Tessa, Our Little Italian Cousin

ssa, as she ran down the narrow street to meet h

was not of much help on the homeward journey, either. Poor little patient beast! he was getting old now, and he felt that his day's work was done when he had carried a load of nuts and vegetables to Ro

father used the whip. He did not strike hard enough to hurt the poor creature, though. Oh no, the kind man would

oot of the hill, Beppo got down and walked. It was too

village. And just as the sunset spread over the sky, and g

was, he took the two children in his arms and hugged them as though he had

s for you, Beppo

high, pointed hat nea

o. "You cannot think what it is

ld," his fat

ts to see you. He thinks he may want you for a model. And me, too, Tessa, he wants me! He w

have a new dress, and you shall have some red ribbons. We will all have a feast.

ng down over his shoulders, under the odd pointed hat. He was a beautiful

kin was clear, but like the colour of the olives which grew on the old tree behind her ho

ink if you should visit them in the old house where they hav

hilly inside after leaving the glorious sunset. The plaster is blackened with s

le, and the children do not think of the dingy walls. It is home, whe

and of which Beppo is so fond. And here is milk from Tessa's pet goat. Beppo runs over to the stone fountain in the

t. But what shall Tessa wear? It troubles the good soul, for

does not care about the clothes. He was much pleased with Beppo's cloak, however. He says it will b

? The child has never before gone such a

vily to-morrow, and then Pietro will not complain. And when we come home at night, Beppo can w

t along. He was only too g

us. It is many, many, before the picture will be finished. We can manage someh

id Tessa. "Who will take care of the baby while she wor

ides, she can walk alone so well now, she is little care. As for the garden, there

," said the father, "he is

s tail as though he knew what his master and mistress had been saying. Beppo threw him his las

n I was a baby, didn't you? Mamma, did Bruno really ro

e followed you about. If you got near the edge of a step, or any other unsafe place, he would lift

cture of Jesus and made the si

e family were sound as