Madeline Brandeis

“ No!" said Anna. "He says that you must not be afraid of him. Discipline does not hurt. It will make you happy to grow up good."
Tony's eyes grew wide. So Anna's father, with the deep voice, wanted to make him happy!
"Papa has just been to see the Marionette Man," went on Anna. "He told him all about you, poor little boy!"
"And will I have to go back to Guido?" asked Tony.
"No, never," replied Anna. "You are to live with us, and Papa says you shall join the Balilla."
Join the Balilla! Live in Anna's pretty house! Never again be parted from his beloved Tina! ”

“ For several hours Tony stayed around the hotels, dodging hotel managers, and crying his way into the hearts of strangers. Then, he started toward the place he called home, walking along the broad drive that faces the Bay of Naples.
Naples is built like a giant theatre stage. The shore is where the plays take place. The shining Bay is the vast blue audience. ”

“ Anna looked up. "Why, Papa?" she asked.
"Because it is filled with cats," answered her father. "Tabbies and Tommies, black and white, grey and yellow. They wander about and sprawl in the shade of fine old trees. They have plenty to eat and nothing to fear. It is a kitty paradise!"
"I want to go to that park some day," said Anna.
"There is a magic fountain in Rome," read her father. "It is said that he who drinks from the Fontana Trevi will some day be drawn back to The Eternal City.
"The Appian Way is sometimes called The Queen of Roads. It was a great highway built by the ancient Romans. ”

“ Tony had never been outside of Naples. But often he had read or listened to tales of other parts of his country. He knew that Italy was a fine land.
The school textbooks told him that "Italy is blessed by God. It is strong, powerful, and feared."
He loved to learn all he could about it. He was proud of being an Italian.
Now the automobile had come upon the open road. Tony could see the Bay. He could also see the great volcano, Vesuvius, which towers over Naples.
It is a fire-mountain and smoke is always coming out of its top. ”

“ Guido gave Tony an amused look.
The old woman continued, "Always animals!" she groaned. "This stupid child would feed every cat, dog, goose, and donkey while I starve!"
In a way, the old woman was right. Tony did just this with his money. He spent it on food for stray animals.
Or, sometimes he gave it to beggars who sat on church steps. They were not so fortunate as he. For he was beautiful to look at and people always believed his sad tales. He was a splendid actor. ”

“ Why, that volcano was going to destroy Pompeii! It was written in books of history! Everyone in the modern world knew it!
But here nobody knew it. How could they? They were ancient people. He was living in the past. Tony, the beggar boy, was the only one who knew! He must tell them!
He stood up. He saw those beautiful homes and gardens he had heard so much about. Tomorrow they would be in ruins!
Tomorrow? How did he know that the end would come tomorrow? Tony could not explain. But he did know. Dreams are like that.
[Pg 141]
He woke the beggars. ”

“ People sat about and enjoyed the show.
"Of course the poor men were killed. But the audience watched this terrible sport as naturally as we, today, watch a tennis game. They pitied the victims no more than we pity the tennis balls!"
Anna squirmed unhappily. "Now read something nice," she said. "The story of Romulus and Remus, because I like the good wolf."
Her father smiled and turned a page. Always stories about animals for little Anna!
"Here we are," he said. "The old myth goes that Romulus and Remus were twin babies, cast upon the River Tiber by a jealous king. ”

“ Their moral is: 'Be strong to be pure. Be [Pg 71] pure to be strong,' Il Duce has taught our people this wonderful lesson.
"At one time there were many lazy ones in Italy. Now we work and clean and teach. It is better that way. Italy is a beautiful land. It is worth working for."
Tony, under the window, felt a great pride in his heart. He began to see ahead into the future when he would be an Italian soldier. He would fight for beautiful Italy! ”

“ Occasionally, there would be an automobile. Tony liked the little cars named "Balilla," after the Boys' Group. They are the smallest Italian cars made.
Tony bought chestnuts and munched [Pg 89] them. Chestnuts often take the place of bread among the poor people.
Toward the end of day Tony began to miss Tina. He had seldom been separated from her for such a long time. So he returned to Anna's house.
He hoped that Anna had not forgotten to leave his dinner. He also hoped that her father would not forget to tell more stories tonight. This was a pleasant life. ”

