[Transcriber's Note: Bold text is surrounded by =equal signs= and italic
text is surrounded by _underscores_.]
TESSA
Our Little Italian Cousin
THE
Little Cousin Series
(TRADE MARK)
Each volume illustrated with six or more full-page plates in
tint. Cloth, 12mo, with decorative cover,
per volume, 60 cents
LIST OF TITLES
BY MARY HAZELTON WADE
(unless otherwise indicated)
=Our Little African Cousin=
=Our Little Alaskan Cousin=
By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet
=Our Little Arabian Cousin=
By Blanche McManus
=Our Little Armenian Cousin=
=Our Little Australian Cousin=
By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet
=Our Little Brazilian Cousin=
By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet
=Our Little Brown Cousin=
=Our Little Canadian Cousin=
By Elizabeth R. MacDonald
=Our Little Chinese Cousin=
By Isaac Taylor Headland
=Our Little Cuban Cousin=
=Our Little Dutch Cousin=
By Blanche McManus
=Our Little Egyptian Cousin=
By Blanche McManus
=Our Little English Cousin=
By Blanche McManus
=Our Little Eskimo Cousin=
=Our Little French Cousin=
By Blanche McManus
=Our Little German Cousin=
=Our Little Greek Cousin=
By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet
=Our Little Hawaiian Cousin=
=Our Little Hindu Cousin=
By Blanche McManus
=Our Little Hungarian Cousin=
By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet
=Our Little Indian Cousin=
=Our Little Irish Cousin=
=Our Little Italian Cousin=
=Our Little Japanese Cousin=
=Our Little Jewish Cousin=
=Our Little Korean Cousin=
By H. Lee M. Pike
=Our Little Mexican Cousin=
By Edward C. Butler
=Our Little Norwegian Cousin=
=Our Little Panama Cousin=
By H. Lee M. Pike
=Our Little Persian Cousin=
By E. C. Shedd
=Our Little Philippine Cousin=
=Our Little Porto Rican Cousin=
=Our Little Russian Cousin=
=Our Little Scotch Cousin=
By Blanche McManus
=Our Little Siamese Cousin=
=Our Little Spanish Cousin=
By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet
=Our Little Swedish Cousin=
By Claire M. Coburn
=Our Little Swiss Cousin=
=Our Little Turkish Cousin=
L. C. PAGE & COMPANY
New England Building, Boston, Mass.
[Illustration: TESSA]
TESSA
Our Little Italian Cousin
By Mary Hazelton Wade
_Illustrated by_ L. J. Bridgman
[Illustration]
Boston
L. C. Page & Company
_PUBLISHERS_
_Copyright, 1903_
BY L. C. PAGE & COMPANY
(INCORPORATED)
_All rights reserved_
THE LITTLE COUSIN SERIES
(_Trade Mark_)
Published, July, 1903
Fifth Impression, June, 1908
Sixth Impression, November, 1909
Seventh Impression, August, 1910
Preface
MANY people from other lands have crossed the ocean to make a new home
for themselves in America. They love its freedom. They are happy here
under its kindly rule. They suffer less from want and hunger than in the
country of their birthplace.
Their children are blessed with the privilege of attending fine schools
and with the right to learn about this wonderful world, side by side
with the sons and daughters of our most successful and wisest people.
Among these newer-comers to America are the Italians, many of whom will
never again see their own country, of which they are still so justly
proud. They will tell you it is a land of wonderful beauty; that it has
sunsets so glorious that both artists and poets try to picture them for
us again and again; that its history is that of a strong and mighty
people who once held rule over all the civilized world; that thousands
of travellers visit its shores every year to look upon its paintings and
its statues, for it may truly be called the art treasure-house of the
world.
When you meet your little Italian cousins, with their big brown eyes and
olive skins, whether it be in school or on the street, perhaps you will
feel a little nearer and more friendly if you turn your attention for a
while to their home, and the home of the brave and wise Columbus who
left it that he might find for you in the far West your own loved
country, your great, grand, free America.
Contents
PAGE
I. TESSA 9
II. ROME 18
III. THE STORY OF ÆNEAS 38
IV. CHRISTMAS 52
V. SAINT PETER'S 64
VI. THE CHRISTENING 75
VII. THE TWINS 86
VIII. THE CARNIVAL 101
IX. THE BURIED CITY 115
List of Illustrations
PAGE
TESSA _Frontispiece_
"BEPPO WALKED BY HER SIDE" 19
IN THE PALACE GARDEN 33
IN ST. PETER'S 64
"WERE SOON IN THE MIDST OF A MERRY CROWD" 106
"IT WAS A STRANGE PLACE" 122
TESSA
Our Little Italian Cousin
CHAPTER I.
TESSA
"THERE comes babbo! There comes babbo!" cried Tessa, as she ran down the
narrow street to meet her father, with baby Francesca toddling after
her.
The man was not alone,--Beppo and the donkey were with him. They were
very tired, for it was a hard trip from the little village on the
hilltop to the great city, miles away, and back again. The donkey was
not of much help on the homeward journey, either. Poor little patient
beast! he was getting old now, and he felt that his day's work was done
when he had carried a load of nuts and vegetables to Rome in the
morning. But when he had to bring Beppo back again, he felt a little bit
sulky. So it was no wonder that he stood quite still every few minutes
and did not seem to hear his little master scold.
