Rafael in Italy / A Geographical Reader

ty of Venice, shone down on towers and domes and marble palace

very window and balcony twinkling jets of flame found their refle

ng of the waves against the marble walls and steps, and occasional

me. The city is like a diamond, as it catches the myriad rays from moonlight and

he farthest corners of the earth to watch th

nd Cana

ing-posts and t

el Valla, a Venetian lad of fourteen, d

he reflection in the canal of a particularly large and brilliant star. "If the sta

d was calling to him, and the star was slowly shifting its light, as it had

ay from the orange-and-black mooring-post, at

or it in the Grand Canal," the boy thought idly. "It may well k

panned by three beautiful bridges, and, on either side, rise the marble palaces of the ancient

hing still better. Soon hundreds of gondolas would gather at the bridge of the R

at toward the stone landing steps. His motions were alert and decisive, and made him seem a d

y large enough to seat three comfortably, hurried gladly toward the ligh

oatmen in white linen, for the night was very warm; and a melody from an I

his boat. Then it occurred to him that it might be most pleasant of all to

, "These other boats are also moving toward the Rialto. I must find

and took his way across the small square into th

nd statue that grace the cathedral and palaces shone countless numbers of the fairy flames. The crimson globes of the larger lamps

is friend. The polished stones of the pavement in front of the cafés were covere

s, but he was not there to-night. Nor was he seated on the back of one of t

At least, the boys of Venice seem to find it so, and so many years have they climbed up to watch the cr

places now, and occasionally begged for cust

, ragged boys carrying trays of fruit-crimson peaches, purple grapes and ri

d States of America, stood in the central doorway of the cathedra

, the officer left his place and followed the boy. "Where away?" he

courteously, also in English; and would have pushed away from

been looking for one," and he held the b