Initial commit of ebook 79015 filesHEAD main

author: www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> 2026-07-04 06:26:16 -0700
committer: www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> 2026-07-04 06:26:16 -0700
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+      The Heart of an Orphan | Project Gutenberg
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+
+<body>
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79015 ***</div>
+
+
+<section>
+<figure class="figcenter illowp47" id="frontis" style="max-width: 31.875em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/frontis.jpg" alt="sketch: Girl seated at school desk, holding a pen and paper, staring intently forward.">
+  <figcaption>
+    <p><q>Dear Mother of my hart,——</q></p>
+  <div class="attr">Frontispiece</div>
+  </figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h1>
+THE HEART OF AN ORPHAN
+</h1>
+
+<p class="p4 byline x-ebookmaker-important"><span class="allsmcap smaller">BY</span><br>
+AMANDA MATHEWS</p>
+
+<p class="p2 center"><span class="allsmcap">ILLUSTRATIONS BY</span><br>
+<span class="ls">W. T. BENDA</span></p>
+
+<p class="p4 center">New York<br>
+Desmond FitzGerald, Inc.</p>
+</div>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p class="center">
+  Copyright, 1912<br>
+  By Desmond FitzGerald, Inc.
+</p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p class="center">
+<span class="allsmcap">TO<br>
+  MY GOOD ANGEL</span><br>
+  ADA HENRY VAN PELT
+</p>
+</div>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS">
+    CONTENTS
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<nav data-epub-type="toc">
+<table data-summary="contents">
+<thead>
+ <tr><td></td>
+    <th scope="col" class="tdr allsmcap">PAGE</th></tr>
+</thead>
+<tbody>
+<tr><td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Heart of an Orphan</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Translation of Giovanna</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_24">24</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdh">“<span class="smcap">Little Sister in Cage of Gold</span>”</td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_37">37</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Merry Christmas of Giovanna</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_53">53</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Giovanna’s Italian Renaissance</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_78">78</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Giovanna’s First Remembers</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_105">105</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Giovanna as the Wrong Princess</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb pad1"><a href="#Page_123">123</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Giovanna’s Commencement</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_143">143</a></td></tr>
+ </tbody>
+</table>
+</nav>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="ILLUSTRATIONS">
+    ILLUSTRATIONS
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<nav data-epub-type="loi">
+<table data-summary="illustrations">
+ <thead>
+<tr><td></td>
+<th scope="col" class="tdr allsmcap">FACING PAGE</th></tr>
+ </thead>
+ <tbody>
+<tr><td class="tdh">“Dear Mother of my hart,——”</td>
+    <td class="tdr"><a href="#frontis"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class="tdh">“I ran for the letters and put them in your hand”</td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#i_fp014">14</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdh">“You took me on your lap like I was a little orphun”</td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#i_fp020">20</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdh">“I put on my sylum dress and pined on my hanky”</td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#i_fp034">34</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdh">“Dolly’s grand idea was for the Eggsloosifs to give the orphuns of the sylum a Christmas”</td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#i_fp054">54</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdh">“O the teeny gold watch with G on it”</td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#i_fp066">66</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdh">“I must hold my horny hand at my back for politeness”</td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#i_fp110">110</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdh">“I pulled again and there was the real hand of a man”</td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#i_fp156">156</a></td></tr>
+
+ </tbody>
+</table>
+</nav>
+</section>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true">
+
+<main>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span></p>
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_HEART_OF_AN_ORPHAN">
+    THE HEART OF AN ORPHAN
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p class="unindent drop-cap"><i><span class="smcap">Dear</span> Mother of my hart</i>,—</p>
+
+<p>I hope you don’t mind my putting
+that name on you when I aint nothing to
+you any more than some little cat you
+patted once. I don’t know where you are
+at and you don’t know where I am at so it
+don’t matter much what I call you.</p>
+
+<p>We aint all hole orfuns in this sylum.
+Lots of us is halfs and the halfs write to
+their whichever they got left every wensday.
