The Argosy — page 298: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Marionettes. 277 to whom an hour spent in devotions means so many centimes less, and who can therefore fulfil this ‘‘obbligo ” only by extra exertions, by rising earlier or sitting up later. Ah, what a difference there is between the ample leisure of the rich, and their careless prayers, and the hurried, hard-worked lives of the poor ! Christmas came, and the family were by this time almost rich. The biggest and fattest of fowls that could be bought for money, was theirs for the Christmas dinner. [For Chiara, Luigi had bought some dark blue woollen material, soft and warm ; for Mimi there was a little horse in sugar, for which he had been longing for months. There was content and peace in that little household. The New Year arrived, and everything went on for a time as before. But when spring began, with hot sunshine and cold winds, Mimi fell ill. He could no longer play about, but lay in a corner listless, with hot little hands and heavy eyes. They nursed him with tender care, and at last carried him to a chemist’s near, where a doctor called twice a week, to see all the poor patients who came. He said the child was weak, must have good wine and food. ‘There was a little fever, but it would be nothing if he was cared for. But the days lengthened into weeks, and still Mimi was not well. And now the time had come when all the strangers leave Florence ; spring was passing into summer, The hot weather came suddenly. At the end of May the city was empty. June set in with cloud- less skies, and bright sunshine, but Mimi grew no stronger, and nightly it seemed that the audience at the Marionettes became smaller and smaller. Something must be done. Luigi spent three hours printing in large letters, two inches long, an immense placard announcing that on the following Thursday there would be given, besides the ordinary performance, an original ballet with a dancer who would execute some steps the like of which had never been seen on any stage in Italy. This placard was put up at the door of the little theatre, and then Luigi spent many an hour in practising with Mademoiselle Rosalie. She stood on one toe, and advanced on this toe alone to the front of the stage ; she threw her arms into the most lovely attitudes ; in fact, she did all that a dancer could possibly accomplish. She was, at the end of five days, enchanting. ‘Then a new frock was got for her. <A skirt of faintest blue, over it clouds of white, caught up here and there with rosebuds. Chiara’s clever fingers made it, as well-as the little wreath of rosebuds which adorned her head. The day came. Mimi had been fretful all the night before, and when morning broke, fell into a heavy dose. It was a blazing day, the r2th of June. There was much to do, as Luigi had dispensed with all assistance that could possibly be done without. At last everything was in order, and Chiara, pale, tired, and very fragile looking, stood at the door to take the money. Would DOOKS ) COM (SO)