Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-06-20
The family CiEtIt.

Child Marian Fights under Garibaldi'
When VIC were finishing breakfast Mari
IN looked up and asked, as she asked
every morning.
What are we going to do to-day, Uncle
Will? =.
To-day, my pet we're going to visit "
lion.
A what?
A lion.
0, Uncle Will! your joking.
No, I'm in earnest. We are going to
visit the Lion of Magenta-in other words
we're going to see General Garibaldi.
O! that's different. A man isn't lion.
But they call this man lion because he
is so brave.
Tell us all about him, said Marian.
So ! told them, first about the little ltal-
ian boy baby that was born at Nice about
seventy years ago. and how his parents
thought it very lucky thing that he should
have been born on our national birthday,
the Fourth of July. l told them all | had
ever heard of Guiseppe's boyhood; how he
had always been leader among his play
mates, and even when mere child had
performed MANI feats of valor; how once,
when the family washer-wOman was scrub
bing clothes at the river, had fallen in, the
little Giuseppe had rescued her ut the risk
of his own life, and had been publicly COM
mended for his presence of mind. l told
them how he entered the service OF his
country, and fought bravely in many Il
battle, until he became the idol of the peo-
pie, and general among his soldiers, and
how at last, when Rome came to strike IL
blow for liberty, General Garibaldi's voice
was loudest, and his arm strongest for the
precious cause. told them how he march
ed victorious ut the head of the Italian
troops when they entered Rome, and how
the people hailed him as the savior Of
their liberties, and showered flowers upon
him until his horse stood ankle deep in
them; how he came TO be the friend OF
the king, and how now he had come to
Rome to live MS the most honored citizen
in the famous city, and l said: To-day
we'll 90 and see this great man, and Marian
shall wear her sash of Italian colors, and
Aunt Elinor and will take II bouquet of
flowers for the veteran.
So we started out in high feather for the
villa of General Carl baldi, which is just
beyond the military parade ground, and
outside the walls Of Rome. The country
was very beautiful that day; the grass very
green, the sky very blue, and the flowers
very bright.
After half an hours drive we came to q
modest villa surrounded by pretty gar
den, and inside the courtyard we found
several carriages waiting, for the general
has great many visitors.
We rung the bell of the house and it was
opened by II fat, rcd-faccd man in cook S
cap and apron. In fact, he was the cook,
and the tootman, and the generals valet
and house keeper, all rolled into one--an
old servant who has been long with Carl
baldi, and assumes II great many privi-
leges in consequence.
Can we see General Garabaldi? | asked,
No, monsieur, he answered. The gen
eral is much engaged at present.
But, said, we have letters of introduce
lion from some of the generals friends in
America, and were hidden to come any
forenoon that suited us.
1t makes no difference, said the cook.
The least you can do, said, is TO take
my card to the general, and ask him when
he will receive us.
couldn't even do that.
Now you see l had heard of this old
cook before. knew very well what he
wanted, so | took out five franc piece
and, handing it with my card said: III
leave the card for the general, and this is
for OBTAINING you so long here, and We
turned TO 60.
Stay, monsieur. If monster and mad.
anne choose to wait few mnutes-only 4
few minutes-I think the general will be
at leisure, viii the party have the kind.
ness 10 walk up stairs? What lovely chill.
dren American children are always Sc
lovely. The general adores children! ant
the servant led the way up stairs.
What made him change so? asked Ma
riun.
Money, my darling Money makes mer
change very often.
He took us to IL little reception room
very sparely furnished, and babe us wall
while he carried our card TO the general
Pretty soon he came back and said the
general wished to see us at once, and in
we went.
Seated at the end of Il dining table was
General Garib adj. He rose with somt
difficulty to welcome us, for he was very
much drawn up by rheumatism, ant
couldn't walk without the aid of crutch
He was dressed just as we always See hin
IN his pictures IL red flannel shirt, an EN-.
broidered smoking cap, and gray trousers
We had letters from two Of his old gen
erals, and were received very warmly
Beside him stood an immense black dog
upon whose head he often rested his hanC
us he spoke, We had IL very pleasant tall
with the great Italian, but it didn't inter
est Harry and Marian much, because, yol
see, they didn't care about Italian politics
or the improvements in Rome
They went to the open window ant
looked out into the garden, where were
four or five children, relations and neigh
bors of General Garibaldi. Pretty soon
heard Marian cry out, Toss it up here! anC
she had hardly gotten the words out of hel
mouth before great rubber ball came fly
ing into the room.
Halloo said the General. 1t is like ole
times throwing balls into my window. W.
must defend ourselves.
Going to the side-board he brought
huge dish of oranges and said: There
amlnunition-fr back
And the way in which Marian and Harr,
pelted the young folks in the garden witt
the golden fruit made things lively cal
assure you. When the ammunition wa
all exhausted our little folks had to g
down and help the generals little folks en-
up the cannon balls, And when we wer,
ready to go they had all become,so friendl,
down below that with joined hands they
were going in Il ring to the italian version
of On this carpet here we stand"
They all kissed each other good-by,
with sweet, child-lke earnestness, ant
Marian carries among her most preciou!
souvenirs, the picture of the patriot, unde
which he wrote with his trembling hand
the magic signature,
G. GARIBALDI.
Nm. NJ r. Round, IN June Wide AtDate