Pappina

“ A new light shone in Pappina's eyes. She was given new strength. This time she would sing, not from fear of Guiseppe, perhaps not from love of Marta. She was just a worn–out, tired little child whose tender age should have ensured her protection at home—only seven years old, but forced to battle with the world, seeking refuge through her songs from storms and hunger, a weatherbeaten bird. For her there was now no place called home, no place to lay her tired little head. She knew that to sing and dance meant money, and that she and Marta were hungry and in need of money for supper. ”

“ Pappina approached the edge of the wharf, that she might see everything that was going on.
Well–dressed men were throwing money into the waves.
"What wealth they must have!" exclaimed Pappina to herself. "Such queer words they speak, too! These must be the foreigners Vittorio tells about!"
She drew still nearer and saw that the people were laughing at the way a mob of half–naked boys were diving for the soldi the foreigners threw into the water, bringing the coins up in their mouths.
"Oh, the foreigners are not crazy; they are only kind," she thought. ”

“ There were so many things to interest Pappina that she forgot Guiseppe's unkindness. The orange trees and lemon plantations were a beautiful picture that called forth constant exclamations of admiration and delight.
By–and–by, however, the money hurt her foot so severely that she could not enjoy anything. She was glad when the long tramp was over and they were at last at Amalfi.
Guiseppe threw himself down exhausted. Marta sat down beside him, and Pappina behind both. She wanted to take off her shoe and she was determined Guiseppe should not see the money. ”

“ Guiseppe stopped and, handing the Punchinellos to Marta, stripped off his coat. Pappina stood with wide–open eyes and lips parted in amazement to see him offer his coat for a better one, with one franc—two—three—then five—and the exchange was made.
When at last Guiseppe donned his good coat, Pappina told him over and over again, to his amusement: "Guiseppe, you look just lovely."
"You like my coat, bambina?" he said. "Then come along. It takes money to buy good coats and bright red dresses." ”

“ Pietro began, as he took one of Pappina's curls in his hand, "bella, bella [Beautiful, beautiful] , but she has a temper of her own at times. She ain't always sweet and gentle as she looks; are you, bambina? You, signor, don't know her or her ways. She ain't like any of the others. We love her best of all. No, signor, we can't give up Pappina." He looked at the child with love and pride.
Then Guiseppe with his glib tongue started all over again. He was ready with many arguments why it would be best for Pietro to hire Pappina to him. ”

“ Marta certainly heard him and believed him as well. He had made her life a hard one, insisting upon having his own selfish way always. She was expected to know no wish that differed from his. No wonder he felt galled to find himself defied, forced to give in to a child who in years was scarcely more than a baby.
Marta was in constant fear that the little girl might awaken and that Guiseppe would be eager to fulfill his threat to show Pappina who was master. But Pappina slept on, even after the carriage had stopped in front of their home. ”

“ Pappina exclaimed, peering down the winding road. A young girl came around a bend, leading a small pig, and the child darted toward her. A few yards from the singer she paused, uncertain whether to continue or not, but being reassured by a bright smile from the girl, she hastened on. Reaching the maiden, she stopped, and looked wonderingly at the pig. ”

“ The red dress was splendid before I spoiled it and my shoes were new once."
"Never mind the clothes. New clothes go with your new life, dear."
All the time Pappina was recovering, Mrs. Thurston was having search made for Guiseppe. Two days before Pappina left the hospital, he was found on the Toledo with his Punchinellos. Those employed to find him were looking for a Punchinello showman with a brown–haired, pale–faced English wife. All about Naples they searched, but in vain. ”

“ Every day she was quite as eager as Guiseppe to set forth, although they were in search of different things—Pappina coveting the smiles and [Pg 47] applause of the lords and ladies who seemed to her like beings from another world, Guiseppe eager for gold.
Every morning they would start out for some new quarter of the city which was visited by tourists and held mysteries for Pappina. It meant money to have these foreigners admire the child. Every one stopped to listen to her. ”

