there came A youth with the angelic name Of Raphael, in form and face Himself angelic, and divine In arts of color and design." "Keramos"

T

LONGFELLOW.

UESDAY afternoon Mrs. Merton was reading, when Margaret and John came into the room. They had been skating and Mrs. Merton thought that they might have forgotten the story of Raphael.

"Well, Margaret," she said, "do you remember where we left Raphael last Saturday?"

"Yes, mamma, he was just starting for Florence, and you said you would tell us today the story of his life there."

"John, do you remember how old Raphael was when he went to Florence?"

"Yes," said John, "he was twenty-one." "Raphael was delighted with everything in

this city which was so wonderful to him. Every picture or work of art that he saw, every new artist that he met, became to him a fresh spring of inspiration. But while he was receiving fresh impressions and learning new lessons, he never forgot or lost the knowledge to which he had attained. There never were so many fine artists together as at this time. The paintings of Leonardo da Vinci, one of the greatest painters of this time, pleased him more than any other. He admired the grace and beauty of his figures, and decided to study with him. He was also greatly interested in the work of Michael Angelo, another very noted painter and sculptor, and spent much time with him.”

"Mamma, Raphael must have worked hard to please such a teacher," said Margaret.

"Yes, my dear, he worked so hard that he learned more in a few months than many artists would in years.

"The first year in Florence he painted some beautiful Madonnas, several of which I shall show you. Among the first was the 'Madon