"His name is Giorgio," said Maria. "He is only three months old. See, I can hold him in my arms."
"Where are his little feet?" asked Molly. "Why is he tied up so tightly?"
"Oh, we always do our babies up in long linen bands," Anita said. "It helps to keep their little legs straight. And see, Giorgio's bands are fastened with red and green ribbons. Red and green are the Italian national colors, you know."
"Doesn't he like to play and to kick with his feet? Our babies do in America," said May.
"Oh, no!" answered Anita. "He isn't big enough yet to know that he has any feet. But see, he can smile for you."
"Mother is going to give baby a bath in the canal now," said Maria. "He thinks it is lots of fun and so do we. Would you like to watch him have his bath?"
"Oh, we should love to!" exclaimed Molly and May.
So they watched Giorgio's mother unwind the yards and yards of linen bands which held his tiny legs so stiff and straight. When the little clothes were all off, the mother fastened a soft cord loosely around under the baby's arms. Then from the stone steps in front of her door, she lowered her baby very gently into the water of the canal. Up and down she dipped him, up and down, while he laughed and splashed like a real boy.
Up and down she dipped him