Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-05-06

ana IL COu<u tuEoW ny ooAt ~ W VIZ
Tiber and not one person In the whole
city would recognize the bundle OF
| limp rags as Tomasso the flower seller.
Oh, mother. motherl IL you had lived
| you SON would not be out under the
stars, cold and hungry"
''Ah! but am hungry! There Is no
one to buy these withered vlolets-not
one to care whether am tired or SICK"
and the little form in the picturesque,
tattered garments crouched out OF
sight, and from sheer fatigue was soon
lost TO oil sense OF sorrow or neglect 10
the sound slumber OF innocent child
hood. Up AT the hotel the dance music
throbbed and pulsated. Mr.. Beecher,
moving among the youthful aristocrats
gathered to do honor to his sous birth
day, sighed as he noted the pale, visit
full face OF the the child for whom all
this gayety had been arranged.
Aren't you enjoying yourself, Harold"
he whispered, as be passed by the chair
where the fragile boy sat enthroned in
a suit of black velvet and rich lace
that served to heighten bis interesting
blonde beauty.
"Oh, yes, father; but somehow I
such party to those other children
who never taste bonbons, who never sea
such pretty rooms or wear fac clothes.
The heggars who stand In the court
yard of ST. Peters and the flower SELL
ers on the Corso and the Piazza
D'Espanla."
Little impostors, every one. my son.
II you were to give them such treat,
they would only steal the knickknacks
and would undoubtedly feel much hap
pier IL left alone TO MUNICH their brown
bread In. the alleys and oyway they call
home"
'.But perhaps they haven't any brown
bread 10 munch. | saw u little boy no
older than / out In the Corso to-day,
Offering violets 10 every one, but no.
body would buy, and where bigger aud
stronger fellows got lots OF soldi he
never received even one. de looked
hungry, father, and | believe he really
was, for Simpson says she saw him TO-
night inthe same place crying. IL Is
for such children l would like TO give
my great, big, grand party, that they
would dream OF and talk about long
after | have gone TO that far-awsy
country where mother Is.
Hush, my boyp' said the father.
with panied look, you shall do as
you wish. Tomorrow we will hunt up
this boy, and be and you together can
invite all the walls in Rome, even
though they loot the premises"
Before the boy had chance to an
swer, save by the heightened color Ia
his cheeks and the glad look In his eyes,
commotlon 1t the door announced
something unusual. and 10 another mo-
ment Signor Fsrecci, the great artist
who was painting Harold's picture, en-
tered the brilliantly lighted apartments
bearing in mis- armos the little Tomasso
still asleep so sound asleep that few
there were who looked on the pinehod
and tear-staIned face but felt that per-
haps this was a sleep from which there
was no awakening on this earth.
Pardon. signor," began the artist,
as he noticed the curious look OF his
| host, 81 know this is an unusual pro-
ceedlng, but was obliged TO bring the
child In here, my own studio being TOO
far away on the Piazza Barberina.
Just as | was passing neasrhre spled
q bundle, over which / would
| have stumbled had not just then tho
light shown forthland revealed the pale
face OF child in a faint. Pardon the
transgressIon. but / saw no other way"
and he laid the helpless burden on tho
couch, ringing for stimulants directly.
Nv this time Harold had crossed the
room, attracted by something thazI =
engrossing the entertainment prtEsv
ed, and he pushed his way through' Y.
group around the beggar. Tho ON y
eyes opened, and smile OF conteh
stole over the little unlnvlted guests
face.
FEATHER, II Is the flower seller I told
Won of: see, he is IN and suffering.
Speak to him, SIgnor Fereccl." he said.
turning TO the artist, 'and question
hin abont his life; nc Is not an impos-
tor. / know"
Then in the midst OF that richly
dressed company the wall told In his
sweet, musical voice OF oil those days
and nights OF toll, sorrow aud dlsaE<
pointment since his mother had bee !,
laid q way 20 rest In the picturesque & 4,
cemotry near Civta Veccnla. Tue W. =,
he eagerly swallowed tho profered food
showed that at least his hunger was
not feigued, and Harold with a new In
tersst iluminlng his pale face listened
and pressed his fathers hand In excited
eargerness. Looking at bis child, the
rich American beheld the cure be 20
long had sought--an awakened Interest
I'm others woes and others mlseries.
He saw that 10 restore his child TO
health It needed but work and motive
outside OF his own pampered existence,
and he smiled as ne pressed the little
hand. murmuring: "The child Is wiser
than l."
And TomasSo-what a glorious ume
he had. How he gorged himself with
dalntes. HIS heart beat fast Ia time
TO the music, aud the kind words aud
aud sympathy of those around him made
him clasp his tiny hands sud whisper;
ooh. mother Is this n dreamT But 10
was no dream, for next day 10 whole
suit OF new, clean clothes he started
out with Harold TO bring eladnoss TO
many another orphaned child struggling
with the world unaldsd and alone, and
when at last healthy little Americana
started on his homevard way be took
with him TO lands beyond tho sea The
uuinyitei guest who had been instru-
mental in bringing about tne great
change while out on the Applan Way.
| A quaint old house has been converted
| into a home for the homeless, where
they may 90 a. night instead OF curling
I'D 10 sorrowful despair In the ricketY
| steps OF deserted studios.