Tessa, Our Little Italian Cousin

ey were even a little cross with Pietro when he stopped to nibble choice bits of grass by the

ark room where their mother lay watching for them. A small basket crad

, after kissing her mother at least a d

darling little boy," she exclaimed,

so swaddled in clothes and blankets it didn't seem as though he could be hurt, even if the little girl should drop the precious bundle. B

to her sister's dress. She wanted to be as near as possible t

ht he had already begun to notice things about the room,

foolish Francesca. You are onl

a went to the bedside of her mother and told her of

e procession to-morrow. Just think! babbo says that an image of the Holy Child is carried up and down the aisles of one of the churches. It is richly dressed in silks and jewels.

elfth Day several times when I was younger. But many things have happened to prevent it l

e did not need to be watched. Every one, except the dear mother lying qui

lled the kitchen. There must be all sorts of nice dishes at the morro

he greatest dainties in the world. There were olives and pistachio-nuts and garlic in

the village people went with the father and baby to the little village

just as the party was entering the church door. The children

ed each other as though they h

baby was carried to the font and wa

mong his friends as soon as the baptism was over. Every one must have a chance to kiss him. As

ven with a right good will. It was but a symbol of the lo

ig as to make his mother's eyes open with delight when it was shown her aft

east was all spread and the visitors gathered around the table with good appetites. Lucy and Art

r feast!" he cried. "

the villagers played on their bagpipes. Tessa performed a very

ht the sunset sky, and her father bade her get ready to leave. "But we wish T

ly, and I wish to finish the picture of Tessa and Beppo at once. It would not be easy for you to

. The carriage was a little crowded, but no one cared. All were so busy laughing a

that Agrippa told the people the fab

ing out of the carri

exact spot," he sai

"What was the fable, and who was Agrippa, and why d

Rome was a powerful city. There were two great classes of the people,-the patricians, who were

the plebeians justly. At last, when they could not stand this unfair

said, and made ready to attack the

han of the rich. What should be done? A very wise man named Agrippa was chosen to go

hich I wish to tel

were obliged to carry it about; the hands had to get food for it; the mouth ate for it; the throat swallowed for it; the he

to grow weak and helpless. At last they said to each other, "We shall all starve and die unless we go b

that all classes of people depended on each other, a

ce. The plebeians marched back into the city and took up their old

as made and R

story the carriage drew u

"It must have been because of the story you