Mrs. Cicchi told us that Angelo was a good boy, and would much rather work than beg, if he could get anything to do. She said his father made images in Italy, and that Angelo was always trying to do it too, whenever he got a bit of clay; and sometimes she thought he could get a living in that way when she was dead, if he had any friends; but, "poor boy!" she said, and turned her face to the pillow. "Poor boy! oh, how can his father forget him?"
We comforted her, and told her that Angelo should be taken care of, and then she wiped away her tears, and said she "could die happy"—and she did die a few days after; for cold, and hunger, and trouble had done more mischief, than the doctor who was sent to her could undo, with all his skill.
How poor Angelo clung to her dead body! How he kissed her hands and face, and sobbed, "My poor, poor mother!" He grieved so much that we almost feared he would die too.
By and by he listened to me. I told him that his mother was always near him, though he could not see her; and that every time he thought a good thought, or put away an evil one, she sang a sweeter song. Angelo liked that! His great dark eyes glittered through his tears; he smiled and kissed my hand;—often he sits still and listens, as if he heard his mother's song.
Angelo is a good boy. When he is out of school he works with an image maker. It is all play to him, he likes it so much. The old man stares to see him go on, but don't say anything. I know very well what he is thinking: he thinks that one of these days Congress will send Angelo an order for a statue for the Capitol!
I think so myself.
Dear little Angelo! his father will be very glad to own him by and by. Oh, I can tell you, good luck is an excellent "town crier," to find people with bad memories!
I wonder how you treat the servants in your mother's house? Do you order them round, as if they were so many dray-horses?—or do you speak pleasantly to them when you desire they should wait on you? I know there are a great many bad servants, but there are a great many good ones, too.