The sun., 1910-02-27

which the contract had 70 oe renewed N
case the chIld should remain with his em-
ployef: IL had not been an easy task 70 pro-
cure the necessary papers.
Pretty letters came from England: en-
thusiastic descriptions OF visit bo BTlEhtcm:
Il saw there two sea lions: they are also
srtistA although their singing is not at all
nice. but they can sit on armchairsi- Every
letter sends kind and loving compliments
TO -Madama TO mol
-.-
u.
few months later was astonished BY
summons to appear at the royal questurA
to answer a criminal accusation. confess
that was greatly astonlshed.' It was In
tho hottest time Of hot Roman summer
had remained to take care Of my dispensary
aud had not cat that could consult (nly
own cat and kittens knew as little about law
and tribunals as I did. On the precise day
at the precise hour appeared before the
Quest0r OF Rome and had a long paper read
10 me Of which only understood the fact
that was accused OF illegal eale OF q child. '
confess that was wordless from aston
ishmenti A blond young man read 70 me
the whole very voluminous act OF accusa-
tion for having sold Pietro, minor. TO man.
Mundstcdt, for the sum OF - francsi
Shall confess that was dumb for about
four minutes and half3 Then i asked the
polite young man to listen TO my tale. I
told him how we had &C Rome one music
school that IL was very expensive. and for
that reason had thought IL convenient
to send young Pietro abroad to study sing
ing In a place where instead OF having TO
pay for the teaching he was paid the sum
mentioned In the accusation for the learn
ing and for being taught to gain the daily
bread aud the butter 10 put upon it for him.
self and his fond pa and ma.
The polite young man was greatly struck
by my discourse and wrote page after page
while sat quietly on my chair: and he
wss still more struck when I told him that
1 admired his style very much. but his fervid
inns ginstion still more, for In mis- disQuisi-
ton there was not q word OF what had
told him. He proposed to write another
perhaps more true 70 history.
but very calmly thanked him for his kind
pess and said Il did not matter In the least.
Another hot summer month had elapeed
and had not again given one thought 10
The whole affair when suddenly received
\ paper, this time from tho tribunal, order
Ing me to appear the next day as accused
Of the crime Of the sale OF o child. &C. This
time had had enough Of IL. and instead Of
myself before the Judges wrote
4 very clear letter. informing them that I
was tired OF the whole AFFAIR. I sent them
them that II they wanted him back they
could have him. but that would proceed
against the tribunal and force them not
only to pay for the boys journey but to give
him here a. much money as he was honestly
earning abroad. I think they were Inn
pressed by my language. The fact Ia that
I was never again molested In the whole
affair.
M.
Now comes the sad part Of my story.
Several years after Pietro had gone away
with his kind friends and we had been writ
ing TO each other ] received q despatch Of
upward Of one shundrsd words from Mrs.
Mundstedt from Vienna. Little Pietro
had been the great attraction at the Prater
show. but he had got unruly. His EN-.
ployers had often forbidden him 10 get upon
the wooden horses Of the rnerry-go-round.
much too bie for his little legs. Disobedience
in the case OF Adam and Eve brought death |
10 mankind; IL brought death to Adams
most diminutive descendant. He had often
been forbidden to jump on q horse of the
he had jumped once too |
often. His little left foot had been taken
between two parts of the mechanism and
been very seriously bruised. Mr.. Mund-
stedt was away from town. Tho boy was
taken to the great hospital and Mrs. Mund- |
stedt had accompanied him there and was
taking care of him day and night. In read
Ing the bad news we-knew the melancholy |
sequel. Dwarfs are certainly not normal
human beings; the smallest hurt. the slight |
eet bruise can be fatal TO them. I informed
The father and prepared him for the worst |
The next day the foot had to be amputated,
and . few hours afterw ard the little life
was extinRuished.
was sorry for my pet in q way. but what
d 10 good. His life had been short. but
{ had been very happy In these last years
spent under such tender carei
Hk father was not OF my opinion.
He made dreadful row ct my ambula-
.orio, declared that they had stolen his
beloved, cherished child tlisr!I. that he would
lccuhe Mundstedt of having wilfully mus
tered his beloved little Pietro. the JOY Of
ais life. the prop Of his old age "--disgustins
'ellowi 1 ordered him out OF the place
Ind told him never 70 dare come back;
but q week later had to send for him for
he very last time.
had received . big trunk with Pietro's |
;hings and had TO give them over 70 the |
'inconsolable" father. had called In wit
lesses to sec that the trunk had not been
opened and that the objects corresponded
% the catalogue enclosed.
The horrible fat mother was sobbInR |
more than was sufficient 70 touch my heart. |
1uJ nnUeQ tnS IMAM lot uIS I4NenOu9 Io4f 1
xhen the trunk was opened and disclosed |
trousseau worthy OF q little king. Silk
,hemises Of every delicate hue with the
names OF the beat makers. miniature coats |
md trousers and waistcoats and Jackets IN |
and big box full OF good Jew |
,lry-three gold watches. rings with precious |
stones. dirninutive walking sticks with |
rolden knobs. elaborate cigar cases, &c. |
all bearing Inscriptions with nance |
" people who had liked our little Pietro.
The father was quite bewildered with in |
decent joy and asked me how he could beat |
dispose Of all these treasures. lie sold the |
pretty trinkets and the clothes for a rood |
sum Of money to another company Of dwarfs |
hat was passing through Rome
After that he wanted to kiss my ha nas |
out Of tardy thankfulness. but / was too |
deeply disgusted to lot him touch the tn |
of my fingers. Once in my life had secret |
wish to kick him. I sent him on roundIv
and told him never 70 dare to come near me /
again.
I received q long letter from Mundstedt. /
They both sincerely regretted our little |
rietro. and wrote that Of all the dwarfs thAy l
had ever met they had loved him best. for |
- had haAn thA x,aAaf laval Ma