  Naples, and a New Life Pappina stood on the deck, holding fast to the railing for support. Her face was livid, her body shook. She looked anxiously toward the shore to see if she had been followed. There were no signs of Guiseppe! She kept her eyes riveted on the boys splashing in the water until they appeared mere specks in the distance. Then, worn out with excitement, she sank down and burst into tears. Stifling her sobs, presently the child fell asleep from sheer exhaustion. The captain, passing that way, saw Pappina curled up on the deck. He could not see her winsome, beautiful face, for it was buried in her arms as she lay there sleeping. He saw just a child with a tattered, dirty dress and ragged little shoes. He gave her a kick. "Get up," he said. "What are you doing here? This is no place for beggars; move on." Pappina jumped up quickly. He had called her a beggar. She looked at him with flashing eyes. "Beggar!" cried she. "No, signor, I'm not a beggar. You want money? I have it, I can pay." She began to unfasten one of her little worn shoes. The captain stood watching her, perplexed. "What does it mean?" he asked himself. "She has such beauty and pride, and her clothes are so poor! She is alone and has money in her shoe. I am puzzled this time, for sure." He tugged fiercely at his long black mustache, waiting to see what she would offer him from her store. She brought up coins and handed him a franc. "Is that enough, signor?" she asked. "I have more." Looking into the unfathomable depths of those great velvet eyes, the captain would have refused the wealth of Croesus had she offered it. Her beauty and her independence conquered him. "Keep your money, child. As long as I run the boat you ride free." "Grazie, buono signor [Thanks, good sir]. May I go inside? The boat rocks so. I feel—may "Go inside, child, and lie down. I will look after you soon." Pappina, catching hold of chairs and benches to steady herself, staggered inside and lay down, dizzy and faint. She was too sick even to think or to wonder where the boat was taking her. The steamer was filled with people returning from Capri and the wonderful Blue Grotto. Among the tourists was Mrs. Elinor Thurston, a childless American widow traveling abroad with friends, seeking some new interest from day to day—anything to make her forget the loss of her husband and her only child. She noticed Pappina's pale, beautiful face and her glorious eyes. There was something about the child that reminded Mrs. Thurston of her boy. She watched Pappina intently as the little girl threw herself on the floor. The forlorn figure interested her, lying with her tambourine tightly clasped in her hands. "Poor child!" she murmured softly. "Such a picture!" exclaimed one of the tourists. Pappina, hearing voices near her, opened her eyes. Her glance fell upon the sweet face of Mrs. Thurston, who sat looking kindly at her. The child smiled faintly, closed her eyes again, and was asleep. That smile won Mrs. Thurston. She watched to see who was with the little girl, and seeing no one she inquired of the captain: "Tell me, who is with that beautiful child?" Her face was diffused with tender, earnest solicitude as she gazed at the little figure lying at their feet. "No one, apparently; she seems to be alone." The captain then related to Mrs. Thurston how the little girl had taken money from her shoe and offered it to him for her fare. Pappina began to talk in her sleep. "He struck me," she murmured. "It hurt me so!" They tried to make out her words, so jumbled at first, then clearer and louder, till she fairly screamed: "Guiseppe, how dare you strike me? Marta, hold him. I hate him! I wish he were dead—I do, for I hate him!" Mrs. Thurston stooped and took hold of the child's hot little hand. "See how flushed her face is!" she whispered. "Her pulse is too quick; she is feverish, poor child," she said with pity as she gently picked her up and placed her on a sofa. "She is my charge and I'll stay with her," she told the friends who urged her to go on deck and enjoy the beautiful scenery. "Scenery!" she exclaimed as she took Pappina's hand in hers. "There is nothing so beautiful as this child. I am almost hoping no one will claim her when we land at Naples, for I need her. Her eyes are like my Harold's, so—" She could not finish the sentence for the tears that welled to her eyes and the sorrow that choked her. At Naples no one came for Pappina, alone and sick, still tossing her head in pain and fever. "I cannot leave her," her new friend declared. "She must be cared for. Oh, how glad I am that I can do everything for her!" Pappina, still unconscious, was carried to a carriage and taken to the International Hospital. "See that every attention is given her," Mrs. Thurston said. "Leave nothing undone. Here It was hard for Mrs. Thurston to leave Pappina, but friends were waiting for her and there was an engagement to fulfill. The nurse put