“ We've lots of places to go and plenty of rough roads to travel. No matter where we go, there'll be people to amuse. The more money we get the sooner we'll go to America. Come, Marta; come, Pappina. Where are the puppets? Here's the whole show now, and all of us are happy—eh, bambina?"
Marta hastily tied up the few effects into a small, neat bundle. Guiseppe picked up the Punchinellos, while Pappina, as usual, had only her tambourine. ”

“ Pappina began to cry.
"I don't want to go back to Guiseppe," she sobbed. "I love you, Marta, but I hate Guiseppe. If you take me back he'll try to beat me."
It took Marta some time to calm Pappina, to make her understand that it was all a mistake that she had been (as she thought) deserted.
"Look at my eyes, carina. Are they not still red from weeping? There is no happiness for me away from the little one who holds my heart."
They went to join Guiseppe and the throng moving to the church. As they approached the showman, Pappina clung tightly to Marta's hand; her steps grew slower. ”

“ Every one seems hungry for money.
Now that Guiseppe had possession of Pappina he felt himself in a fair way to appease his hunger, for, with all the poverty surrounding the splendid churches and palaces, the people of Italy are joyous and mirthloving, and give freely to those who amuse them. ”

“ How gay the people looked, tricked out in all the magnificence they could command! Pappina, looking at the surging mass of holiday–makers, asked: "Marta, is the whole world here to–day?"
Days before the fete Pappina had been taught to sing the Garibaldi. Guiseppe knew well the effect the song would have upon the people. For years he had sung it himself on fete day, but that was before he had his Punchinellos, before his voice had grown thin and cracked. Time and again he had scolded Marta because neither she nor the puppets could sing the Garibaldi. ”

“ Guiseppe, too, was soon asleep. And Marta? She shared neither Guiseppe's joy nor Pappina's happiness. She longed to be back in Naples, to take the child away from the applauding public. She kept saying to herself:
"It's a crime to make her the object of so much attention. It may spoil her, ruin her. What can I do? If only together we might run away to England, to America!"
In her fear of Guiseppe even the thought frightened her. She hated her weakness in not refusing to let the child continue such a life. ”

“ As soon as the town was reached Guiseppe began his growling anew.
"Sorrento! So this is the town old Genaro talks about. Crowing over me! Seems to think he knows such a lot. Bah! Tasso! Tasso—bah, I say!"
"Is that where I am to sing, Guiseppe?" Pappina asked timidly as she shook the dust from her frayed little frock.
"I'm not talking to you. You had better learn to mind you own business. Marta, I'll not leave this town till I see where the sister of that man Tasso lived, and I'll see his statue, too." ”

“ CHAPTER IV In the Valley of Pompeii
Marta was awake early the morning after the fete. She hurried to Pappina's cot and found the child ill. It was as she had feared: the excitement had proved too much for the little one. The wonder–child lay pale and listless. Her black eyes were drowsy.
Marta was bathing the feverish brow and hands when Guiseppe, returning from an errand, angrily asked why they were not ready to start on the day's rounds.
"Ready to start!" Marta cried. "Have you no eyes except for money? Look at her! ”

“ As soon as she saw the great iron gateway Pappina darted away without a word. Guiseppe [Pg 70]
[Pg 71] smiled as he watched her disappear and heard the rattle of her tambourine—always music in his ears because it meant to him the jingle of money as well as of bells.
La Favorita
Marta, looking up the avenue of fine trees that led to the chateau, saw a group of ladies and gentlemen, sitting on the lawn. Before them the little red–dressed figure was swaying in its dance, and she heard the sweet voice singing.
"Oh, Guiseppe," she exclaimed, "live, live, for we have her, the wonder–child! ”

“ We'll start all over again. Don't cry. Here, Marta, suppose you take her down to the water again. See, a little way down there the children are in bathing. You may as well let Pappina go in. It will do her good and rest her. She doesn't complain, for she's not the whimpering kind, but she looks tired out."
Pappina dried her tears and Marta soon had [Pg 132] her in the bright water. This was the first time Pappina had ever been in bathing, and at first she was afraid. Marta quickly calmed her fears, and her merry laughter reached Guiseppe's ears, luring him to the shore. ”

