"But this one was not a flower. She was a little maiden and her name was Beatrice. All day long Dante watched her as she played about, and never, throughout his whole life, did he forget her.
"Though they seldom met, the little girl named Beatrice was forever with Dante in his dreams. To her he wrote most of his marvelous poetry. 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.
| A CANAL IN VENICE |
"This is an anxious moment. For, if the cricket leaps into the air, good fortune will follow the owner. But if he creeps slowly away, his poor owner will suffer bad luck.