Pappina to bed, dressed in a little white nightgown, the first she had ever worn. Early the following day Mrs. Thurston called. "How is she?" she inquired eagerly. "Still unconscious? Take me to her. All night I have thought and dreamed of her. Her eyes have haunted me even in my sleep. Take me to her." She asked anxiously if any one had sought the child. "No one? Oh, joy! Perhaps I may have her for my own." Enrichetta, the nurse, showed the welts on the child's body—two red marks from Guiseppe's stick. "Povera figlietta [Poor little girl]," she said. "It is now quite certain she will have a run of fever." The excitement and strain of the past few weeks had proved too much for Pappina. In her delirium it was always of Guiseppe she spoke. She would It was easy to gather from her delirious talk some idea of the hard life she had led. No artist's dream could have appeared more beautiful than she, as she lay in her bed. Mrs. Thurston came every day, sometimes twice, to see her. In Pappina she had found a real interest in life; and her motherly heart warmed toward this lovely, abused child. True love for Pappina sprang up in her heart in the days of the child's convalescence. In the long talks the two had together there was never a word of complaint against Guiseppe. The physician and nurse in charge with Mrs. Thurston questioned her and she willingly told them all, but never with complaints. "I think I was as bad as I could be, because, you see, Guiseppe paid money for me, and sometimes when I was tired I did not want to sing and dance. Oh, please don't make me go back to him!" "I will find Guiseppe," declared Mrs. Thurston. "Your little girl! I the little girl of such a lady!" The bright look on the child's face changed as she continued: "You haven't seen my clothes. The red dress was splendid before I spoiled it and my shoes were new once." "Never mind the clothes. New clothes go with your new life, dear." All the time Pappina was recovering, Mrs. Thurston was having search made for Guiseppe. Two days before Pappina left the hospital, he was found on the Toledo with his Punchinellos. Those employed to find him were looking for a Punchinello showman with a brown–haired, pale–faced English wife. All about Naples they searched, but in vain. Finding, one day, a man who exactly answered the description given of Guiseppe, the detective stopped, watched his show a while, then accosted him. "I seek," he said, "for Guiseppe Capasso." "I am he," replied Guiseppe. "I have passed you many times," continued "Ohime [Ah, me]!" exclaimed Guiseppe. "I had a wife, but she is no more. A sudden illness took her from me. Poor Marta!" Guiseppe bowed his head in sorrow. "I came to speak of the child." "Pappina!" cried Guiseppe. "Where is she? Poor Marta, sposa mia [my wife]—she died with Pappina's name on her lips." Guiseppe sobbed in sincere grief. For a time he seemed to forget everything but the loss of his patient, long–suffering wife. Gradually it was made known to him that there was money awaiting him if he would give up all claim to Pappina. Guiseppe never paid for Pappina what Mrs. Thurston paid Guiseppe. She wanted Pappina and money was no object to her. They thought best not to speak to Pappina of her home, but let her forget about it as soon as possible. Pietro was proud to give his child to so grand a lady, who would educate and do for her as her very own. So it came about that Mrs. Elinor Thurston adopted Pappina Pierno. Nothing could have been sweeter than Pappina Mrs. Thurston seemed to live only in and for the child. Such shopping days as they had! Such a trunk full of clothes as they bought—dresses, hats, coats, gloves, handkerchiefs—and perfume too, if you please! They were a month in Naples and Switzerland; then Mrs. Thurston decided she would go home, back to America to have Pappina learn English and begin her education. "I'm really going to America to live, and not just to run away from Guiseppe? Sometimes, mamma," shyly she said to Mrs. Thurston, "I think I must be dreaming, but if I am, I never want to awaken." "We will keep your tambourine for our souvenir, carissima, and when you think you are only dreaming, just strike your tambourine." BUNNY and BEAR BOOKS By Few books for little folks have attained the popularity that has been accorded the Bunny and Bear Books. Rabbit and bear life with all its quaintness and humor forms the nucleus around which these entertaining stories are woven. Each book is a continuous story, complete in itself. The many illustrations are in the fullest sense both illustrative and explanatory. Cloth. Illustrated. THE TALE OF BUNNY COTTON–TAIL Tells of Bunny's early experiences, his school days, naughty pranks, friendship for Susan Cotton–Tail, troubles with Farmer Jones, etc.
BUNNY BOY AND GRIZZLY BEAR Relates the doings of Bunny Boy, a waif that came to the home of Bunny and Susan Cotton–Tail, and the stories that Grizzly Bear told them.
