The Portland daily press., 1883-12-25

tnem to have such long names that cost nc
more than short ones.
But the most remarkable member of The
Belleti family was Giuoco, the monkey.
Minnie and Dora called him Jocko. which
was as near as they could come to Paolina'
soft Italian word.
"All-a-raight," she told them, "'is name
meana play. meana joke-you hilliv' i'm
foonie!'
Giuoco belonged to Paolina's uncle Bep
pc, who sometimes visited at the house. He
was in the habit of drawing up his should
ers as The had on velvet cloak and saying
that he was nobleman in bis own country,
and so quite refused to help Mr.. Belletti in
the plasterer's shop. He liked journeying,
be said, and took handorgan and the mon
key for company whenever he went on his
travels. 1t had been remarked to him by
Mr.. Belletti, few weeks before the time of
this story, that he was mouth without
hands; and uncle Beppo took the hint,
shipped as a sailor, and left Giuoco in the
care of Paolina. She was very fond of the
monkey, and to do him justice, he was quite
worthy of it. He was obedient, ready to
follow his little mistress wherever she went,
and never bit or scratched the twins. Pao-
lima had made the monkey a red flannel
dress, with large pockets in it, and trimmed
it with blue wooden braid; he had a yellow
silk cap and bit of velvet ribbon with a
little bell lit, around his neck Paolina
washed him and brushed his hair with an
old plaster-brush, and enjoyed her live doll
quite as much as if he had been made of
wax or bisque.
Now that the little readers know all about
Minnie and Dora and Paolina and their
homes, let us go back to the long icy slide
and hear what the little girls were talking
about.
Tomorrow is Christmas, you knows
said Dora, 'and we call tonight Christmas
eve.''
''Christmas-iv, yes,' said Paolina.
''We go to bed early tonight because
proceeded Dora. but Minnie began to talk
too, for fear Dora should tell it all.
VERY early, before eight O'Clock some
| times. so as to be quite asleep when Santa
Clans comes"
800 it is" asked Paolina, "Santo Cloz?''
"Santa Claus" explained Dora, cot
course there isn't one exactly, but he is a
nice little old man dressed in fur, and he
rides in little sleigh drawn by reindeer,
| with silver bells, and he comes down the
chimney, and if you hang up your stocking
by the side of the fireplace he puts Christ.
mas presents in it,
Pao!ina opened her great black eyes very
wide. Sow he is good, more good as la
Befana," she said.
| Minnie wanted to know about la Befana
but Paolina's English was scarcely equal to
the occasion, and she passed over the sub.
ject slightly as san uglie old woman Eat live
always, and must walk always, she bringa
sometime sugarplum, Santo Cloz more
good"
"Of course" Dora went on, "papa and
mamma give us our incest presents, but we
hang up our stockings for the fun of it, and
we always find candy and ribbons and little
dollies in them when we wake up Christmas
morning."
''Would I, too?" asked Paolina; Amer
leans are kind, would your saint AVE
leeta dollie for me, you billiv'?n
II shouldn't be surprised if you had some
Christmas presents" said Dora with ex
| IRENE soberness.
"Oh, yes, Paolina, think you will have
some" said Minnie encouragingly, and end
ing with squeal and laugh, for Dora
pinched her because they had some very
nice presents all ready to give to Paolins
when the right time should come. Dora
laughed because Minnie laughed, and Paoli-
ma always laughed if there were no particu-
lar reason that she should not laugh.
"And if you're going to finish papa's shay
ing leaves, Dora," said Minnie, swe must
go home now; and mammals needle-book
isn't done either, for 1 haven't pinked the
leaves. Goodby, Paolina-oh, nearly for
got mammals message; will your mother
please come over tonight after tea, and
mamma will show her how to cut out your
sacque."
|
making their Christmas presents, and Pao-
lima stood looking after them, till she heard
the twins crying and fastened in to find Gil
uoco to dance for them.
Soon after tea, Mrs. Belletti came to Mrs.
Morris's house to learn how to cut saclue
for Paolina. Of course Pa6lina came with
her, for Mrs. Belletti knew no English, and
Mrs. Morris no Italian except the titles Of
several operate selections, which she found
of very little use when Mrs. Belletti needed
practical advice. Giuoco came too. he was
of social nature and enjoyed visiting
friends who appeared to be rich and gener
Gus with nuts.
After the sacque was cut out and pinned
together, and fitted to Paolina, Mrs. Morris
gave Mrs. Belletti a package of useful things
and then the italian woman put on hel
shawl and called her little daughter to &c
home. But Paolna was not quite ready
Minnie and Dora had invited her to 90 up
stairs to their room to see how they had
hung their stockings by the fireside, in read
mess for the coming of Santa Claus.
perhaps your mamma would like te
come too" suggested Minnie.
Paolina spoke to her mother in Italian
and Mrs. Belletti glanced with shy, pretty
look at Mrs. Morris
"Come, we will all go up" said Mrs. Nor.
ris, 'lead the way, Minnie
Upstairs they all went, Giuoco hopping
after them.