Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 25, 2025
"That's right, and when I come home I shall bring you all the souvenirs I promised; an Austrian helmet and a piece of shell," the Captain replied. "And your sword, don't forget that," Beppi reminded him. "Oh no, of course I won't forget that," the Captain swung Beppi high in the air above his head and kissed him, then he turned to Lucia. "I will be good too," she promised, laughing.
On another occasion, he fell into the canal before our house, and terrified us by going under twice before the arrival of the old gondolier, who called out to him "Petta! petta!" Developing other disagreeable traits, Beppi was finally driven into exile, from which he nevertheless furtively returned on holidays.
"Oh I must go and help," she exclaimed, "I will see you again for good-by." She followed Beppi to the garden and found Lathrop nailing on the top to a big wooden crate. From between the slats Garibaldi looked out reproachfully. Lucia petted and consoled her until it was time to go. Garibaldi left first in a wagon; she was going all the way by train.
Lucia had so much to say, and Nana would not listen nor believe all the wonderful things she tried to tell her, but at last, from lack of breath, she stopped exclaiming and crying, and Lucia pushed her gently onto the green bed, took Beppi on her lap, and began the recital of her wonderful news in earnest. "The King! The King!" "Viva! Viva!"
Perhaps the vivid recollection of Garibaldi's hard head may have accounted for his aversion. Lucia heard his remark and was quick to defend her pet. "Aren't you ashamed to speak so?" she exclaimed, "I've a good mind not to give you the candy after all." "Oh, Lucia, please, please!" Beppi begged.
Lucia ran around the house and off to the sunny slope where she had left Beppi a few hours before. She saw the flock of goats grazing, and called, "Beppino mio, where are you?" No one answered her. She hurried on, believing him to have fallen asleep. "Beppi!" she shouted, "I have something exciting to tell you. Stop hiding from me." She waited, but still no answer came.
As soon as our gondola touched the grassy shores at Torcello, Giovanna's children, Beppi and Nina, whom we had brought with us to give a first experience of trees and flowers and mother earth, leaped from the boat and took possession of land and water.
It was over a month before Captain Riccardi was well enough to be moved, but at last the beautiful day for the departure for the south came. "Do you really mean we are going?" Beppi demanded. "Of course we are, darling," Lucia replied, laughing. She was so excited that she could hardly wait to dress Beppi and Nana with the patience that such an undertaking required.
She crept back into the shelter, believing that she had just imagined what she had heard, but she had not taken her place beside Beppi before she heard it again a persistent "rat, tat, tat," too metallic and too regular to be accounted for by a natural cause. Lucia's mind was alert at once. She put her ear up against the rock and listened again.
A crowd of people surrounded it, cheering and throwing flowers. The King smiled and bowed to them all. Lucia's eyes never left his face. Suddenly she saw him lean forward excitedly as the big car stopped. Beppi tugged at her skirts. "Look at Garibaldi, she is blocking the way."
Word Of The Day
Others Looking