+The holes can write too if they got
+anybody and a stamp. I am a hole and
+I aint got the stamp or anybody so I will
+take my pen in hand to let you know I
+am well and hope you are the same.</p>
+
+<p>This letter will surprise you only you
+won’t never get it so it can’t surprise you
+much. I aint seen you for so long about
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span>3 years I gess. I was a little girl then
+do you remember me in the Busy Bee Sewing
+Club at the coledge setelment? I sat
+at the end of the row and got tangels on
+purpus so you would come and lift them
+out. You had a smile on you like anything
+and I loved you. So did the other
+girls but not like me. I always knew in
+my hart when it was the day to sew in the
+Busy Bee Club.</p>
+
+<p>O I would I had a picksure of you dear
+one and swete but why do I say that because
+I have your picksure in my head.
+You were not old or kidish or tall or
+sawdoff you were just right.</p>
+
+<p>Do you remember that day you went to
+my house that was a better day than any
+since. We laughed because you sat on
+the busted chair by misssteak. Do you remember
+how my mama she coffd and coffd
+something awfool. Well she died in 1
+year and 3 weeks. There was Tony and
+Isabella and me. Tony died in the ospittle
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span>poor Tony. My papa died. It seemed
+like we had the habbit in our family. I
+said I wunder if me or Isabella will die
+next time. I do not care much for to
+be an orfun is a hard life for anybody but
+I did not die.</p>
+
+<p>Me and Isabella come to live at this
+sylum but Isabella was pretty and little
+so a kind lady took her for her own. I
+cried and cried and said to the maytrun O
+keep her till I get big enufh to adop her
+myself but she said no you are too yung.
+I beged for them to let me see her not
+awfun but some times 2 or 3 in a yere but
+the kind lady said no I want her to forget
+you and all her passed. I no not where
+the kind lady has her or if she is dead by
+this time.</p>
+
+<p>Nobody wants to adop me because I am
+long and black in my hair and eyes. They
+do not like orfuns to be long and black. I
+know because I heard them say when they
+never knew I did. Can I help that mama
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span>and papa was daygoes? I guess not. But
+Isabella the kind lady said was a little
+brunet buty so she took her for her own.</p>
+
+<p>Dear Mother of my hart, I heard the
+maytrun tell the halfs it is not polite to
+write about me and nun about you but
+what can I write of you when you went
+away before my mother died and I know
+not where you may be.</p>
+
+<p>O dear mother what can I call you
+more than dear and swete? O dear dear
+dear mother I love you for papa and
+mama and Tony poor Tony and Isabella
+the kind lady took her for her own. When
+a family is only 2 like me and you mother
+we must love very much don’t you think?
+I will close with 9,000,000,000 kisses and
+some more.</p>
+
+<p>Your long black dawter, <span class="righttext">Giovanna.</span>
+</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="unindent"><i>Mother of my hart</i>,</p>
+
+<p>You will be glad to hear your dear dawter
+is treeted first rayte in this sylum. It
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span>is a Christian sylum, we have prayers
+every day and py on satterday. The
+peaces are small but what does that matter?
+I would not like to be a beggar on
+the street.</p>
+
+<p>There are 95 orfuns counting holes and
+halfs. The maytrun is not mean but O I
+want some person to love me. The maytrun
+can not do that no wuman can love
+95 orfuns how could she?</p>
+
+<p>We have school but not satterday and
+sunday for the Lord said let us take a rest
+so he hollered it. I like reading but not
+rithmetick, what is the good of xampels
+about money and apples and orunges when
+you have nun? I like to draw and sing.
+I usto hate goggerfry but now no more
+for when I study of any place I say who
+knows but the mother of my hart is there?
+When the teacher tells point E. and W.
+and N. and S. I say which way do I point
+at my dear but I get no ans. My teacher
+does not like me too much because my
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span>temper is bad so is my writing. We must
+be as neat as we are able and never speak
+when at the table.</p>
+
+<p>Why I made some potry I never knew
+I could.</p>
+
+<p>Mother of my hart I hate my close. I
+know that is very bad but how would you
+like to look like 95 orfuns? so nobody could
+tell which one you are. I am long and
+black like I said and blue is not my culler.
+I feel my legs like any thing and my arms
+too but I think it is better than rags. I
+am thank full I am not a beggar on the
+street. So I am great full to the maytrun
+and the ladys of the board.</p>
+
+<p>I sleep in a dormit I can not spell it with
+20 orfuns no 19 it is no fare to count myself.
