The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-12-17
PIETRO

Pietro's parents lived In Florence.
that most beautiful city OF Italy. They
were poor and had many children-so
many. In fact that Gerardo grumbled
not little when the baby Pietro was
laid In his arms.
'One more mouth to feed. he said.
when there is not enough food in tho
house now for half OF them"
He laid the baby down with an i'm
patient sigh and went out to the near
est tavern. Bread cost but one small
silver piece. while the drink was two.
but Gerardo silenced his conscience
, Qf he had any by rejecting that the
liquor braced him up much more than
the bread would have done.
1t began with tho day OF Pietro's
birth and never seemed to quite pass
away-this idea that he was in the
way. He was neglected cutfed and
blamed for all the mischievous pranks
OF his brothers the consequence OF
which was he grew up a slender. deli
cate boy. hungry for love and kind
treatment which needless to say. he
never received. Yet am quite sure
he could not have told you what he
wanted. He would not have known
how to express It. He grew up an
outcast-a pariah from human love
and tenderness.
Hes fool people said OF him,
and his father fully agreed that it
was so. He's fool 7" they said and
having thus satisfied their own minds
they lost no time in telling Others I'M
til 1t was generally conceded through
out their neighborhood that Ger
ardo's last boy was perfect fool!''
Indeed. he did not seem like the
other children. They were full OF
life and animal spirits as children
should be; ready for fight at any
moment and always boisterous and
noisy. Pietro would steal away by
himself and stay for hours They
watched him once to see where he
went and followed. him up to the big
cathedral OF St Marks where they
found. him. with wrapt looks and
hushed breath. listening to the great
organ. The organ. with its grand
throbbing music pleased him far more
than the beautiful singing. He was
home and only recovered when they
permitted him to worship the beloved
organ once mole.
Hes fool" they all said with
one accord.
: "A bigger fool than we thought
him " they agreed.
One day an Englishman who was
sojourning in Florence was strolling
through St Marks admiring the
beautiful paintings and listening to
the music when he came upon little
boy sitting half hidden against pill
lara little boy with q most woebe-
gone face. The tears rolling down
each side had washed two white
paths through, the dirty little face
making him look moro forlorn and
uncare1 for than ever. The English
man could talk like native and was
SO struck by the intense beauty OF the
great mournful eyes and quivering
lips through which the breath came
| in quick. short gasps that he un-
consciously drew nearer. intending to
speak.
The boy made such picture sit
ting as he did where the purple light
from one OF the great windows bathed
him In amethyst glory. with his dirty
little face turned toward the organ
loft and the mournful brown eyes
full 10 Overlooking. drinking in seem
ingly the glorious music that the
man felt like an intruder and stopped
for o moment lost in admiration. The
| music rose and fell and died away
| and little Pietro came back to earth
once moro and rose from his seat by
the pillar ready to go back home.
Then IL was that he saw the stranger
"a man who looked at him with
kind inquiring eyes and who asked
his name. Pietro answered him. full
OF amazement He felt very awk-
ward in the light OF those kindly eyes.
do you like musicp' the stranger
asked.
.Oh. love it" Pietro answered.
with kindling eyes.
will you come and see me. PietroP
want 10 talk with you. Can you
| play the organp Vlolinp Harp? Pcr-
haps you sing?"
Pietro shook his head to each one
OF the questions and the ever-ready
tears began TO fall
'Never mind. perhaps you will
some day. ! have many musical In