The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-04-07

IHtst iippO hfhOSt tCHSGu 10 DO "a tEafe'cE
himself; but the gentle Nina still sighed !
for her mother and little Gelsomina, and
at the close of every day her question was
still the came "MF. Pietro when shall we
be at home again 7" AT first Pietro always
answered with great confidence. "In five or
elk daye, my pretty Nina" Five OF elk
days, however, passed away and W ben the
children saw no signs of their native viii
lage, Or of tho mountain built church for
which they always looked Rs an uDfaiiing
landmark, they began to doubt Mr.. Pietro's
boasted knowledge of the country ; and
he himself appeared to grow uncertain as
to the road they ought to pursue until the
tenth day when he acknowledged that he
had completely lest his way, and did not
even know what part Of Italy they were in
at that moment. They were mute with
terror as they listened to this avowal; and
Pietro, mistaking their silence for indiffer-
ence, proceeded TO enlarge on the beauty
of foreign copntres, and assured them that
if they still chose to tEust themselves to
his guidance he would take them to a dis
tapt land called England, where, by meaDs
of the organ and tue mermot, they could
make q great deal of money, and return
towards the end Of next Summer rich and
happy to their mother aud G.. somiDs.
Pippo at first was inclined tn follow this
advice, but Nina wept as size answered:
"Towards the end of next simmer, Mr..
PiesTo Our mother will be dead with
watching and with weeping long before
next summer comes. Oh, take us home,
Mr.. Pietro. take US home, beseech you, to
our mother and Gelsominaw
Pippo's heart was softened at the sight
of his sister's tears, and he also said, "Take
Us home, Mr.. PietFo, sorrow and misfortune
will follow you If you take children from
their mother take US home beseech you"
To all their entreaties Pietro coldly re-
piled that they might do as they pleased;
he himself was going to England: they
might try to find their way back if they
chose bnt ho could not waste any more
time upon them, and 30 saying he walked
suilenly forward.
Unhappy children! what could they do
Even the society of Pietro was less terrible
to them than the prospect of being left to
| wander alone through this strange country,
| 30 they followed him with dropping heads
and tagging footsteps, and Pippo, for the
| first time, complained of the great weight
! of the organ, and of the manner in which it
had CALLED his shoulder. Poor Nina would
! willingly have tried to carry it for him,
but this he would not suffer her to do; and
she could only walk slowly at his side, and
| endeavor to cheer him by kind words,
though her little marmot was almost
drowned in the tears which she shed while
| she was speaking.
| When Pietro found the children were in
| clined to submit to his wishes, he joined
| them, and tried to raise their spirits by his
! DrOmiBob Iuo AuLuI09 OuU bhoS OOAio NV
trust him any longer; and, while they lie
tened to him in silent sadness, Nina threw
away her wild flowers, and twined gar
land of cypress and holly. "Our mother
has offered many sad-colored wreath to
the Madonna before now," said she to her
brother, tive also will lay this one at Mary's
feet the first time we meet her image on
the road" The evening, however, was
closed in before they met with statue oi
the Blessed Virgin and Child; but as soon
as they perceived one, the desolate chill
dren knelt down and with sighs and tears
, laid their garland at her feet. Nina fell
comforted by this little act of devotion
and she put her arms round her brother'l
: neck, and whispered softly, "Let us bt
, good and patient, Pippo, and perhaps ever
, the cruel Pietro will at last have pity upoI
, us. What comfort it ia to think that th'
, last time we ever heard Mass was in th,
church of our Lady of Dolors, for che, VIII
was Mother of many sorrows, will surely
a feel compassion for us, the most sorrowfu
} children she has upon earth"
Pippo kissed hls sister. and assured he
, of his resolution to support their misfor
= times with patience and Pietro calm
a them to come on, they obeyed his sum
a mons with as much cheerfulness as the
b could assume.
I They never broke this good resolution
though Pietro Was often unkind and come
: times even brutal in his manner toward
them, and though Pippo's shoulder ever
day became more painful, aud Nina's fee
a more sweled and sore from constant walk
ing. They endured still greater hardsbiI
y after they entered the mountains; the col
" wind pierced them through and through
:: aud their thin summer garments wei
- unable to preserve them from the emo
n which fell heavily even at this early periO
d of the autumn. Pietro grew more morot
le than ever, and he often rallied at their wal
n of strength, which had delayed them I
- long upon the road as to render the pa
ID sage of Mount st. Bernard anything b'
safe. 1t was in vain, however, to urt
at them to greater speed-the difficulty ar
ID danger increased with every step the
Or took land, at the close of one snowy ds
1e fndipg themselves still many leagues fro
in the monastery, towards which their cour
m was directed, they were forced to se'
or shelter for the night in deserted hut son
sp way lower down the mountain. The
of provisions were all exhausted, they had
oe fuel to make fire, and the shivering chi
he dren lay down upon the frozen floor al
Iv tried to forget their sorrows in sleep.