Rollo in Rome

rpeian

kfast together in the dining room of the hotel, Mr. Geo

ws, or bad new

. George, "but I rather think y

Rollo, "and then I will t

eived was, that there had been an arrival from America, and

he morning at Piale's[6] library, reading the pap

an get Charles Beekman to go with me. W

ou do?" aske

"I read about that rock, and about Tarpeia, in a his

here it is?" a

llo; "but I c

u to take care of yourself. You can get Charle

I am sure,"

day," said Mr. George, "and you had ever so m

, "we did not have any difficulty

was to see and read the American papers. As soon as his uncle had gone, Rollo went up to Mrs. Beekman's

e courier; "Mrs. Beekman and

utes Mrs. Beekman and Charles came in, followed by Charles's sister, a lively young lad

he had come to ask her to allow Charles to go and make an excur

. Beekman. "Some ladies of my acquaintance went to see

es, in an entreating tone of

small, steep face of a rock in a bank. On the Hudson River Railroad you

ring to them, as the interest and excitement of the various adventures which they thought they would meet with on the way. Finally Mrs. Beekman said that she ha

could go too

said Allie, cla

t seeing the Tarpeian

to see it very much, though I don't

on the way," said Rollo, "

e," said Mrs. Beekman. "N

a carriage,

w how to manage about a ca

ows how to manage about a carriage per

her decision ought to be, and then she should have adhered to it. If she was going to consent at all, she should have consented cordially, and at once. For parents first to refu

ready, and in a few minutes returned, her cou

he square. The coachmen, as soon as they saw the party at the door, all began to hold u

thought looked the best, he beckoned to the coachman of it. The coachman immediately

llo wished to make his bargain

apitol. T

s" long before, and he had looked out the Italian name for the Capitol in his Guide Bo

t, and then said, holding up t

ee p

he spoke i

mediately began to turn away and lo

aid the coachman. "T

r, and Rollo assisted Allie to get in. He and Ch

Charles, as soon as they were seated.

more than the regular fare, especially when I have a

y," replied Charles. "He wante

little to make a dispute; but they have n

, that the entrance to the enclosure where the Tarpeian Rock was to be seen was very near there. He had examined the

lf, and then helped Allie and Charles out. He paid the coachman t

o Charles and Al

a higher street. As soon as the party began to go up these steps, they saw several children running down from above to meet them. When these children reached the p

children want

id Rollo. "I have

y are begging,

ey were begging, they wo

there were now eight or ten in all. They ran on before and by the side of Rollo and his party

They want to show us the

you knew the w

ling to pay one of these children for showing me, but not all. Stop

lie surveyed the ragged and wre

retty child among

arles. "You should choose the worst looking one. She is likely

barefooted girl, that l

"she looks as if sh

e from his pocket. At the same time he made a waving motion with his hand to the re

aciated face was lighted up with a smile of pleasure. She r

dismission that Rollo had made to them, were determined not to be sent of

a wall. By the side of the gateway there was an iron ring hanging by a chain. Two or three of the children seized this ring together and pulled it, by which means a bell was r

Rollo; "but, poor thing, I mean to give her two copp

her hand into her pocket and taking out a Roman copper co

y," said Charles. "

penny. I can't remember the other nam

was, became more clamorous than ever. But Rollo paid no heed to them. Indeed, a moment after he had paid his litt

bout thirteen years ol

es, there were groups of shrubbery here and there, among which roses and other flowers were blooming. This garden seemed to be in the heart of the city, for it was bordered on three sides by b

seen, at a distance along the hill, a small place where the rock which formed the f

Tarpeian Rock

did not reply, not knowing a

al prettier rocks in

sorry you came

y glad I came. But what is it

a girl named Tarpeia. She lived somewhere near the top of this rock, and the wall of the city came somewhere along here, and there was a gate. The Sabines made war against the Romans, a

hey shoot her?

ity. She said she would do it if they would give her what they wore on their arms. She meant their bracelets. The soldiers in those days used to adorn themselves with rings, and bracelets, and other such things. But then, besides these bracelets they wore their shields and bucklers

d by her into the town, as fast as they could go, and as they passed they all threw their bucklers upon poor Tarpeia, till she was crushed to death, and buried up by th

d his story, during which Allie looked quite conce

it was

ved her just righ

plied Alice, "ho

ather flowers from the beds and borders, and finally made quite a pretty bouquet. When she got to the gate, and was ready to open it, she presented this bouquet

u pay her, Rollo

"because she was so polite as to

eased her extremely to find that Rollo took so much interest i

e steps which led to the

Rollo, "or shall I find a ca

Allie, "and then we sha

ome rather threatening clouds diffused over it. Indeed, on

all be obliged to ride. But we can make it lo

"let's do it. What s

" said Rollo, "it would be a good

Pantheon?"

urch, with a great hole in

mend the hole?

it so on purpo

. "I never heard of such a thing. I

me of a shower. It is so curious to see the rain falling down slowly to the pavement. You see, the chu

g?" ask

it so big when you come to see it. It is up so high that it looks very

e distance before him, and he made a signal to the coachman to come to him. The coachman came. Rollo made his bargain with him,

which they supported, were darkened by time, and cracked, and chipped, and broken in the most remarka

OF THE

strous mouths, carved in marble, were spouting water. When Rollo had paid the coachman, he led the way into the church. Allie and Charles followed him. They found themselves usher

gh this opening the rain was descending in a steady but gentle shower. It was very curious to look up and see the innumerable drops falling slowly from the brig

necessary in a structure like this, and it must be of great thickness and s

It is immensely large, being nearly a hundred and fifty feet in diameter, and a hundred and fifty feet high. If you will inquire and ascertain what is the size of some large

serving the groups of pilgrims and of visitors that were continually coming and going, for nearly an hour.