+The girls wash the dishes and spred
+up the beds and we have a bath in the tub
+2 times a month and our neckeneres washt
+ever week.</p>
+
+<p>Sunday afternune is for visitors only
+nobody comes to visit me. It aint that
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span>candy is not swete to me as to others but
+a loving word would give me much more
+joy but that is not for me. I did not cry last
+sunday like I awfun do because I thot of
+you mother dear dear dear tho far away.
+I played you come in the door in your pink
+dress the same you usto wear. A lady
+said onct but not to me she came to stair
+at the Busy Bees when we sewed. She
+said you hadn awt to wear a dress we
+could never hope to own but what is the
+matter with hopeing any thing? It dont
+cost nuthing even an orfun can hope. You
+come in like I said and when you see me
+you cried out why if here aint my little
+Giovanna and you set down on the bench
+by me and I lened over to you with my
+head and the maytrun says Giovanna have
+you gotta crick in your neck and you don’t
+like her to say that so you go away.</p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter illowp45" id="i_fp014" style="max-width: 30.0625em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i_fp014.jpg" alt="sketch: Girl handing a packet of letters to a woman">
+  <figcaption>
+    <q>I ran for the letters and put them in your hand</q><br>
+    <div class="attr"><a href="#Page_20">Page 20</a></div>
+  </figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p>If you love me as I love you no nife can
+cut our love into. I didn make that a girl
+told it to me.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span></p>
+
+<p>We say our prayers at night kneeling by
+our beds every body at once like a big song
+up to God. I prayed Lord bless my dear
+mother but the girl next she is a half and
+she said shut up you hole you aint got nun
+so I slapt her good for I got you darlling
+even if you dont know it.</p>
+
+<p>All the orfuns are putting up their pens
+and I must do the same.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+  Your loving long black dawter, <span class="righttext">
+Giovanna.</span></p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="unindent"><i>Mother of my hart</i>,</p>
+
+<p>Since I rote last I had a hard time. I
+have been out in the cold crule world.
+Give me a sylum every time. There was a
+wuman looking over the orfuns and she
+wanted a big one and she found falt with
+me for not being bigger now what do you
+think of that? She wanted some body to
+help with the dishes and such she called it
+light work and the maytrun said if she
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span>would send me to school and not work me
+hevy she could have me.</p>
+
+<p>I didn like her looks but I thot praps
+she would do for sorta plane mother not
+the sunday mother of my hart so do not
+be jellus dear one I love but you and that
+is true and our secret.</p>
+
+<p>When I got to her house I never saw
+such a durty kitshen and she made me
+clean it good and her mop was something
+fearce it smelt like garbige. I gess she
+hadn washt her dishes most never. I
+washt and washt and I washt and her dish
+rag it smelt the same.</p>
+
+<p>She had a little boy and he walkt on the
+floor when it was wet and I told him no and
+he kickt me and I slapt him good and his
+ma slapt me gooder on the eres.</p>
+
+<p>Finely she said I could go to bed and the
+sheets was durty and I cried for back at
+the sylum but it was far on 2 street cars
+so I didn know the way. I cried and I
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span>cried but I said whats the use she gotta
+take me back if am bad enufh. I will be
+bad like—no I didn say it out loud so it
+was no sware.</p>
+
+<p>The next day I busted dishes like anything
+I sast her fearce and all I dun was
+misssteaks and such. Her little boy was
+much a frade. She said she would brake
+me but she coodn. She said much more
+I must not write for it was sware and I
+can not spell it anyway. She slapt me 100
+times on my head and eres but I would not
+cry. I bit her good and she screamed.
+Finely she said you durty brat I take you
+back where I got you and I was glad but
+I said nuthing for fere she wouldn.</p>
+
+<p>The maytrun was not mad on me for she
+told the wuman I was not vishus when
+treeted well. The wuman wanted to trade
+me for a better orfun but the maytrun
+wouldn let her goody!</p>
+
+<p>I seem more near to you mother of my
+hart now I am back at the sylum. I lost
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span>your picksure outa my head when I was
+bad. I will be good for you, darlling, so
+you can be proud of your dawter. If I
+have thinks of you allways praps the thinks
+will fly to you like little birds. I will pray
+God to put wings to them.</p>
+
+<p>  Goodby with fond regards, Giovanna.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="unindent"><i>Swete mother of my hart</i>,</p>
+
+<p>Was it a dream you was here today?