“ He patted the bag affectionately, looked again at Pappina, and added: "I'll let her rest. It's quiet after the fete, and I can't lose much to–day."
"To–day! Guiseppe, she shall not leave the house till she is quite well. You know how high–strung and sensitive she is, like a golden lute that responds to the slightest touch of any breeze, no matter how mild and soft. You must let her rest. You must, Guiseppe." Marta had gone close to her husband and was looking earnestly and pleadingly into his face.
"I'll not break her down and lose her," Guiseppe replied. "She did well at the fete. ”

“ The Punchinellos played, and Pappina sang and was paid and fed, but nothing satisfied Guiseppe. He grumbled continually. The harvest made on fete days had spoiled him for small gains.
"I'm sick of picking up meals wherever we can find them, and of sleeping on the hard ground," he said repeatedly to Marta, as though it were her fault that he was enduring discomforts. Guiseppe had been too many years in his home not to miss it. "Some people may like to tramp all over the country and pick up a living like dogs in an alley, but I'm sick of it, I tell you." ”

“ Perhaps to–morrow I shall hate you, and—really, Guiseppe—I [Pg 109] can't help it. Sometimes you're so mean I could kill you, but to–day, Guiseppe," fondling her beads, "I love you almost as well as I do Marta."
Pappina's words and little caress pleased Guiseppe, but he let neither her nor Marta see his pleasure. He took up the Punchinellos, merely saying: "I guess we'll be moving."
It was a happy little group that continued its way toward Salerno. Pappina took off her beads every few minutes to admire them. ”

“ Un soldo!" again cried the vender.
"Only a soldo, dear Guiseppe," Pappina pleaded, "and I do so want some! Let me sing for some."
"Stop now and sing for a half–penny's worth of pig! Simpleton! If you must have some, here—" He took a soldo from his money–bag. So Pappina got her piece of pig.
Guiseppe, Marta and Pappina joined the worshipers, leaving before mass was over in order to find a good place in which to begin the Punchinello show as soon as the throng had finished its devotions.
As the people began to leave the church, [Pg 91] Guiseppe started the show. ”

“ Seeing Marta bending over Pappina, he commanded her: "Shake the willful child; bid her get up at once. It's fete day."
Marta during her night's revery had determined [Pg 80] to protect Pappina at any cost to herself, so she pleaded for the child:
"Yes, Guiseppe, it is fete day, and for that reason you had better let Pappina rest for a little while. She is exhausted from her long tramp yesterday. She will have much excitement, singing and dancing all day, even late in the evening. We can find our breakfast and I will bring Pappina's to her. Let her rest, I pray you, Guiseppe; let her rest." ”

“ Guiseppe is far ahead. It is there at the bend of the street by that statue that he always stops when he plays on the Toledo."
At the mention of the Toledo, Pappina was only too ready to hurry along with Marta. So, half running, they reached Guiseppe's side just as he set up the Punchinellos.
[Pg 41]
Pappina, looking with disappointment up and down the street, asked: "Marta, is this the Toledo?"
"Yes."
"Then where are all the grand people in their fine carriages?"
"The grand people have nearly all gone away from Naples, away to the coast, where it is cool," Marta replied. ”

“ He must make good his losses. Great beads of perspiration stood on his brow as he recklessly risked his last soldo. Lost! Muttering an oath, he turned toward Pappina, who still sat at his elbow absorbed in her efforts to count her soldi.
Playing mora
At another time Filippo would have laughed at his favorite sister as she counted softly to herself, "One, two, six, four," but to–day he heard nothing, saw nothing but her tempting soldi. He reached into her apron for funds with which to [Pg 19] make another play. Pappina looked up, surprised, but said nothing. ”

“ There is no knowing what, in his rage, Guiseppe [Pg 56] would not have said and done had not Pappina fallen asleep almost immediately. It was poor Marta who was destined to feel the fury of his rage.
"She always takes advantage of me when I can't help myself," he began. "The upstart! Am I, Guiseppe, to give in to her, an imp raised in poverty and dirt?" He beat his hand on his breast. "Marta, I'll show her. I'll teach her who is master. I'll curb her temper. I'll conquer her or I'll die. Bah! Do you hear me? I say I'll conquer her or I'll die." ”