“ NIKI
Italy! When you hear the word do you think, as I do, of beautiful paintings and music? Of organ grinders, macaroni, and marionettes?
The finest little marionette actors (or puppets) are made in Italy. Naples is where they have been most popular.
Today there are few left. Motion pictures have come to Naples as to every other city in the world.
Guido's theatre was a small place with crude, wooden benches. Tony helped Guido work the puppets. Mrs. Guido played the squeaky piano. ”

“ Let us crouch under the window with Tony!
[Pg 59]
CHAPTER IV
ROME
"Tonight," began Anna's father, "we are going to read about one of our Italian cities. Many fine stories have come out of it.
"Rome is called 'The Eternal City' because there is a saying that it will live forever. It is built upon seven hills.
"A long time ago there lived a great artist named Michelangelo. He built the dome of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome. This is the largest church in the world. Thirty services may be conducted in it at the same time. ”

“ Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Before one house was the word "Have." This means "Welcome" in Greek. The Fascists say this when they salute.
In the old Roman Bath was a case with images like mummies. The guide entered the building with his tourist train—a train of human question marks.
Tony followed. He hid in a dark corner so they would not see him.
"Here we have the forms of some of the ancient people found in the ruins," explained the guide. "They are, however, only hollow forms. They have been surrounded by lava."
"What is lava, Mama?" squeaked a tourist child. ”

“ Statues, sailors, music, and cheese!"
Tony forgot the cold. He even forgot Anna's father except for his deep voice.
[Pg 113]
"The city of Genoa," read the deep voice, "is Italy's chief seaport. Its streets are lined with palaces. It seems that everything in Genoa takes place in a palace. Even schools are sometimes found in palaces!
"The city is surrounded by forts and strong walls.
"The Palazzo San Giorgio is the oldest bank in Europe. Here there is a curious collection of statues.
"They are the statues of men who have given money for public good. ”

“ Come to me, Niki!"
She held out her arms. But Tony drew Tina away from her. Why did his throat feel so full and queer? Why did his nose tickle and his eyes blur with tears?
No! No! He could not give up his Tina! Anna had everything and he had only this little dog! It was not fair.
He planted his poor, wobbly legs as sturdily as he could. His dark eyes flashed at the little girl.
"Do not touch her!" he cried. "She bites!"
Anna shrank back, afraid.
[Pg 153]
"She is a bad dog!" continued Tony. "It is not safe for you to keep her. She has bitten me." ”

“ They feasted and lived in luxury. Pompeii was a pleasure city.
"Then, one day, a frightful thing happened. The volcano, Vesuvius, grew very angry. Black smoke gushed from the hole in her great head. Ashes and hot stones came tumbling down upon Pompeii. The earth rocked. Thunder roared. Darkness fell upon the town. People fled, groping their way through the streets.
"Next day Pompeii, the jewel city, lay buried beneath the earth."
Tony felt a chill run up his back. He glanced at the fire-mountain behind the house. Then he looked into the window again. Anna lay very still in her father's arms. ”

“ When it cools it hardens and becomes like rock."
"I don't want to eat any!" decided the child.
"Here is the form of a dog," went on the guide.
"I want a 'hot dog,' Mama!" whined the child.
They finally left the building. Tony heard the child's irritable voice far down the street. He came out from his corner. The building was empty.
He looked at the strange, rock-covered images. The little dog was about the size of Tina. He shivered. He went outside. The sun had dropped behind a hill. He could see Vesuvius puffing, puffing on her pipe. ”

“ It is not your hair nor your hat which attracts him!
"Venice is a city of Dreams! And—animals!"
The father looked up from his book. Anna laughed.
[Pg 106]
"Yes, that is true," she said. "There was St. Mark's lion, the bronze horses, the pigeons, and—and—oh, yes, the fish!"
"You have forgotten some of the other [Pg 107] animals we read about in the stories of other cities," said her father.
Anna looked puzzled.
"Don't you remember the crickets of Florence?" asked her father. "And that fly which Giotto painted on the nose of Cimabue's painting!" ”

“ This meant "Happiest night, Niki," and it is what the Italians say for "Good-night."
When Anna and her father had left, Tony [Pg 75] ran over to the kennel-tent. Tina nearly wagged herself to pieces with joy. Tony sank down beside her. He buried his head in her soft hair.
"Ah, Tina mia (my Tina) !" he said. "I thought they had taken you from me forever! But I have found you again."
He started to untie the dog. He would run away with her. Far away! Never back to Guido! Guido was a thief. A man who stole little dogs!
Then, suddenly, Tony remembered that he, too, was about to steal a little dog! ”

