ndreds of girls from the neighboring ed by, screaming and frolicking on t. And the masters and the policeHome! home!' But they, too,

wild revelry of the scholars who were

t snow.

IV. A SNOWBALL

everywhere.

A sad accident hap

ning, because of the snow. As we hool a crowd of boys just entering a to throw balls made of wet snow ard and heavy as stones. Many perg along the sidewalks, and a gentle"Stop that, you little rogues." Just a sharp cry was heard from the other et, and we saw an old man who had

was staggering about, covering his

ers near me, and pretending to be looking at t

W cases.

There was Garrone with his penny roll in h

ket as usual, Corretti, the Little Mason, a -offi, the stamp collector.

66

n the meantime a crowd had gathered arou old man, and a policeman and others were ru g to and fro, threatening and demanding, "WI it? Who did it? Was it you? Tell me wh it?" and they looked at the hands of the bo ee whether they were wet with snow.

aroffi was standing beside me. I noticed th was trembling like a leaf, and that his face w hly white. "Who was it? Who did it?" t

vd continued to cry.

hen I heard Garrone saying softly to Garof and give yourself up; it would be cowardly V some one else to be arrested."

But I did not do it on purpose," replied Garof trembling violently.

bing him by the arm, he pushed him ting him as though he were sick. , and immediately understood, and made a dash at him, with their fists arrone thrust himself between them

ing:

- of

you set on one child?"

eased, and a policeman took Garoffi by ed him through the crowd to a baker's wounded man had been carried. He ack on a chair, with a handkerchief As soon as I saw him, I recognized man who lives on the fourth floor of his little nephew.

do it on purpose!" sobbed Garoffi, half

ht.

"I did not do it on purpose.

!

e persons thrust him violently into the 'Down on your knees! Beg his par

rs and embraced the knees of the old man, wh

his hand on the boy's head, and caressed his ha en all said: "Go home, child, go home." My father drew me away from the crowd, and sa ne as we passed along the street, "Enrico, wou have had the courage to do your duty as Garo to go and confess your guilt?"

answered that I would.

nd he said, "Then give me your word, as a b eart and of honor, that you would do so." I give you my word, father.”

V. THE WOUNDED MAN

he little nephew of the old man who was stru Garoffi's snowball belongs to the upper thi e. We visited him to-day at the home of e who treats him like a son.

had just finished writing out the story for t

WA འབབབ་

ys it would be quite well again.

ccident," he added.

"I am sorry for

1 it must have caused that poor boy."

oor-bell rang.

› doctor," said his wife.

ned- and whom did I see?

Garoffi.

e threshold, with bowed head, afraid

m.

asked the sick man.

y who threw the snowball," answered d then the old man said:

or boy! come in; you have come to e wounded man, have you not? But e is almost well. Come here."

did not see us in his confusion, came

trying not to cry. The old man cathe boy could not speak.