TONY AND THE BALILLA
Several weeks passed. Tony was living with Guido.
Each day the Marionette Man sent him to the hotels to beg. Each evening
he had to help with the show. He set the tiny stage and dusted the
theatre.
If he did not do his work properly, Guido would smile and say, "No supper
tonight for lazy people!"
This would not have mattered so much to Tony if it had not been for Tina.
But when Tony did not eat, then neither did Tina.
The small scraps that Guido threw to the dog were not enough to keep her
alive. So Tony always divided his meals with the friend he loved.
[Illustration: "I DIE OF HUNGER!"]
Today, as usual, Tony, with his dog, trudged along on his way to the
hotels. Once there, he stood outside of one and waited. Two foreign
ladies appeared at the door. Immediately, tears gathered in Tony's eyes.
He ran up to them eagerly.
"Ah, dear ladies, I am a poor, orphan boy!" he moaned in Italian. Then he
burst into English: "No mudder! No fadder!" he wailed.
The ladies looked at him pityingly. But just then the hotel manager came
out.
"Go along!" he commanded Tony. "You are not allowed here. Run!"
He shooed Tony as if he had been stray chickens. Tony scampered a few feet
away. When the hotel manager had gone, he again began to make mournful
signs to the strange ladies.
But now they only laughed and shook their heads, for they knew what a scamp
he was. So Tony laughed, too, and began to sing good-naturedly. A Naples
street boy is like that.
The ladies drove off in a carriage and as they passed they threw money to
the rascal. You see, nobody ever took the trouble to explain things to
Tony. Foreigners enjoyed his pretty acting, which only spoiled him.
For several hours Tony stayed around the hotels, dodging hotel managers,
and crying his way into the hearts of strangers. Then, he started toward
the place he called home, walking along the broad drive that faces the
Bay of Naples.
Naples is built like a giant theatre stage. The shore is where the plays
take place. The shining Bay is the vast blue audience.
Out, facing the shore, is the famous Castle of the Egg. Many stories are
told about this historical building.
It was once the home of Lucullus, a Roman general who was very fond of
eating.
One legend tells that the poet, Virgil, put an enchanted egg between the
walls of the castle. So long as this egg remained in its place, the city
of Naples was supposed to be safe.
But the real reason for the castle's strange name is, no doubt, its
egg-like shape.
High up on a hill of Naples is a park of rare beauty. From here one
looks down upon the island of Nisida. Like the Castle of the Egg, this
island was once the home of great Roman generals. Today they are
both prisons.
But let us go back and find Tony. He now turned into the crowded part of
the city where the noise and the smells begin. He felt more at home there.
He stopped and bought a meal of fresh fish for Tina at a small stand.
Then he stuffed himself full of macaroni and candies. At last he had only
a few pennies left.
A boy in uniform had been watching Tony. He was dressed in olive-green
breeches and black shirt. He wore a small cap with a tassel on it.
He belonged to the Balilla, the Italian Boy Scouts. The Government is
directing them in sports and work of all kinds. They are growing up to be
strong and loyal to their country.
[Illustration: "I WANT TO HELP YOU," SAID THE BOY]
"Hello," said the boy to Tony.
"Good-bye," said Tony to the boy.
He began to saunter off.
"Wait," said the boy. "I would like to speak with you."
Now, every young Italian hopes to join the Balilla. So, of course, Tony
did, too. But how could a little beggar, who had hardly enough to eat,
expect to belong to such a grand company?
Tony did not even want to talk with this modern son of Italy.
"I must go," he mumbled.
But the boy walked over to him and began to speak earnestly.
"I just noticed that you were very hungry," he said. "Why was that?"
Tony's eyes gleamed angrily. "Because I had eaten too much!" he snapped.
What right had this fellow to detain and mock him because he was poor?
"I mean no harm," said the lad. "I only want to help you. Do you know
that you may join the Balilla if you want to?"
"I?" inquired Tony.
[Illustration: BOYS OF THE BALILLA]
"Yes, you, or any other boy who wishes to join."
"But I have no money to pay for the uniform," said Tony.
"If you cannot pay, the State will give you a uniform. Every boy in Italy
should belong to the Balilla."
As he said this he saluted. His arm shot out stiffly, the palm of his
hand exposed. He drew himself up like a soldier.
"It is fine to march with a band," he went on. "The State will help to
educate you and will send you to a seaside camp in summer."
"A poor boy like me?" Tony's eyes were wide.
The other smiled. "Have you never heard how the Balilla started?" he
asked.
Then he told Tony about another poor boy who had lived in Genoa years
ago. When the Austrians attacked his city, he threw a stone and started
an uprising. The enemy was driven away.
"That boy's name was 'Balilla,'" explained Young Italy. "Before he threw
the stone, he went forward with the words, 'Shall I begin?'"
Tony's face shone with pleasure.
"Shall I begin? Shall I begin?" he muttered to himself. Why not? It would
be glorious to march through the parks, waving banners. He would study
hard and learn to be a soldier.
But then, Tony thought of the training and discipline. He did not want
to be trained. He wanted to run wild and beg money of foreigners.
And what of Tina? There would be no place for a little dog in a military
group of boys.
Besides, Guido would never allow him to join. Guido needed him.
But suppose he should run away from Guido? Oh, then he felt sure that the
Marionette Man would starve Tina.
[Illustration: TINA WAS VERY SERIOUS]
Tony always saw that the dog had enough to eat. It was he who cared for
her, dressed her in her fancy costume and put her through her little
tricks between each act of the puppet show.
She slept with Tony and did not have to shiver outside any more. No,
Tony could not leave Tina!
"Will you come with me now?" asked Young Italy. "Will you begin?"
Tony wiped the traces of macaroni from his mouth. He looked straight
at the boy in uniform.
"I do not wish to join," he lied.
Then he ran off.
When he reached home Guido asked, "Where is the money?"
Tony handed him two pennies.
Guido laughed. "The rest! Come, that is not all!"
"It is all," said Tony.
He was not even thinking of what he was saying. He was thinking only
of the Balilla and of the words, "Shall I begin?"
"If you do not give me all the money, you and the dog will get no supper
tonight!" growled Guido. "Come, how much did you make?"
"Shall I begin?" muttered Tony.
Guido looked at him curiously. Had he lost his wits?
"What are you mumbling about?" asked the Marionette Man.
Tony shrugged his shoulders. "I should lie if I told you!" he answered.
This was Tony's favorite expression. It means "I don't know" in the
language of Naples. But in Tony's language it meant exactly what it
said!