The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1874-10-01
4 CHILD's LOVE.


ACayLD's LOVE.
One beautiful afternoon 10 May, . child
was wandering thoughtfully along the
fowery banks Of the Genes, his back to
the village and bis grave eyes fixed vacant
Iy upon the blue expsnse Of waters liAe a
troubled soul vainy seeking companion
ship. He appeared to be about thirteen
years Of aga, his face was pale and sorrow
full. his eyebrows strongly marked, while
his dark eyes sparkled with weird bril-
lisncy which at times had an almost sinister
e1tte.sioo.
lie remained lost in thought for some time
his head resting on his slim, nervous hand,
listening to the murmuring waves, as they
broke at his feet, gazing sadly across to the
distant horizon with unntterable longing.
Suddenly the joyous laughter of childhood
broke upon his musirYs; little girl came
running across the waving field and threw
both arms enthusiastically about his neck.
"You naughty, naughty Nicplo; ,vha.
are you doing here' I've been locking
everywhere for you /" U.tering these
lf-scolding words, she cOntiru.d to over
wbelm him with caresses, and laid little
basket SLED with wild roses and eglantines
At his feet, il tpker of her childish affec-
ton, The shadow o. smile fitted across
the toys face as he looked into her laugh
Ing eyes; he ran his fingers through her
fossy curls, gave sly, cautious LOOK
around and Whispered:
~ ran away from my father, Gianetta:
he gave me leave TO rest, 50 came to this
lovely place you know how l value my
short liberty, and how | ado ore the MUIR
lnur;ng of these waves! Listen to their
weird music !" san.
It's too bad of your father" sighed
The child, "to torment you with those
hateful exercises; you will die of oysrwork!
Poor Nicolo,' 50 mother said to me, is
much too delicate; his bewitched violin
will 90 the death of him before long, and i.
.ill be his fathers fault = And mother 10
right: " she added, looking anxiously a.
the young boys worn face.
DO moi fear for me, Giane.ta," replied
Eico!o; g" shall not die yet; must grow
up to be q han Look, how strong am
lie drew himself up to his full height, his
dark eyes flashed, and smile of rare ten
derness played around bis ripe lips. With
bis strong arms he lifted II. little play
mate and held her suspended over the
water for somo seconds. Gianetta, seeing
linn 50 gay, commenced singing, pausing
ever and anon Tor some brt,, of childish
gossip. Nicolo listened, am-sed, at the
arsle's pra'tle about Ter flowers, her doves
her gstncs, aud whenever he sank into an
unc;nscious fit Of abstraction, Gianetta
quickly brought him to himself with a
playful shake or tender kiss.
The children remainet on the strand
until the stars came out one after another,
smiling alike on the serious eyes of Nicolo
s1d the drowsy ones of the pretty Gianet-
tn. Then, indeed, they turned their steps
OoutWutL, tutiT arms WOuuu dEOuuu cACn
other in the innocent, loving embrace Of
childhood. After long walk, they turned
down narrow lane, ut the sud Of which
stood two humble cottages overgrown with
vines-one the HON, of Gianetta, the other
of Nicolo. At the threshold of the former
stood the mother, of the little girl, anxiousls
awaiting the return of the children, whom
she tspderly embraced as they came run.
ming up to her; then, wishing each other
good night, Nicolo creased over to bis
home.
,,On entering his dihgy little room, he
sighed deeply, raised the window to let IN
the mild night air, and opening chest,
drew froai it an old violin Seating him.
self near the easement, through which the
eirery moonlight flooded, he passed his
Singers across the strings, and drew from
:hem the most enhancing strains Of music,
dying away at times into wonderous melan-
choly, then swelling into triumphant glad.
ness.
Scarcely had be commenced playing,
when a large spider crawled out Of the
vines and came on the shut +.
Welcome " cried the young musician,
gayly; and as it advanced, he laid his
.nger on the window sill, allowed the
spider to make i.s way over it, and placed
i. in triumph upon his violin, where i.
remained during tha whole performance, as
il enchanted BY the wonderful magic Of
the music
Nicolo continued prscticing until his
eye lids closed in sleep, and not until the
an shone into his eyes did be awake from
his sound slumbers. He arose and placed
his mute, still sleeping companion carefully
upon the vine leaves.
Every time that he laid aside his violin,
nheu inspiration or strength failed, he
rank into his babitual morbid reseris.
The absence Of the spider increased this
feeling of solitude, for he was attached to
:he creature with all the passion of fer
vent and unhappy disposition. HIS father
was hard and relentless nisster-his dead
mother he only dinly remembered as. hav-
ing smiled upon him with ineffable sweet
Fess as she sung him to sleep, with hsr
gentle lullaby. But that was so long,
hong ago, and now he had no friends; for
the children of his own age avoided the
dreamy reserved lad. Only little Giane,ta
xas.good to bin, coming often to his roon
and listening in, silent >dmirstiop to the
inspiring music Of his violin. But Clan.
eta .detes.ed his spider. "There j.
witchcraft in it," she would say, with ,
dainty little shudde1 and 90. the insec. wa,
never admitted during her visits. Wher
his fingers grew stiff with exercise, Nicolt
enliysLed the hours BY telling fairy tales
romantic adventures and lis own hope.
for the future to his delighted little com
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