The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-09
7--7--7l7-e7~7Is-4------
WHEN THE POPE WAS A BOY.
Some New Stories of the Early Child
hood of Pope Leo XIII.

BY Clifton H. Levy.
Il is a long time since Pope Leo XIII
was little boy for it was So years ago
on March ?, that he came into the family
of Col Ludovlco Pecci The colonel and
his beautiful wife lived in palace stu
ated in the little valley OF Carpineto, and
had already been blessed with five sons
and two daughters before little Joachim
Vincenzo was born. For more than 200
years the Peccl family had resided In
Carplneto, fighting hard for Italy when
ever called upon, but by no means rich,
though their palace was comfortable.
Their fare was simple, for dinner soup,
roast of beef or fowl ana fruit. The chill
dren ate nothing but eggs and milk.
Little Nincenzo, or Nino, as he was
called, mad for his playmate and elder
brother John Baptista, called Titta for
short, who was always building affairs and
playing at church. While Nlno was most
fond of horses, yet the wild Nno was to
become Pope, while Titta was to marry
and take his fathers place in Carpineto.
The boys soon found the palace too small
for them and often with father and moth
er they ran over the hills near their home.
One day Nno and his father was walking
on one of the mountains, and the faoher
was pointing out the beauties of nature
to the boy. There Is Aquino in the dis
lance and there Montecassino," said the
count for he had been raised to this rank.
Here Nino broke in: "Aquino where the
father of the church. St. Thomas was
born; Montecassino, where he learned to
read and write. Babbo, can't 1 go there
TO learn as he did, how a man should
read and writer"
The count questioned Vincenzo further
and learned that the child then years
old, knew tho story of st. Thomas Aquinas
as well as he did that of Napoleon, who
was then the scourge of Europe. When
the count told his wife about II he said !:
Il am disappointed; l wanted to make d
soldier of him, a general at least"
WELL what Is the difference? You may
make a Pope of him instead" his mother
answered.
In fact, the straight, 1.-THE little fellow,
with his eager face and happy. laughing
eyes, gave promise of a knight of the
first order. But his taste seemed to run
toward the church. so father and mother
in family council, decided to send him and
his brother Joseph to the Jesuit college
at Viterbo. The Count thought little of
the prospects of the youngest and said:
Yes, Joseph may become a Jesuit; but
Nino win return and become the priest of
Carpneto." But their mother knew her
children better: you are wrong. Joachim
Will become Pope, Joseph will be a cardi-
nal and then trust you will be satisfied"
1t was a little while before this that
an incident occurred showing the kind
heartedness of the future Pope He had
been to Anagui a neighboring village,
with his tutor. While they were driving
back home he saw a poor boz with torn
and dirty clothes lying on a stone by the
roadside. Nino stopped the carriage
jumped out and ran up to the poor boy,
saying: What's the matter with you? Is
your leg broken?"
II don't know" the shepherd lad replied
as the tears ran down his dirty cheeks.
Ten minutes ago one of the shepherds
was driving his cart fast through the
street, and before 1 could jump cut of the
way it knocked me down and the wheel
ran over my ankle. The man didn't listen
to my cries, but drove right on. o, how It
hurtsv
Joachim ran to a hollow where there
was small brook filed his cap with its
clear water, and gave it to The boy to
drink. Then he washed his foot and tied
it up with his white linen handkerchief.
Where do you liVeY' said Nino.
"Way over there" said the boy.
'You can't get there like this. Come
to Carplneto with me, and we wlll help
you" The poor boy smiled and lmped to
the carriage, leaning on The arm Of his
benefactor.
what are you doing now. Joachim"
said his tutor.
What am I doing? What every true
Christian ought to do, 1 am helping the
unfortunate Could we leave this poor lit
lie wounded boy here helpless on the
road?"
do you want to take him home? What
will father and mother say?"