+You lookt a little older and your dress was
+gray trimmed in pink. How funy I was
+that I could not speak. I guess you said
+she is a quere one. I was like a dum orfun
+they took her off to an other sylum.
+I was so full inside there couldn nun of it
+get out so you thot I did not remember
+you as if that could be.</p>
+
+<p>I can not forget any word you said to
+me. You told you was happy which makes
+me glad you bet. You said you had thots
+of me and ast and ast till you come where
+I was. I bleve that was because I had
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span>them thots of you and God gave them
+wings like I prayed. I am writing all so
+you won’t think I am dum like I ack.</p>
+
+<p>Now you are a goner and praps aint
+coming back for you didn say nuthing but
+I ran for the letters safe and tite under
+my matres and put them in your hand and
+you stuft them in your little bag made of
+silver chanes and you kist me goodby that
+is no dream.</p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter illowp63" id="i_fp020" style="max-width: 42.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i_fp020.jpg" alt="Sketch: Woman seated on a chair with girl sitting on her lap">
+  <figcaption>
+    <q>You took me on your lap like I was a little orphun</q><br>
+    <div class="attr"><a href="#Page_21">Page 21</a></div>
+  </figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p>Maybe praps you will write me a letter
+O there wont be a orfun in the wurld
+happy same as me! I won’t be eggspecting
+it and Ile play I aint watching for the
+post man and when he comes and gives
+letters to the maytrun and she speaks my
+name Ile play I aint sure she menes me
+and Ile say did you call me maam and
+Ile run with the letter and hide under my
+bed in the dormit I can not spell it and
+Ile read and read. O you will write wont
+you dear dear darlling dear mother of
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span>my hart or I guess I will die I want you to
+so bad.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+  Your big old long black dawter,
+<span class="righttext">Giovanna.</span>
+</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="unindent"><i>Mother of my hart</i>,</p>
+
+<p>I got spots all over me from bunting in
+to the furnishure when Ime trying to
+know is it true or not. I can’t never tell
+you how I felt inside when you took me
+on your lap like I was a little orfun and
+my legs hung down most to the floor and
+I am too hevy for you.</p>
+
+<p>You said to think you had a dawter like
+me and you never knew it and I was awful
+chokt and couldn find my hanky and you
+gave me yours and you needed it too and
+had to swipe up your tears on the other
+corner.</p>
+
+<p>I said I guess you will write me a leter
+and you said letter nuthing I was your
+own preshus dawter and should go with
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span>you and I cried so hard you ast me didn
+I want to go and I was scared for fere you
+would leve me agen.</p>
+
+<p>You said my letters was full of puns. I
+am sorry but I don’t see how it could be
+for the maytrun is very care full and kepes
+dope to kill them dead.</p>
+
+<p>When ever I think of you down on my
+knees I flop and I think so awfun it would
+be cheeper to just walk round on my knees
+but it would ware out my stockings and
+the maytrun would be mad at me and I
+can’t bare to make anybody mad when I
+am so happy.</p>
+
+<p>O I will be good to you mother of my
+hart. When you are poor I work for you.
