The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-09
they shrieked. "The skies will fall before
the powers in heaven shall let such
cruelty bel''

V.
But no help came from heaven or earth,
and the miller had been right In his fore
boding; and Trottolino, with other lads OF
the district born in the same year with
himself, was forced to 90 in due course to
the neighboring town, and be stripped
and examined, and draw his number like
the rest. The Government wanted men,
and the standard OF hight was lowered,
and even many youths far from healthy
or well shaped were accepted.
Trottolino, who was Of low stature, but
as healthy as two-year-old pony, and rs
admirably shaped as the Faun statue, had
no possible physical chance of escape. lie
drew fatal number and was doomed to
serve. All his agony was OF no avail. He
had to 90.
In vain the women at home went, and
knew that their chief mainstay was TO be
torn from them, for the father was weak
OF health and the elder lad drunkard. II
the wheels OF CONSUMPTION could be stopped
by women's tears, IL would rest inactive
forever all over Europe. In due course he
had TO go.
"You will wait for me, Biondina2" said
the boy 10 his sweetheart, implorngly
"Oh, who knows?" said the girl, lightly
and unkindly 81 could not promise that,
Trottolino. Who can say what ono will
do tomorrow, or next year,"
but II you love me you will wait"
stammcred Trottolino aghast and timid.
"Eh!" said tho little maiden, with n
shrug OF the shoulders 81 like YOU now
you are here; when you are Como chi sa2'
Trottolino did not protest. His spirit
cowcd. All his sunny merry, careless
life was killed in him, as blue lupin
growing in tho grass Is cut down by q
mowers Bcythe. Biondina was cruel but
so was fate. 1t seemed natural, inevitable
that one calamity should come on the top
OF one another, II always WIS so. The
King, or the Virgin, or the Saints, or some
body, was angry with him. and would
have II so. Trottolino was wretchcd un.
spcakably wrctched. but he did not rebel.
The lamb bleats, but goes meekly b the
slaughter SO did he.
And in n little whlc tho village knew
him no more. Tho baker bought the
donkey for quarter OF its value and sent
a man out with the loavcs, u surly, silent,
uninterostcd person, who delivered the
bread us machine might do; the mando-
lin hung on rusty nail for awhile aud
then was sold, too, by the eldest girl that
she might buy II necklace o! colored beals
for herself. The mother and grandmother
sighed and grumbled and wept for the lost
help and the vacant chair. The weeds
grew thick In the little garden and the
SOUP pot rarely saw piece OF meat
what lad he was TO work. never
saw his like, and 80 merry with II all, ~ II
It were 80 much p.ayl" said the baker now
and then, when angry with others, and
Biondina cried little when she heard her
father say thr, and looked wistfully at the
palm With lis knot OF ribbon aud sprlg OF
olive and everlasting flower which Troito.
limo had given her ut Easter, and which
hung over her little narrow bed But no
one can sorrow forever, and Iaondina WIS
a little girl soon consolcd. nnd'belorc long
she ceased 10 give the donkcyil:i apple Ola
least days Tor old remembrance sike, and
began 10 smile OH ono OF her suitors.
Giani MorOnc, or Big Black John. q mas
ter iarrer, who had forge N The other
end OF the hamlet, and was handsome aud
impudcnt aud well 10 do, and who helped
10 draw closer the veil Of oblivion which
absence bad already gathered over the
memory oi the absent.
Poor Trottolino! thought Bionlnl,
sometimes plainiycly; but he had been
only a boy and hal had nothing, and hc
was far aWay-lar away. Who could caro-
for person gone right away into remote,
Invisible, unimaginablc sccncs2 Ills
mother might do that but Biondinn coull
not. Then Clan, the inrrier, had money
aud fine house next his forge, Rll yellow
stucco and green blinds. ~ II IL Wcre
house IN town; aud she would wear bon.
net aud q silk lrock II sho married him,
and have a charwoman TO 10 the dirty
work, aud eat fried liver every day, and
be the envy Of M her companions.
What chance had m,ro memory
against all ihsl Or the mute, pathetic,
smali-lcaycd foprolch OF tha bunch OF
palm and olive hung above her bed!