nd circled about in the clear spring air, busy
with their building plans, but Francesco thought he heard the rustle of
other wings, as the master's soul, freed from the tired body, was at
last borne upwards higher than any earthly wings could soar.

RAPHAEL

Among the marvellous tales of the Arabian Nights, there is a story told
of a band of robbers who, by whispering certain magic words, were able
to open the door of a secret cave where treasures of gold and silver
and precious jewels lay hid. Now, although the day of such delightful
marvels is past and gone, yet there still remains a certain magic in
some names which is able to open the secret doors of the hidden haunts
of beauty and delight.

For most people the very name of 'Raphael' is like the 'Open Sesame' of
the robber chief in the old story. In a moment a door seems to open out
of the commonplace everyday world, and through it they see a stretch of
fair sweet country. There their eyes rest upon gentle, dark-eyed
Madonnas, who smile down lovingly upon the heavenly Child, playing at
her side or resting in her arms. The little St. John is also there,
companion of the Infant Christ; rosy, round-limbed children both, half
human and half divine. And standing in the background are a crowd of
grave, quiet figures, each one alive with interest, while over all
there is a glow of intense vivid colour.

We know but little of the everyday life of this great artist. When we
hear his name, it is of his different pictures that we think at once,
for they are world-famous. We almost forget the man as we gaze at his
work.

It was in the little village of Urbino, in Umbria, that Raphael was
born. His father was a painter called Giovanni Santi, and from him
Raphael inherited his love of Art. His mother, Magia, was a sweet,
gracious woman, and the little Raphael was like her in character and
beauty. It seemed as if the boy had received every good gift that
Nature could bestow. He had a lovely oval face, and soft dark eyes that
shone with a beauty that was more of heaven than earth, and told of a
soul which was as pure and lovely as his face. Above all, he had the
gift of making every one love him, so that his should have been a happy
sunshiny life.

But no one can ever escape trouble, and when Raphael was only eight
years old, the first cloud overspread his sky. His mother died, and
soon after his father married again.

The new mother was very young, and did not care mu