+When you get sick I sit all night by your
+bed. I get crazzy with the clock and I
+like nights best for I can sleep or eles ly on
+my pillo and make picksures of you in my
+head.</p>
+
+<p>O don’t be long gone dear angle mother
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span>of my hart and don’t let me be ever away
+from you one day all my life any more.</p>
+
+<p class="right"><span class="r4">Your own dawter,</span><br>
+<span class="r2"><br>Giovanna.</span>
+</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span></p>
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_TRANSLATION_OF">
+    THE TRANSLATION OF
+    GIOVANNA
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p class="drop-cap"><i><span class="smcap">Preshus</span> angle Mother</i>—</p>
+
+<p>yes I will be payshunt not to come
+live by you. I awto be satisfide when you
+are somewhere loving me and I am somewhere
+loving you but I gotta sorry spot
+inside that you must be gone so far and
+long from me.</p>
+
+<p>I usto hate my sylum close but now no
+more for its gotta pockit to keep your darling
+letter in. All day I love it with my
+hand and all night with my cheek. It
+makes a wisper in my pockit and I wisper
+back to it. I must be alright with God
+for him to let you come to me but I do
+not see how that can be for I am awfun
+nawty in my temper.</p>
+
+<p>There is a hole orfun in this sylum with
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span>big moufh and little sents and stufs all in
+it like a baby. She grabt your letter and
+I grabt it back. I most slapt her but it
+ain’t 2 weeks since I was an orfun my own
+self and she gotta be it all her life for a
+big moufh and little sents is wurse to adop
+than long and black like me and I didnt
+slap her.</p>
+
+<p>My burthday usto be lost but now I gotta
+new one and its the day you took me for
+a dawter forever and ever Amen. But
+does that make me now a baby squawling
+on my cot? No it is the day when happyness
+sprowted in my sowl which the
+preecher says we all got one to be lost if
+we are wicket.</p>
+
+<p>A new big orfun sleeps in our dormitory
+the maytrun spelt it. She wears a pompydoor
+on a mouse she made outa the maps
+in her joggerfry. She keeps a flurt book
+and a whiches dream book under her pillo
+and learns the girls of nights to dream
+and flurt but they cannot flurt much for
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span>their hankys are pined to their close and
+gloves fans and parysawls orfuns has nun.
+I put the sheet in my ears not to lissen because
+I know you wouldnt like me to. I
+could write how I love you on all the paper
+in the wurld and not have enufh.</p>
+
+<p class="right">
+<span class="r4">your feckshunate dawter</span><br>
+  <span class="r2">Giovanna.</span>
+</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="unindent"><i>Angle darling Mother</i>—</p>
+
+<p>I leve the sylum tomorrow for the boarding
+school like you want me to. I am
+yours to put where you pleaze.</p>
+
+<p>I will tell you all that past today. I had
+a bath tho it was only the middel of the
+week. We allways walk 2 and 2 and we
+reech all down the block but this morning
+it was me with the maytrun and no more.
+I was much afrade the orfuns would brake
+themselves outa the windos where they
+lookt and wigled their hands to me.</p>
+
+<p>P. S. They didnt.</p>
+
+<p>We went to a big big big store and I
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span>lookt in a glass where I seen myself all of
+one peace for the furst time. I guessed
+I was humly but not like that. I scrooocht
+down for my dress to fall more on my legs
+but it wouldnt.</p>
+
+<p>A lady made a shampoo on my head and
+a manycure on my nails. I felt cheep to
+let her do for me like I was a baby and
+I thankt her all I could and I felt awful nice
+and funny when it was finisht. The maytrun
+smiled and smiled like I never knew
+she could and she put dear on me as nobody
+does on orfuns.</p>
+
+<p>O the close and close she bawt for me
+with your preshus money! White pettys
+like angles must wear and button shoes
+with tassels. O my toes wigle wigle how
+glad they are and I bleve I could go anywhere
+in 3 jumps. And a red silk dress
+that wispers wispers all the time like your
+letter in my pocket. Mother of my hart
+dont think I love you more for the close
+because I loved you the most I could all
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span>ready. I got so much love for you in me
+there aint hardly room for my brefh.</p>
+
+<p>I ast the maytrun to let me take my orfun
+close for a remember what I usto wear
+before you took me.</p>
+
+<p>The orfuns lookt and lookt and her of
+the big moufh and little sents put her finger
+on my red dress and I let her. I am not
+glad for going. Orfuns is not the wurst
+compny and this is where you was at 2
+times with me. I will be awful good at
+the school so you will not be mortyfide on
+me.</p>
+
+<p class="right">
+<span class="r4">your obeedyent dawter</span><br>
+<span class="r2">Giovanna.</span>
+</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="unindent"><i>Angle Mother of my hart</i>—</p>
+
+<p>this is the night of my furst day at the
+Eggsloosif School where you got me put
+to learn manners and gramer.</p>
+
+<p>I will write some good to prepair you for
+the wurst. The dining room is butyfull
+the lights is in red flowers and the plates
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span>is deckrated with roses and the glasses is
+made of diamons and there is pink babys
+stuck to the ceeling. The Eggsloosifs
+wear rings and lockits and bows. They
+laff laff fast and happy all the time. I
+lookt at them very much and was glad you
+put me so high by your love.</p>
+
+<p>Orfuns pass the food but talk not.