"Get up, Pietro, get up. We shall be late to supper," Beppo would say,
but the donkey would not move till Beppo's father used the whip. He did
not strike hard enough to hurt the poor creature, though. Oh no, the
kind man would not do that, he was too gentle. But he must make the
donkey know the whip was there, or they would never get home.
When they had crossed the wide plain and reached the foot of the hill,
Beppo got down and walked. It was too hard on Pietro to make him carry
even a little boy now.
They came up the narrow road slowly till they reached the village. And
just as the sunset spread over the sky, and gave a glory even to the
stones, Tessa caught sight of them.
"My darling Tessa," said her father. "My dear little Francesca." Tired
as he was, he took the two children in his arms and hugged them as
though he had been away many days. Yet he had left them at five o'clock
that very morning.
"We have good news for you, Beppo and I," he went on.
Beppo laughed till the high, pointed hat nearly fell off his head.
"Oh, yes, good news," said Beppo. "You cannot think what it is, Tessa.
May I tell her, babbo?"
"Yes, my child," his father answered.
"You are to go to Rome to-morrow with babbo and me. The great artist who
buys our fruit wants to see you. He thinks he may want you for a model.
And me, too, Tessa, he wants me! He will put us both in a picture.
Babbo said you also had long hair, and that we look much alike.
"Only think, Tessa! he will pay babbo for letting him paint us. And
mother shall have a new dress, and you shall have some red ribbons. We
will all have a feast. Say, Tessa, is there a nice chestnut cake waiting
for our supper? I am so hungry."
The boy's great black eyes sparkled as he told the story. His long hair
hung down over his shoulders, under the odd pointed hat. He was a
beautiful child. It was no wonder the American artist wished to put him
in a picture.
But Tessa was beautiful, too. The artist would not be disappointed when
he saw her. Her skin was clear, but like the colour of the olives which
grew on the old tree behind her house. And now there was a faint pink
blush in her cheeks as she listened to Beppo's story.
They were very happy children, but oh, so poor, you would think if you
should visit them in the old house where they have always lived. It is
no wonder they like best to be outdoors.
The house is all of stone, and the floor is made of bricks. It seems
dark and chilly inside after leaving the glorious sunset. The plaster is
blackened with smoke and age. In some places it is broken away from the
wall and is falling down.
But there is a picture of the Christ-child hanging over the rough table,
and the children do not think of the dingy walls. It is home, where a
loving father and mother watch over them and guard them from harm.
See! the table is spread with the simple supper. There are the cakes
made from chestnut flour mixed with olive oil, and of which Beppo is so
fond. And here is milk from Tessa's pet goat. Beppo runs over to the
stone fountain in the middle of the village and fills a copper dish
with fresh water, and the little family sit down to their evening meal.
The mother hears the good news, and claps her hands in delight. But what
shall Tessa wear? It troubles the good soul, for Tessa has no shoes, and
both of her dresses are old and worn.
"Never mind, never mind," says her husband, "don't trouble yourself
about that. The artist says he does not care about the clothes. He was
much pleased with Beppo's cloak, however. He says it will be fine in the
picture. Let Tessa wear her wide straw hat and her old clothes; that is
all he asks."
"But how will she manage to travel so far? The child has never before
gone such a distance from home," continued her mother.
"She is not heavy. She can sit on Pietro's back between the panniers. I
will not load them heavily to-morrow, and then Pietro will not
complain. And when we come home at night, Beppo can walk, I am sure. He
may be tired, but he is a stout lad, my Beppo is. What do you say, my
boy?"
Beppo was sure he could get along. He was only too glad to have Tessa's
company.
"But think, babbo," he exclaimed, "it is not for one day that the artist
wishes us. It is many, many, before the picture will be finished. We can
manage somehow, I am sure. I am nearly twelve years old now, and I am
getting very strong."
"But what will mother do with me away all day long?" said Tessa. "Who
will take care of the baby while she works in the garden? And who will
help her pull the weeds?"
"Bruno shall watch Francesca. He will let no harm come to her, you may
be sure. Besides, she can walk alone so well now, she is little care. As
for the garden, there is not much more to do at present. It almost
takes care of itself," said the mother.
"Yes, Bruno can be trusted," said the father, "he is the best dog I ever
knew."
As he heard his name spoken, the sheep-dog came slowly out of the
chimney-corner. He wagged his tail as though he knew what his master and
mistress had been saying. Beppo threw him his last bit of cake and Bruno
caught it on his nose, from which it was quickly passed into his mouth.
"Dear old Bruno," said Tessa, "you took care of me when I was a baby,
didn't you? Mamma, did Bruno really rock the cradle and keep the flies
off, so I could sleep?"
"Yes, my child; when I was very ill he would watch you all day long. And
when you began to creep, he followed you about. If you got near the edge
of a step, or any other unsafe place, he would lift you by your dress
and bring you to my side. We should thank the good Lord for bringing
Bruno to us."
The mother looked up to the picture of Jesus and made the sign of the
cross on her breast.
An hour later the whole family were sound asleep on their hard beds.