The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-07-05

tore herself away from the scenes de-
picted in Venetian Days"
The following afternoon as soon as
school was dismissed she reappeared,
and the occupation of the preceding
afternoon was renewed The next day
she presented herself with paper and
pencil.
ooh, Fanny!" she cried. I have not
only to read but to write the address
of welcome. l can't do it, and papa
says he can't, though the teacher said
l might get help at home. 1t has to
be about five hundred words in length.
What shall 1 say? You will have to
help me, Fanny"
GLADLY will I do it," said the little
seamstress. "Have you any idea what
you have to writer"
First we are to welcome the Grand
Duke and Duchess; then we must wish
them safe and happy journey"
"That ought not to be hard thing
to do,' said Fanny. "But l don't see
how you can set in five hundred words,
unless you fill the paper full of fiattery,
which I cannot bear Suppose we say
something about the beautiful city they
are to visit?"
"That will be splendid idea,' re-
joined Gertrude. "And you know how
to do it so we'll, Fanny"
After that there was silence in the
attic room, while Fanny Rotapfel bent
over the table, writing, and Gertrude
played with the kitten.
=
The Town Hall having been declared
too small for the crowds, it was de-
cided to receive their Highnesses in
the public square, which was opposite
Fanny's window. From the broad,
open seat, her back propped up with
cushions, she could see all that went
on below, for she had very good eye
sight, this poor little seamstress
First, the children, girls and boys,
dressed in their best, with huge
wreaths of flowers, as they assembled
on the platform, in the centre OF which
stood two red plush armchairs. Then
the carriages, as they arrived with
their august burdens, while cheer after
cheer rent the air, and the children
broke forth into song. Finally, she
saw Gertrude with two companions
emerge from the midst of the group
and make a graceful little curtsey
before the Grand Duke and Duchess.
The child did not seem at all en-
barrassed, though of course Fanny
could not hear a word that was said.
Gertrude had been very well coached
by her teacher, and the great person
ages evidently enjoyed the little speech
very much, for, when it was finished,
and the magnificent bouquet had been
presented, the Grand Duchess stopped
and kissed her. The townspeople
must have been very proud of their
representative; instead of being the
daughter of a bookseller she might
have been a little princess standing
there in her pretty white dress, her
beautiful curls falling over her
shoulders.
Prolonged applause followed the con-
clusion of the address and the kiss,
after which the Duke rose and said a
few words Presently the crowd be-
gan to dispense, the visitors reentered
their carriage, and Fanny, leaving the
window-seat, quietly resumed her neg
lected sewing.
It was late in the afternoon when,
from my room opposite, saw Ger
trude mounting the stairs, calling as
she came:
Fanny, Fanny! Such good news!
Such fine news!"
"I saw it all from the window"
said Fanny. "You did splendidly, Ger
trude, I'm sure"
$50 splendidly," continued Gertrude,
''that the Grand Duchess kissed me,
and this afternoon sent papa two hun
dred crowns so that he and may
take a trip to that beautiful Venice
which, wrote His Highness, his daugh-
ter so we'll described. That is what
the note said, Fanny. And so, instead
of going to Bernthal next week, to
visit Uncle Franz and Aunt Selma as
We bod n1anrod We shall travel to