+Eggsloosifs talk but pass not. A lady
+with teeny aprun must tote the food all
+round the table. The Principle sits at
+the end. If anybody is bad she does not
+speke it out for Eggsloosifs has tender
+sowls. She writes it on a peace of paper
+and the lady with the teeny aprun gives it
+to the girl on the quiet. She brung me
+one and I thot it must be lessons at dinner
+so I read it out loud and it said for me to
+look how the other girls ust their spoons
+and they all lafft and lafft at me to read
+it out. O it was no fare! It was no fare!
+They was mean to laff wasnt they Mother?
+I never knew it was on the quiet and I
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span>never knew my spoon must fall backward
+in my soup. I didnt feel my red dress no
+more. I felt all scrooocht down like I
+had on my orfun close. I was full of cry
+but I wouldnt let it out.</p>
+
+<p>Then the lady clered off the table and
+set it agen with us looking and not helping
+nun. That seemed mean. I thot she did
+so for brekfas but no it was to ete some
+more. I couldnt so I wisht the orfuns
+had my shair. I tried so as not to be quere
+but my swallo wouldnt ack.</p>
+
+<p>I never seen when the lady come to me
+with gravey and I hit it with my elbow and
+it spilt on a girls dress and I pollygized the
+best I could but she was mad and she said
+the ideah of you being goose enufh to adop
+me and think you could make a lady outa
+me. I said I aint nuthing but she is and
+you let her be. I slapt that girl good on
+the cheek. When you slap poorness she
+will slap back but richness has histerick
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span>awful for her mother never gave her no
+spanks so this was her furst blow.</p>
+
+<p>The Principle called me ungreatful protee
+jay to you or I wouldnt a dun what
+I dun. I ans. no mam I am a greatful
+jay to her no matter how I ack and she
+sorta chokt and sent me upstairs to think
+it over with my conshents and my conshents
+will ever say the same it was my
+falt to hit the gravey but the slap was not
+on me it was on her to put that name to
+you. When this letter flys where you are
+at there will fly the letter of the Principle
+to tell how bad I was all ready. I don’t
+care! I don’t care! O its fearce how I
+dont care and I got tear spots all over my
+red dress.</p>
+
+<p>I guess its no use mother of my hart. I
+am not worth you should have such pains
+on me and thats the true. The ways of
+poorness is not the ways of richness the
+ways of badness is not the ways of goodness.
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span>I aint no more fittn to be your dawter
+than the orfun of the big moufh and
+little sents. But O write to me that you
+do not hate me in your hart. Write that
+I am not all misssteak to you. Write how
+you kinda like me a little nawty and unfittn
+tho I be.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+your awful sorry
+</p>
+<p class="p0 right r2">
+Giovanna.
+</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="unindent"><i>Preshus goner angle Mother</i>—</p>
+
+<p>it is now the night of my furst week at
+this school and you aint sent no ans. to my
+letter.</p>
+
+<p>The Eggsloosifs say I am low to slap a
+girl so they got tayboo on me. They never
+speak to a tayboo cept they have to before
+a teacher and if anybody was good to that
+one they would put tayboo on her the same.
+They made a line with chak round my desk
+that nobody must cross to come by me.
+Then they talk how low I am like I had
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span>no ears. The class pote says I am a weed
+in the middel of the flowers. I never cry
+because I wouldnt do them that much good.
+I just hate them with my eyes. What’s
+the good of a Jim suit when the music dont
+say nothing to your toes? I am so sorry
+all days that no lesson can stick to my
+mind.</p>
+
+<p>But tayboos and such is not my big wo.
+I know in my hart you are sorry you took
+me for a dawter. I see now the kind you
+want like these Eggsloosifs but I got no
+good start to be that class. I was not
+made to be a parlor dawter to you Mother
+of my hart but let me be a kitshen dawter.
+No dishes would be greesy if I wash for
+you. No floors would be big and durty if
+I scrub for you! O dear dear mother dont
+throw me away for no good but keep me
+for a kitshen dawter.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+your back door
+</p>
+<p class="p0 right r2">
+Giovanna.
