THE SHEPHERD-BOY PAINTER



One day a traveler was walking through a part of Italy where a great
many sheep were pasturing. Near the top of a hill he saw a little
shepherd boy who was lying on the ground while a flock of sheep and
lambs were grazing around him.

As he came nearer he saw that the boy held a charred stick in his hand,
with which he was drawing something on a flat rock. The lad was so
much interested in his work that he did not see the stranger.

[Illustration]

The stranger bent over him and looked at the picture he had made on
the rock. It was the picture of a sheep, and it was drawn so well that
the stranger was filled with astonishment.

"What is your name, my boy?" he said.

The lad was startled. He jumped to his feet and looked up at the kind
gentleman.

"My name is Giotto," [Footnote: Giotto (_pro_. jot'to).] he answered.

"What is your father's name?"

"Bondone." [Footnote: BON do'na.]