Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-21
LIGIO'S LION. g
by CASSIE MI. LYME

II that Jungle Of poverty. Indefinitely
known IS the Bowery. In s. squaliid Ten
crnent on Mulberry street, little ltsio
6rst saw the light. as Il percolated the
rusty spider-wchl>eo window, in which
sst Natalie's tcnlato-can containing a bit
cf Ecranium. that was her pride until
the event OF I-igio. Then all else was for
gotten, with the extra care of a baby.
Tor the go0ng mother helped her mo-
cher in the Workshop.
They were toy-rnakers
All the year round busily thcv worked
preparing the glad surprises for Christ
mss tide. Painting the cheeks OF the d olis
atuia0S the calico cats, making humps
On cameis, and g!ueing names and tails
On hotsei such was their pastime.
Others OF their race-cousins. aunts.
brothers. and sisters lahored with then,
haddleo together like only foreigners
Merrity they soiIed. singing often at
their tasks. FOR they were satisfied 10
DC earning money, although their small
wages Drought them few comforts and
poverty was Their heritage Only few
Of them were anxious for different
life, only q few had become sufficiently
-Araeric2uizeG 10 think OF amassing mo-
rcg- But Ptetro was one Of theso-he was
ambitious and so was Natalie his wife
Their leard-earned dollars were care
tU.iy boarded away.
Present Incontcnienccs were uncom-
psairtnGiy endured They both looked
anglngiy forward 10 q different future
3 which arose q snug Yttle home nest
ga in vineyard and DcrnaDs q wine
}vess or their very own
Natalie plCtyiTing to herself the dark.
ich green OF the vines and deep purple
Int of the ecares. would sing more
Iheeriiy over Der drCgdery, Pietro. too.
enjoyed his vein of thought Despite
The desire for gain which had brought
LIN across tht ocean. his heart would
travel back 20 ,she A3han mountains with
he Campo Ena stretching below. filled
Etth olive orchards and vineyards. Bur
s-oTk meant M oney and money may be,
might mean & return 10 the old DAYS:
Renee Pistro struggled and Natalir
struggled and ,only Idgio was lazy.
When scarcity more than q baby. he
had been put 70 work pulling the bast-
IT'S threads oSt OF the dolls dresses
Whict4 Natalie made As soon as he
grew biS enough his little brown hands
were kept huSit stuffiing calico dogs and
bingham cats StT rich peoples children's
amusement. "A hard lot ii seemed 10
Iisio, SO that he grew TO hate the cats.
10 hate the dogs to hate the vork-shoD
Then It happened. one day the little Ita.-
ian was missing. Nobody knew where
h was until night came On and the no.
ta-ous old MatIco. who generally In
rered 81 the grog-shop. brought him
home
8Iatteo was hardly betfcr than vaga-
bnnd save that re won a few pennies
hawking his wares. AND these wares!
We're they not SIS worthless as old Mat
leo himself? And vet. Lirlo loved them.
They were limitations in plaster Paris or
re-nous statues, hut Ltgio CID not know
mat re only knew they were beauti-
ful. He often wondered w-aen looking
~r1l.l arms broken of. The Giadiator's
gsct1listic attitude wes no1 70 the little
fellows paciEc tnsto. for Tigio with his
Zig luminous eyes. ard curly. black hair
T2E q dreamer. 4 strange Wild long
fig. strongly cherished, but not clearly
celned fingered in his breast. It was
she awakening Of his taient-the fntirna-
lions o% the sculptor. When not follow
Sag old hTatteo with his basket Of figures
the boy would slip across 70 East river.
not 70 seek the society 81 wharfrats but
Ene meaning OF the water and splash Of
&t1c waves ssen7ed to scothe the longing
e his soul
Ills nature was = mystery which The
good Natalie could not understand ana
with which The ambitious Pistro had lit
Vie tolerance.
The mother di6 Eli IN her power TO pre-
vent collision between father and son, and
yet il came.
EpIsttde was approaching. On. Of tbs
big department stores, disappointed in re-
-etving toys from Nuremberg. had secured
the Bowery 70 meet the. pressing demands
~ the season; so that the toy-sh0p in
kulberry street worked day and night TO
vi fresh orders.