United States or Seychelles ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
The little Zuane had eaten his supper of polenta and, in the painted cradle which his grandfather Girolamo had bought for him from under the arcades of the Piazetta, lay at last asleep, consigned to the care of all those saints and guardian angels who make the little ones their charge, and who smiled down upon him from the golden aureoles and clouds of rose and blue on the cradle-roof while, slowly balancing, it charmed him into dreams.
So shall a blessing go with thee and rest upon thee!" She had brought a gift to the Madonna of San Donato an exquisite altar lamp of ivory and silver and from the flowers which she had laid upon the altar while she knelt in prayer, she gathered some to scatter over the grave of the tiny Zuane.
But there was no other friend to whom she told it. Soon, alas! the days grew over-full of pain, and Marina came more often to the Mater Dolorosa, for the little Zuane had not grown stronger with the coming of the spring; sleep came to him more easily, but it did not bring refreshment, and the roses on his cheeks were only signs of failing bloom.
There was no one who could make the little Zuane laugh like "babbo," though the tremulous, treble echo of the full tones of the gondolier had a pathos for those who listened.
And now that it was all over was it all over? there lay the poor little Zuane; and Piero, over the water at his traghetto, was a great care. But he should do his best yet for the people! A deep voice with a ring of wistfulness came through the darkness: "Doth he not sleep yet, the little Zuane? The evening hath been long, and I have somewhat to show thee."
To-day when Marina had returned from Venice she had caught the little Zuane to her breast with such a passion of tenderness that he looked up into her face with startled eyes; hers were brimming with smiles and tears, and with that wise child-knowledge, which is not granted to earth's learned ones, he put up his tiny hand with a wan smile and stroked her cheek.
While the little Zuane was failing, Marcantonio, seeing Marina but seldom, solaced himself in preparing a royal gift to offer to his mother on the occasion of his own birthday fête.
Word Of The Day