San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-07-10


with the lOvelineSs and fresh radiance
which nature gives to those Of her cher
iShed ones. who dwell with her in peace.
i had seen many exquisite women
women of JuIo-like form and face
women whose eyes were baSiliSks TO
draw and compel the souls OF mcn-Out
had never seen any so spiritually fair
as this little peasant maiden, who stood
fearlesSly yet modeStly regarding me
with the innocent inquiry of child who
suddenly sees something new, to which
it is unaCcuStomed. She was a little
fluttered by my earnest gaze, and with
pretty courtesy turned to descend the
hill. ISaid gently
You are going home, fanciulla mia?"
The kind protecting tone in which |
spoke treasured her. She answered
readily.
Isl signor. My mother waits for me
to help her with the Eccellenza's din
ner."
advanced and took the little hand
that held the rosary.
What exclaimed playfully, do
you still work hard, little Lila. even
when the apple season is Over?"
She laughed unsteady.
"Oh! love work. 1t is good for the
temper. People are so cross when the
hands are idle. And many are i'll for
the same reason, Yes, truly" and she
nodded her head with grave Importance,
lit is often so. Old Pietro, the cobbIer,
took to his bed when he had no shoes to
mend yes; he sent for the priest and
said he would die, not for want of
money,-Oh, no! he has plenty,
he is quite rich,-but because he had
nothing to do. So my mother and l
found some shoes with holes, and took
them to him: he sat up in bed to mend
them, and now he is as well as ever!
And we are careful to give him some
thing always"
She laughed again, and again looked
grave,
= Yes Yes!" she said, with a wise
shake of her little glossy head, lone
cannot live without work. My mother
says that good women are never tired, it
is only wicked persons who are lazy.
And that reminds me | must make haste
to return and prepare the Eccellenza's
coffee"
"Do You make my coffee, little One?"
l asked, land does not NincenzO help
you?"
The fainteSt suspicion of blush
tinged her pretty cheeks.
''Oh he is very good, VinCenzO," she
said demurely, with dOwnCast eyes; The
is what we call buOn AMIGO, yes indeed!
But he is often glad when | make coffee
for him also; he likes it so much. He
says | do it so well! But perhaps the
Eccellenza will prefer NincenzO!'
laughed. She was no naive, so ab-
sorbed in her little duties, such a child
altogether.
Nay, Lila, am proud to think you
make anything for me. | shall enjoy it
more now that | know what kind hands
have been at work But you must not
spoil Vncenzo-yOu will turn his head if
you make his coffee too Often
She looked surprised. She dId not
understand. Evidently to her mind Vim
ceDzo was nothing but gOod-natured
young feIlw, whose palate could be
pleased by her culinary skill: she treated
him, dare say, exactly as she would
have treated one of her own sex. She
seemed to think over my words. as one
who considers a COnundrum, then She
apparently gave it up as hopeless, and
shook her head lightly as though dis
missing the subject.
"Will the Eccellenzu visit the PuntC
d'Angelo?" she said brightly, as She
turned to 90.
l had never heard Of this place
and asked her to what she alluded.
at is not far from here" She eX
planned, lit is the view | spoke Of be
fore. Just little further up the hill
you will see fiat grey rock, covered
with blue gentOns. No one knows how
they grow they are always there,
blooming in summer and winter. But it
is said that one of Gods own great an
gels comes once in every month at mid
night to bless the Monte Vergine, and
that he stands on that rock. And of
course wherever the angels tread are
flowers, and no storm can destroy them
not even an avalanche. That is why
the people call it Punto d'Angelo 1t
will please you to see it, Eccellenza, and
1t is but walk Of a little ten minutes -
And with smile and Curtesy as
pretty and as light as a flower might
make to the wind, she left me, half run
ming, half dancing down the hill. and
singing aloud for sheer happiness and
innocence of heart. Her pure lark-lfke
notes floated upward towards me where
stood, wistfully watching her as she
disappeared. The warm afternoon sun.
shine caught lovingly at her chestnut
hair, turning it to a golden bronze, anG
touched up the whiteness of her throat
and arms and frightened the scarlet Of
her bodice, as she descended the grassy
slope, and was at last lost to my view
amid the foliage of the surrounding
trees.