Rafael in Italy / A Geographical Reader

the two great columns," Rafael explained, as he went toward the land

t a good plan

Venice, it has to be done between those two columns, and that has made the spot most unlucky. People used

said Mrs. Sprague,

ns," continued Rafael, "and since then there are people who would

oat from those very steps," sa

ight, Edith," she called to her daughter. "You know that I am afraid of the w

she said. "These Italians are too superstitious. See how they are always closing one hand and pointing dow

et old Beppo, the brown monk from one of the islands in the lagoon; and had often gone out of his way to m

liefs, he felt a flame of resentment. Standing quietly in his boat,

, with a pretty air of penitence; "but if you will kindly take me from these steps, I

told her, as she stepped into the boat from the unlucky s

, and the two great columns rose ab

the figure of St. Theodore on the other. "There are many stone lions in

ron saint. St. Theodore, who stands on the crocodile, was our first patron saint, before the body of St. Ma

one of the books of the New

ora," repl

imes," said Edith. "Mother knows every

has called it a jewel-box, because it contains so many magnificent gems, precious stones, an

nt to! I must buy some more Venetian glass, and a lantern, and some flag

ars before Christopher Columbus found his way to your country," he said. He had no wish

o do nothing now but make glass, and carve wood, and weave lace. In so many

g." Then he threw back his head and laughed with the happy laugh of boyhood. "Viva

el was drawing his boat alongside a

a steamer?" he muttered, l

o do?" questioned Mr

back before sunset; and it will cost but a small sum to buy round-trip tickets for the three of

dith. "Surely we may go into t

rbidden by law to take away even one pailful of the water without paying a tax. There is a tax

such a thing!" exc

oy; "but what can one do? A t

f the government," he added with a laugh, as he held the

pt constantly dredged. When the tide is low, the city shows that it is built upon mud-banks. Twice daily the waters move away from the lagoon, leaving the flats covered with floati

time for a bath in the salt water, and a cup of tea at the casino; and also a moment at the little chu

which artists love most. It was the most wonderful sunset that Edith had ever seen. The low sun gave out a gl

seem like the Heavenly

, to the east the blue Adriatic; and Ed

n he was a boy. The rounded prow was decorated with a flying goddess blowing a trumpet; on the masthead there was perched a weathercock and a little figure of a hump-bac

e salt air, and clasped her ha

ng,-one that has been sung for centuries by the pile-drivers of Venice,-and R

ith i

o th

th it

the su

a long "e-e-e," or an "o-o-o," and the A

paint a picture, or write a poem a

she added. "I used to wonder what kept the sea from dashing

t the lidi which hold back

here speak only about the Grand Canal, and the

r hotel, which was farther up the canal. "There is plenty of space on the pavement near our hotel to spread

e must go back and see if there are any letters," she sa