Tessa, Our Little Italian Cousin

growing fast; the mother was strong again and rosy; while the extra money which t

to go to the carniva

w, is a kind of porridge made of corn (maize) meal. It was the only food the children would have for supper tha

t the room. Beppo seized his violin and started a lively air. Their mother began to laugh, while little Fran

ly out of breath, she ran and put

ried. "I have never been to the carnival, and I

blushed like a young girl

ed, to go to the gay carnival together. But how sh

cousin Lola in the city. She will keep us through the week for a small su

e red bodice below the white blouse. Do not forget to wear the fringed kerchief

f look as fine as possible, as s

but little that night, and that when they did, they dreamed of processions a

eighbours for Tessa and Francesca to ride on.

a had gathered quantities of wild flowers to use at the carnival, so that Tess

wallflowers and some other pretty blossoms that grow in the crevices of the walls. The

ets were filled with carriages; the sidewalks were lined with people; while the

lves in the balconies, for it was one o

t festival of Italy is always held during the week before the beginning of Lent. All the days except

ere is no scolding, no cross word; and even if the sport

their cousin's home on the ground floor of a tall

sights," said their father. "Your mother and I will s

n in the midst of a merry crowd on the Corso, as

nd queerly dressed people. They are having great sport. They are pel

rselves," answered Beppo. "

d with tiny lime-balls. Perhaps you would call them plaster candi

THE MIDST OF

o, when each had purchas

udden pull and Tessa fell forward as he jumped about. Before she could g

ers. Tessa laughed, too, as she brush

as made of sugar almonds, which a little girl was scattering from a balco

schievous boys who had thrown the confetti got mos

e. Aren't the ladies in it pretty, Beppo? That seat in front of them is just

as for the wagon-loads of people dress

woman. See his false curls hanging down under the bonnet, and hear him talk. He keeps every one around

home. After they had put them on, they felt sure no on

brother's side. "There are Lucy and Arthur with their father and mother, in th

ing. And now he is dangling it over the rail. Just see that lady in the balcony below reaching out to get it. Sh

ttiest bunch of flowers to Lucy. Ah! she look

nd's lap. She was looking directly toward him as he threw them. She began to l

ppo. "She will never guess, for she doe

not before they were covered with a shower o

ent back to their cousin's. They found their fath

And you, too, Beppo," said their mother. Fo

outdoors long enough. I really think that hundreds of bushels of confetti have been

now," said the father, "or we sh

le Francesca rode off down the street on her father's shoulder.

had been cleared of carriages. Both si

They wore fine trappings and were without riders or drivers. Down the Corso they

irst horse reached the goal. This one

ival," his father told him, as they walked slo

sh to lose a moment of the day's fun. They had many a mock battle with the children whom they

hey did not have their masks on, so their friends spied them out very quickly. They were ver

ts. He was going to write to them if he did not see them before

d she had passed on. Tessa wondered what it could be about, but her mind was so

with her father and mother and Beppo out into the streets. Every one carried a torch and tried

ime. Tessa no sooner got her torch lighted than some one came up from behind and put it out.

afe at last. But, no! a moment afterward some one came along with a pole longer than h

with the lights dancing about the

t. Every one was tired. Tessa and Beppo turned h

s dead. The car

half asleep, still repeating the words

rnival