The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-07-05
SAINT zITA AND THE BEGGAR
A Lovely Legend We Picked Upn in
Bozzanello-The Candle that the
Angels Set to Burn Forever,

st. ZHa was Il little Italian wirl
who hved away back in the thirteenth
century-the time of crusades and
tournaments and troubadours. Of
aSrave knights and beautiful ladies,
ad OF poetry. But one would think
1A&att there could be little poetry in
ssss life of St. Zita; for she was only
81 8s&A&tle servant maid, who spent all
her days scrubbing floors and wash
ing dhShes, dusting and running OF
errands. jAnd not every little girl who
sweeps uh ashes and sits in the CHM
ney corncr&an turn out to be a Cind-
erella with y coach and four. Yet
there were storiS. told Of strange and
beautiful thingsf that happened to St.
aZita, and her naHne is still dear to the
people who live in thc little town
where it all took place. This was the
tiny village Of Bozzanello in Italy,
the fairest coun!ry Of the world In
summer the skies are blue all day
long, and the air is full of perfume
and the song Of birds. The village lies
on the slope Of Mount Sagratc, and
all about are green vineyards and Or
chards and groves of olive trees,
whose fruit is made into oil and sent
to the town Of Lucca, nine miles
away. After all it is poetry enough
just to live in land where one
brcathcs little poem all the time,
and where one sees poetry all about
in flowers and sunshine, and glimpses
across the blue, blue Italian sea.
But Iita had still more poetry than
this in her life. More than anything
else she loved to go to church. She
loved tic singing and the lights and
the great rolling organ music; she
loved tho beautiful words Of the
hymns, and the arches above her
,Ehead: for they made her feel that she
bwas herself Il part Of this wonderful
poem of praise. And when all is said,
this was the finest poetry in the
world, even in those romantic times,
and not even the knights and their
fair pr;nccsscs had more.
Ii:a's parents were poor, so she
had to go out to earn her bread while
she was still very young. They sent
her to be a little maid in the family
Il. OF kind nobleman, Cont Pa"ano de
and here she lived and was
sa$i ~ and contcnted, for they loved
@N*carly, and were good to her al
| 0Gt Still, she had to work hard,
= Y*G>jsometimes she grew very weary
-; Yre the long day was done. But
shth was never too tired to go to
s(hS rch every morning, and on Sun
tfs Us and holy days beside. She was
fA er too sleepy or lazy, for this
M H. her chiefest pleasure, indeed al
@ st the only one she had.
A Wow, one Christmas Eve Zita was
"a ig to hear the carols sun" in the
# (:tge church. 1t was very cold, and
master did not think she was
'83 Nssed waYmly enough. So the Count
BIT for his beautiful cloak, lined
h purple satin and clasped with
gsHid clasps. And just as she was
out he stopped her, saying,
I'd "Hcre, little Zita, you must wear
Wmy cloak tonight, or YOU will be
Ecnld. But take care that YOU brin" it
ESalely back to me. for il is very pre-
Hcious.' Zita thanked him. promising
to be careful, and hurried away. fol
1 she was already late. When she
reached the church the doors were
l closed and everyone else had gone in
She was hurrying through the porch
n Awhcn she felt some one pull corner
Bof her lrcSs. Turning about she saw
m bc9gar crouchin" in the snow. Hc
Evas poor cripple, and looked very
Eick and old. His face was blue with
Bold and his blue, numb hands trcm-
Blcd as he held them up, asking pit
Eously for a little gift on Christmas
Hvc. Now Zita was poor herself, and
he had nothing to give. But it made
lie tears come into her eyes to sec
.4Rim so cold and miserable. If only he
ould wait until the rich people came
~ ut Of church, warm and happy, and
Il of kindly Christmas spirit, she
new that they would give generous
NY. But meanwhile lie might freeze
&fo death in the snow. What coul(
S$hc do for him9 a sudden thought
Sss qme to her! One had been kind tt
81, n; she would pass the kindness on