The Italian Twins, by Lucy Fitch Perkins.
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This is a truly delightful little book, despite the sad predicament in
which the Twins find themselves. Beppo and Beppina are twelve years old
and are the older children of the aristocratic Marchese Grifoni. They
are taken by their family nurse to visit the cathedral in the centre of
the city of Florence, for it is Easter Saturday. Unfortunately they
lose contact with Teresina the nurse, and set off to find their own way
back home. But somehow they lose their way, and are wondering what
direction to take when they come across a man and woman with a
performing monkey and bear. The woman offers to take the children home,
and they all jump up into the van, drawn by a donkey. But when it gets
dark the children realise they have been kidnapped.
They travel on through the villages, and the children give performances
of dances the woman has taught them, and sing beautifully the songs they
have learnt previously. In this way they earn their keep. The woman is
determined to get back to the island-city of Venice, which is where her
family are. After many months Beppo works out how to escape by stealing
a boat, and the children make their way due west to Padua. By chance
their own nurse Teresina and their mother the Marchesa are in Padua to
pray to Saint Antony for his help in restoring the lost Twins to their
family. Great are the rejoicings when Teresina finds the children.
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THE ITALIAN TWINS, BY LUCY FITCH PERKINS.