BUNNY BRIGHT EYES The experiences of Bunny Bright Eyes are many and varied. He takes part in a county fair, performs at a circus, etc.
THREE LITTLE COTTON–TAILS Here we spend days with Mother Cotton–Tail and her three children. Their home life, troubles and pranks, their visit to relatives, etc., both interest and amuse us.
LITTLE BEAR Little Bear is the youngest of a family of seventeen cubs. Other characters of the forest take active part in the story.
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These charming books of reliable, up–to–date information, are an acknowledged superior series of geographical readers. They furnish a unique and vivid portrayal of each country in discriminating and attractive language well within the range and comprehension of children of the intermediate and upper grades. We learn of the climate and size of countries visited in comparison with that of our own; of the habits, customs and conditions of the people as seen in their homes and daily occupations; their dress, manner of living, their personal appearance and manners; the scenery and natural features of the country; its commerce and industries, etc. And the descriptions are interspersed with historic and literary allusions that add to the interest. National songs (words and music) and vocabularies of proper and typical names are also given. The scores of handsome pictures help to make the reading–matter more effective. Each book is to one or more different countries and contains from 160 to 240 pages, with colored maps, colored flags, and from 60 to 80 illustrations. Complete alphabetical index. The books have been selected for use by State Library Boards and Reading Circles, adopted as supplementary readers in most of our largest cities, and have received the enthusiastic support of teachers and superintendents everywhere. The following volumes have been issued: Alaska and Canada The books are handsomely bound in uniform cloth editions, size New Publications THE CORN LADY: The Story of a Country Teacher's Work. By (Miss) Jessie Field, Co. Supt. of Schools, Page County, Iowa. "The Corn Lady" is composed of a series of delightful and inspiring letters from "A Country Teacher" to her appreciative country "Daddy" on country–school and country–life improvement. Each letter is a record of practical experience, teeming with understanding of and enthusiasm for an awakening of true, contented, productive rural life. With twenty–five illustrations from photographs, and a supplement containing the author's Farm Arithmetic—twenty–nine pages of rural arithmetic problems. 107 pages. Cloth. Price, 50 cents. DAILY LESSON PLANS IN LANGUAGE: For Second and Third Grades of Elementary Schools. By R. Lena H. Guingrich. The purpose of this book is to provide the teacher with daily lesson plans for primary language work. Its contents cover the eight months. September to April, detailed work being furnished for each day. Illustrated. 74 pages. Paper. Price, 25 cents. SMITH AND RIEGE SONG BOOK, No. 1. By L. Rountree Smith and Clarence L. Riege. Contains over a half hundred sweet, usable songs, original and delightful in both words and music. Especially desirable for the lower grades. 64 large pages. Paper. Price, 20 cents; per dozen, $2.25. PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF PUBLIC SPEAKING. By J. E. Kammeyer, Kansas State College, Manhattan, Kans. Supplies practical and systematic instruction in the essentials of good delivery in reading and speaking, together with over seventy–five selections as illustrative matter for platform discussion and elocutionary effort. 336 pages. Cloth. Price, $1.00. STARVED ROCK: A Chapter of Colonial History. By Eaton G. Osman. The only continuous narrative of the history of the "Rock of St. Louis," which the State of Illinois recently purchased for a public park. With over twenty–five illustrations. 206 pages. Cloth. Price, 50 cents. PLAYS AND COMEDIES FOR LITTLE FOLKS. By Marie Irish. Contains easy dramatizations of six familiar child stories and seventeen original plays and comedies for children, ages five to ten years. 172 pages. Paper. Price, 30 cents. Supplementary Readers Figures after the titles denote the grades for which the books are intended. All are well illustrated and durably bound in cloth unless otherwise specified.
A. FLANAGAN COMPANY—CHICAGO TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE —Plain print and punctuation errors were corrected. —"X CHAPTER" is shown in the original, it has been changed to "CHAPTER X" for consistency. —In the Table of Contents, at "CHAPTER III" the original reads "Fete Day at Naples"; it has been changed to "Feste Day at Naples" as in other places in the book. —Many of the Italian words used in this book are incorrect; they have been left as in the original. —The post-processor of this project created the book cover image using the front cover of the original book. The image is placed in the public domain. This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will be renamed. 1.F. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us with offers to donate. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: www.gutenberg.org | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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