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

and the terrified Nina calling foudiy TO Tim
he broke from Pietro's grasp and rushed
upon deck. His sister instantly threw her
self into his arms, crying out, 30, Pippo,
we are lost We are lost ! The chip is goiug
out of port"
1t was, indeed, too true the steamer
was already many yards from the ehore,
and Pippo looked for some time in speech
less amazement from the land to the ship
and from the ship back again to the land
then he ran to the companion ladder and
shouted ont, "Pietro Pietro come up for
the love Of God and all His Saints, or the
sbip will be halfway to Genoa, and we
| shall never get back"
Pietro, however, either did not or would
not hear, for he returned no answer and
PippO ran down the ladder, closely follow
ed by Nina. They found Pietro apparently
as mach frightened as themselves. "What
is to become of usf What shall We do
Why did you not call us when you heard
the bell riDgiDgi" said he, hurriedly, to
Nina.
~ called you as soon as ever the ship
began to move," said poor Nina, "but you
would not take any notice of me-"
tThat was not enough" he answered,
impatiently, "you should have called when
the way to Genoa. She stops at no port
nearer than that"
Nina began to cry most bitterly at hear
| ing this, and PippO besought Pietro to go
and ask the captain to hail q boat which
might take them back to town but he
assured him it was impossible, for the cap
| tain was too busy at that moment to pay
any attention to what he said yet at last,
as if moved by their looks of desclation, he
| told them to remain quietly below, and he
would GO to the commanding officer and
see what could be done. He aoon returned, i,
however, with very disconsolsse fsee,
saying that the captain not only refused to
| put them ashore, but even threatened, If
they tessed him any more, to make them
pay for their passage as if they bad made
the voyage of their own free will.
AS they we're without money, this threat
was quite sufficient to keep them quiet /;
and when he found they were inclined to
submit with patience, he tried to cheer
them with the assurance that they woald
soon be at Genoa, and that they could
easily make their way across tho country
from thence to their native village in about
four or fl We days.
give days!" sighed Nina. "Oh, how
long will that time appear to our mother
and Gelsomina J"
land how are we to subsist all that
time, Mr.. Pietro," said the boy, ''since we
have no money, and you say you have
none either 7"
"I have it," cried Pietro, as if struck by
very bright idea. "I will get barrel
organ for You, and q msrnot for Nina and
as we 60 through the villages everybody
will give Us a supper and a bed for merry
tune and peep at Nina's pretty white
pet"
1t did not occur to either of the poor
children that, if Mr. Pietro had no money
to pay their passage back from Genoa, he
could certainly have none to buy them 8
marmot and q barrel-organ but it did
suggest itself to them that Pippo could mo-
, play merry tunes on the musical instru
, ment he named, since he had never in hii
/ life seen one of the kind and this sad fac
r they stated in tones of great doubt ant
anxiety. AT this Pietro only laughed, ant
| said it required no great cleverness, and h
, could teach them both how TO do it in les
amusement you will find it," he added
'and as to Nina, che will soon grow q
fond of her marmot that she will nsver b
, able to part with it again." Nina's fac
> frightened at the prospect of her fntur
favori.e, and she said
0 "May feed it every day, Mr.. Pietro
] and may give it to little -Gelscmina. Q
soon as I see her f-she will be 80 glad
o have such dear little thing to pet"
It "Oh, certainly" said Pietro, ''you ca
give it to Gelsomina-when you see he
& again" he added in an under tone. II
then advised the children to lie down in
J, corner of the cabin, and try to get ae muc
l. rest as they could before their arrival &
,, Genoa.
g Nina wished frat to say her night-prsy
is ers.
II "Psbaw!" said Pietro, impatiently
sit is early morning still !; what do yc
;" want to say your night-prayers for ~
!; :'Nina is right" said Pippo, gravel
80 tWe say our night prayers that Almlgh
God may watch over us during our sleef
2, and, sleeping or waking, We need His pr
" lection as much in the daytime as we do
" the night" He took Nina's hand, al
h. they knelt and said few short and simp
30 prayers together. Then they lay dow
of side by side on the floor of the cabin Pi
tro threw large cloak over them, al
er they were soon fast asleep.
DO 1t was dark night when they landed
DO Genoa; and Pietro led the bewilder
ar children up one street and down anoth
on until they reached eanlooking inn !;
spoke few words to a man standing
ly the door, who instantly led them to roc
on come supper and when they had partak
he of it he pointed to a bed at the other eud
on the room, and told them to try to get sol
rer sleep, while he went out to procure {
In oroan apd the marE1Ot, They glad