Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-21
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Then. as L'eio did not help, but con-
unucd TO traipse or with the disreputa-
o.e OLD Mattco; inc rupture cara, as
Natalie feared It would. Pietro. using
not only hard words but blows. pade the
BOY De gone for good and shift for him
| SELF
The nother-love prompted Nata,ie's fol-
lowing Ligfo, and offering to set him up
with peanut vendors outfit But he
only Shock his head sadly. for tears so
caoked his voice he could not speak, and
hurriediy kissing her cheek. he slipped
away.
Come back. my little one, on Christ
massive" called Natalie. in the soft Ital-
ian, which was the only language known
10 her
Come back and see If the christ-ch.ld
will not bring thee a gift!''
fastening back to her work, the tears
fell thick and fast on the puppets che
was dressing to make other children hap
Ply. while her own little Ligio had become
an o3tcast.
Old Matteo now adopted Ligio in much
the same way that a street-cat would
befriend stray kitten, and this friend
ship. poor though It might seem, was
better than none at all
The boy YVES useful to him. RE would
slt for hours guarding the statues. &C
casionalIy selling some. giving old Mat
teo a chance tc slip off to talk with his
cronies, or warm himself in the grog-
gerry.
Lieio always parted with the statues
reluctantly, they were his companions, his
friends. With Inc love Of q sculptor, he
admired theil beauty. and OF all the casts
tbs Lion of Lucerme was his favorite.
Knowing naught OF the history It com
incorporated. yet the dying lion appealed
70 him strangely am nou5 to wti b5
touched. responsive with q fellow-feel-
Ing, was the complete helplessness of
the portrayal. Ligio's plying love need
ed no explanation OF the tragedy-he
could understand without words!
He knew nothing Of the story OF
Beauty and the Beast, nor had he ever
defending Marie ,Antoinette, yet he al
ways associated the statue OF the Lion
with the stature Of the Venus. Shadowy.
dim end vague the idea came TO him
the woman who was SO helpless. Fe
known how II really happened. but there
his own legend. stumbling as 1t were
almost upon the truth.
The afternoon OF Christmas-Eve found
close by the side Of Old Matteo The
street was alive with shoppers. footing
OF horns blending with the hubbub CT
voices. faktrs crying their wares. and
rins with meTriment, white lights from
hundreds OF windows. bedecked with
spruce and holly. streanlcd on the nov
snowfaEes had begun to fall. at first
doHny-lil1e tiny feathers. but changing
soon 10 frozen drops Of crystal, making
the streets slippery with slaet. Now
and then passer halted to price
statue. Already the Venus and Gladia-
tor had been exchanged for silver and
it was the last one old Matteo had. The
possibility. OF his parting with It seemed
very terrible to the lad, who had grown
to love the lion better than aught else
in the world except his mother. Thoughts
OF Natalie brought TO his mind her words
about coming home to see II the Christ
Child would bring him gift. He slls-
pected that already she had baked the
constituted their feast instead Of the
plain. everyday rye bread. It made him
hungry TO think about it and anxious to
so. The probability OF the Christ Chi
feet as TO what ne. would rather have
were he allowed to choose. Though many
beautiful things shone In the windows
OF the big stores. yet Ltgio coveted none
which he wished to possess. and tina
Mostly the multitude continued 70
pass. Some bought nosegays OF briPi
attracted more by the child's beauty
than The flowers; for the spirit OF chart
and good VIII towards all mankind was
abroad in the great business hustle OF
New York.
Even little Ligio. benighted though he
was. felt his heart futtering with this
spirit OF Love universal. He wondered
il the morrow held any pleasure in store