The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1891-04-15
HOME AND YOUNG FOLKS.
For the Central Presbyterian
Bettina Mazzi.
A True Story of 1869.
BY MILDRED c. WATKINS.

burned, for her home had been away
up in the Alps but now she was
in the town, and if she kept on liv-
ing thus, her checks promised to
become very white and sunken.
Poor child up in the mountains
her life had been as free as the
chamois her father hunted. Theonlv
girl, she had grown up as almost
another boy among her brothers,
scaling with light tread the steepest
cliffs; but now hour after hour she
is cooped up in dingy little room,
weaving with tired but skiiful fin
gers braided hats.
How had it all come about?
Well, it was when Italy was try
ing to free herself from Austria. and
Bettina's father and brothers had
shouldered arms and marched off,
to be killed the very first year of
the war. These dreadful disasters
were followed by others. Bettina's
mother moved down to the city
to carry on the trade of lace
making, which she had learned
in nunnery in her girlhood, but a
cataract came on her eye, and pow
erty, furnishing poverty, stared the
family in the face.
A distant cousin offered to take
Bettina to help her in hat-braiding.
Some one else took her twin brother,
Marco; and the little Pietro, her
sweet crippled brother, whom she
loved with her whole passionate
southern heart, had to stay all
day by himself while her mother
went out to work in the fields. So
they were all scattered, and Bettina
never heard from them, unless a
chance acquaintance came through
the village, for none of them knew
how to write, and they had no mon
ey to buy stamps, if they had
known. All those were sad DAYS
for the little peasant girl only one
consolation did she have. and that
was very singular one. Her
cousins house adioined the church,
and every evening when she was al
lowed a minute 10 rest, she would
climb the belfry tower to catch first
glimpse Of Mantua, where were
the dear mother and Pietro, then to
look towards the grand mountains.
for up there i'm the high belfry she
could see for miles She felt more
at home, too, up i'm the fresh air, and
often she would creep outside to the
gilded BAH and cross, nearly one
hundred and fifty feet from the
pavement below.
The old belfry was her especial
prayer-place; when the longing to
see Pietro, Marco, and her mother
would sweep over her, away she
would fly, if possible, to the top of
the steeple.
The priest had said one Sunday,
''If YOU want your prayers answered
you must get near to God and heav-
en- he who is nearest will be earliest
answered"
"The belfry height is the very
nearest I can get" whispered Bet
tina to herself, II shall say all my
prayers there that / can"
One day somebody told her that
there was a good doctor at Rome
who could cure her mothers eye,
and perhaps, heal the crippled
Pietro.
Bettina clasped her hands.
"Thank the good God, tomorrow
is Sunday / shall pray all day that
we may 90 to- the wonderful doctor.
eyes, but it costs so much,
whole fortune"
"Then shall pray for themoney."
Her cousin laughed "You viii
never climb near enough to heaven
for money 10 drop into your apron" .
But Bettiua's faith was strong. Early
she climbed to the top, fervontly f.
sheprayed, when suddenly The boom .
of cannon shook the earth
Boom after boom resounded, she
could see not far off the armies
mastering for not far off was the
scene of the battle of Solferino.
The roar of cannon and the sight .
of soldiers was not unusual for the .
Austrian troops had been stationed I.
near the village, and their flag was
now flying right above Bettinas .
head.
She watched the battle breath 7.
lessly, until shell bursting against .
the church warned her of her dam
ger, and If was well She escaped, .
for by evening the shattered joists .
and splintcred beams" of lhe belfry .
showed how often it had been /.
struck.