THE STORIES OF NOTED PAINTINGS. 263 



THE HOSPITALITY OF ST. JULIAN. 



By CHRISTOFANO ALLORI (called il Bronzino born at Flo- 

 rence in 1577, died in 1621). St. Julian "the Hospitaler" (died 

 A. D. 313), was of noble family, and when young given only to 

 hunting and feasting. One day as he was chasing a deer, it 

 turned on him and said, "Thou who pursuest me to the death 

 shalt cause the death of thy father and mother." Affrighted, 

 and to avoid fulfilling the prophecy, he fled from his home to a 

 far country, where he married and established himself. After a 

 time his father and mother, led by a strange fatality, set out to 

 find their son. They arrived at his house in his absence, were 

 received with all kindness by his wife, and put in her own room 

 and bed to sleep. The husband coming back in the early morn- 

 ing, and entering his chamber, saw in the dim light two persons 

 in his bed, and one of them a bearded man. In a transport of 

 jealousy he drew his sword and slew them both. When imme- 

 diately the truth was made known to him, in despair he fled 

 again from his home ; and to expiate his crime he built a hospital 

 at the ferry of a dangerous mountain torrent, and devoted him- 

 self, without reward, to the succor and safety of passing pilgrims. 

 At length one winter day of storm and swollen waters, there was 

 brought over at great risk a poor leprous youth almost dead from 

 cold and exhaustion. In spite of the disease he took him in, and 

 he and his good wife tended him until morning. Then the leper 

 rose up, and his face was transformed into that of an angel, and 

 he said, "Julian, the Lord hath sent me to thee, for thy penitence 

 is accepted, and thy rest is near at hand ; " and he vanished 

 from sight. Then Julian and his wife fell down and praised 

 God for his mercies ; and soon they died, for they were old and 

 full of good works. 



LINDA OF CHAMOUNIX. 



By FERRARI. The original is in a private collection in England. 

 She was a beautiful Savoyard girl, and her home was among the 

 highest peaks of the Alps. Like many another, she had the 

 irresistible longing for something better for dress and city life 

 and luxury. Secretly she left her mountain village arid found 



