The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-12-12

was q many-patched cotton dress, of no
particular color; and her feet were
covered by great clumsy shoes, such as
our grocery boy wears. How old was
shep 1 should say about ten or eleven,
and her male escort was certainly not
much older. As stood looking at her,
the thought struck me that I ought to
take her as my model.
"Oome here," said 1 to her. "Why
do you live with the padrone don't in
terrupt me again, miss. will tell you
shortly what a padrone is), when he
beats you ?"
81 have no other home," the poor
girl replied. "The police would take
me if 1 slept in the streets, and maybe
shut me up forever"
"Wouldn't you like to go to a nicer
home, and have plenty to eat and decent
clothes, and get paid for easy work 2"
the happiness spoke of were too great
to think of.
Listen" continued. IF you will
leave the padrone, will get you com.
Portable place to live in, with a nice old
lady to take care of you."
Unaccustomed as the child was to
kindness from strangers, she clearly re-
garded me with doubt, and, looking at
the harp-player, who was observing me
with considerable interest, answered.:
"But 1 won't leave Jiacomo. He is
good to me. He gives me half his bread
when I am very hungry"
"Will you come with me if Jiacomo
comes ?" 1 asked.
Eyes, SIR"
"Then step this way, Jiacomo,"
said to him. GLOW would you like to
leave the padrone, and to live with peo-
pie who will take care of you? You
will have work to do and be we'll paid. F"
Jiacomo took off his hat, and, smiling
ly looking me in the face with good
natured, honest eyes, replied "You
are too good, sir. I would like to go, if
she may come with me but if the pa
drone ever catches us he will kill us
both"
Have no fear of the padrone," I
said. elf he makes any trouble, we
will have him arrested and put into
prison."
This bold declaration of mine settled
the matter, and had little further trou-
-le in persuading them to accompany
me to my studio, where 1 intended to
have them stay for the time being.
They must have thought that was the
city governor, or at least police cap
tain. Fancy your grave and decorous
Uncle Coventry marching down Broad
way at nightfall, followed by couple of
delighted mountebanks. The janitor of
the building in which my studio was
located must have thought I had gone
raving mad, and he greeted me with a
look of blank surprise when appeared
at his doorway, with my extraordinary
companions. "Now, then, sir" said 1
to him, "be spry, and run upstairs and
build roaring fire in my CRATE; and then,
sir, prepare a hearty supper for these
famished children" The musical in
struments of my two friends were de-
posted in one corner of my studio, and
in a very short time the children were
seated before such a supper as they had
conceived of only in blissful dreams. I
next bade the the ianitor's wife provide
them with comfortable beds. When I
was preparing to leave, the happy child
rem wished to kiss me and graciously
agreed, promising them they should see
me early in the morning.
Now, while they are supposed to be
asleep, I shall tell you what you seem
dying to know-namely, what padrone
is. He is an old cu1mudgeon, who re-
ceives stolen children from Italy, and
makes them go out into the street to
beg, or play, or steal-usually all three
And if they do not obtain money in some
way, he beats them and packs them off
to bed supperless. What do you think
of that, little girl?
But about my street acquaintances:
1t was decided upon next day that
Jiacomo should keep my studio in order,
while his companion would sit for nv
Christmas picture. The pair were placed
in charge of my janitors wife, with the
strictest commands that due care should
be taken, lest they might again fall into
the hands of the padrone. In order TO
make my model as happy-looking as
possible, I provided her with a box of
bon bons, and seated her on beautiful
rug, amidst the rare and curious little
objects of my studio. Yes, shall bring
you to my studio some day; only you
must promise not to put things into a
too hopeless confusion. I was showing
her how to pose, when, suddenly, as Il
some long forgotten thought fitted
across her mind, she said quickly:
"Oh I know how to sit, sir. had
my picture taken before-many, many
years ago."
Indeedp I replied. GLOW was
that?"
CHIN Roma; when was bambina,
before my mamma died. The men said
she was dead Than cop,a % 1;ua
with the padrone. 1t was many days
beforeI came here. We had to sail on
the water in ship. Oh ever so large
a ship!"
"Aud what is your name ?" asked.
"The padrone calls me Carmen =
1t was the common story, 1 thought,
of child, an orphan, taken from Italy
to hard life in America. 1 could not
gather any more knowledge of her
earlier life from Jiacomo. who was
standing by. I turned to my paper, to
commence sketching her, when it oc-
Cured to me that necklace would look
pretty on little Carmen. I stepped to
a cabinet, saying:
81 am going to give you necklace,
Carmen. One of bright beads
"Ohl How nice But, see, have
an old one. Only an ugly penny tied
to string"
She removed it from her neck. had
not noticed it before, and..carelessly took
it in my hand. Never was 1 SO sur
prised in my life. The penny, as she
called it, was actually the same coin
that now hangs from NV watch chain