“ Why not? It would be glorious to march through the parks, waving banners. He would study hard and learn to be a soldier.
But then, Tony thought of the training and discipline. He did not want to be trained. He wanted to run wild and beg money of foreigners.
And what of Tina? There would be no place for a little dog in a military group of boys.
Besides, Guido would never allow him to join. Guido needed him.
But suppose he should run away from Guido? Oh, then he felt sure that the Marionette Man would starve Tina.
[Pg 39]
Tony always saw that the dog had enough to eat. ”

“ Peter are believed to have been buried beneath the Cathedral.
[Pg 60]
[Pg 61]
"But the oldest church of all is the Pantheon, which means 'all the Gods,' It was built when people worshipped more than one God. It has no windows but only a hole in the top called an 'eye.' Today it is the burial ground of renowned writers and artists.
"Near Rome are the famous catacombs. It was here that the early Christians buried their dead.
[Pg 62]
"The catacombs are long, narrow passages with graves built into the walls, one above the other. ”

“ Villages had been destroyed when the giant spat fire and ashes to earth. Houses rocked and fell. Towns were buried.
But Tony was not thinking of this now. He was wishing with all his heart that the car would stop. Until it did, however, he must remain at his post. Tina was in that car! And where Tina went there went Tony!
The thoughts went racing through his head as the car raced on. The father of that little girl had called Guido a thief! Tony shuddered. He remembered the time when the old woman had called him a thief. How terrible it had made him feel!
[Pg 52]
Thieves were bad men. ”

“ For Dante became Italy's greatest poet!
"Florence, city of wonders!
"A legend tells that when Christ went to heaven he carried with him a cricket. So, each year, before Ascension Day, everybody buys a cricket.
"They guard their crickets most carefully. For, if one should die, misfortune befalls its owner.
"On Ascension Day a crowd gathers in the park. Here there is much gaiety, with balloons, music, and fireworks.
"At a certain time each person opens the door of his cricket's cage and frees it.
[Pg 97]
"This is an anxious moment. ”

“ He stopped and bought a meal of fresh fish for Tina at a small stand.
Then he stuffed himself full of macaroni and candies. At last he had only a few pennies left.
A boy in uniform had been watching Tony. He was dressed in olive-green breeches and black shirt. He wore a small cap with a tassel on it.
He belonged to the Balilla, the Italian Boy Scouts. The Government is directing them in sports and work of all kinds. They [Pg 34] are growing up to be strong and loyal to their country. ”

“ Tony watched them leave the room and saw a light switch on in the hallway. Then the back door opened. Father, daughter, and dog went into the garden.
They found an old crate with the top missing. They covered it with what appeared to be a fancy tablecover. They tied the little dog securely to the side.
"There!" said Anna's father. "It looks like a tent on the desert. Niki will feel like an Arabian Princess!"
[Pg 74]
Anna stooped down and caressed her pet. ”

“ They were unhappy and wanted their own king, Victor Emmanuel.
[Pg 118]
"Verdi's music always stirred within them a deep love of their country.
"It was found that the name 'Verdi' could be spelled by using the first letters of the words, 'Victor Emmanuel, Ré d'Italia' (which means, in English, "Victor Emmanuel, King of Italy") .
"The Italians would cry 'Verdi! Verdi!' The Austrians thought, of course, that these were only cheers for the popular composer. But they were really crying, 'Victor Emmanuel, King of Italy!' Had the Austrians known this, they would have been very angry." ”

“ He continued:
"There are too many lazy little beggars in the streets of Naples, like that lying young son of the Marionette Man. They have never been properly trained, and they are a disgrace to a beautiful city. They [Pg 110] should be taught. They should be made to obey!"
Upon the word "obey," his hand came down with a bang on the arm of the chair. It made Tony jump.
[Pg 111]
CHAPTER VII
STATUES, MUSIC, AND CHEESE
Tony, under the window, squirmed unhappily. He was everything that Anna's father had called him. Lazy! He begged! He did not always tell the truth. ”

“ There are hundreds of pigeons flying about St. Mark's Square. While you are in Venice, you must surely allow a pigeon to sit upon your head. If you do not do this, your visit will not be complete and I am sure the pigeon will be disappointed! ”