+</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span></p>
+
+<p class="unindent"><i>Dear lady what usto be my Mother</i>—</p>
+
+<p>today I was in the class of gramer and
+the teacher said Giovanna what is chair
+and I ans. chair is a noun on which to set
+and the girls lafft and I had much mad and
+shame. I heard out on the street some
+one to cry potaytoes potaytoes.</p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="i_fp034" style="max-width: 35.375em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i_fp034.jpg" alt="Sketch: Group of girls surrounding one in a plaid dress with a hanky attached.">
+  <figcaption>
+    <q>I put on my sylum dress and pined on my hanky</q><br>
+    <div class="attr"><a href="#Page_35">Page 35</a></div>
+  </figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p>It was the voice of Luigi a daygo he peddels
+by the sylum and he usto be frends
+with my father. I run out of that school
+awful quick. Luigi did not know me in
+my Eggsloosif dress and he ast do you
+want some potaytoes Miss? Then he
+knew me and I clum upon the wagon and
+I said go fast I wanto lope with you back
+to the sylum for I hate this school and all
+contaned. He whipt the horse round the
+corner and then more slow for it skun the
+potaytoes and I told him all and no lies.
+He ans. lopes was no fare to you so he stopt
+the wagon and down I clum and a teacher
+of the school come running and she held
+me by the hand like I would lope some more
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span>but I wouldnt. The girls lafft very much
+and teezed me till I felt sick with shame
+and mad. The class pote made a song.</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+      <div class="verse indent0">see how low daygoes</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">run for potaytoes.</div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<p class="unindent">I hate that class pote I do indede. I hate
+all the fokes I got and I lost all the fokes
+I love. I will go now and put on my sylum
+close so as to be ready for back when the
+Principle will say you want me to. That
+dress would be alright with me if it only
+had an angle letter from you to wisper in
+the pockit but now no more so my good
+days are all dun. I guess God knew I was
+not good enufh to be your dawter for that
+he let me to spill the gravey and slap the
+Eggsloosif so your love to me all friz up
+in your hart.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+her which usto be your dawter
+<span class="righttext">Giovanna.</span>
+</p>
+<br>
+<p>P. S. I put on my sylum dress and
+pined on my hanky like I usto and I come
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span>where the girls was and they lookt and
+lookt and I said I wear the kind of close
+like what I am. I hate you all give me tin
+spoons and no tayboo. The girls lookt
+and lookt some more and lafft not. Then
+they was took with much shame on themselves
+and they pollygized for what they
+dun to me. They said I was darling and
+we cried some and lafft some and huged
+and kist very much and all said they ast
+me furst to borro my sylum dress for to
+ware in a play and we huged more and
+now I love Eggsloosifs same as orfuns.</p>
+
+<p>O but the best was to get your dear dear
+dear letter. O to think it was just a storm
+mussed up the railroad and you love me
+ever and allways the same!</p>
+
+<p>Xcuse the funny spots my tears made
+them when I thot the chane between us 2
+was busted. Now we can play they are
+laffs I am so glad!</p>
+
+<p class="right r2">G.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span></p>
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="LITTLE_SISTER_IN_CAGE_OF">
+    “LITTLE SISTER IN CAGE OF
+    GOLD”
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p class="drop-cap"><i><span class="smcap">Mother</span> Mother Mother</i>,—</p>
+
+<p>When I make the start with that
+precous word I do not know to stop. O I
+love how you make G on envelops. I allways
+kiss that G I do indeed.</p>
+
+<p>My new beautiful duster razen tailer
+soot came in a box today. If God had not
+dyed me so Daygo brown at first, Mother,
+I could look just like the Eggsloosifs of
+this school in that duster razen tailer soot.
+I cannot help my color but I would be no
+more Daygo inside because you are not.
+This is not mean to my dear parents for
+they are all dead and Tony got T. B. in
+his joynts and died in the ospittle poor
+Tony. Isabella was a little brunet beauty
+and a kind lady took her for her own and
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span>I know not if she is dead also but I think
+yes for that is like our famly.</p>
+
+<p>I have a sorry spot in me for what past
+today. Luigi—you know the man of
+fruits and potaytoes who was friend to my
+father—came to see me but he never because
+the maid called the same teacher
+that ran behind me the day I loped with
+Luigi back to the sylum because the girls
+put tayboo on me. That teacher has bad
+ideahs of Luigi that are no fair because
+Luigi didnt stand for lopes atall but she
+wouldnt let him make more talk in the door
+but shut it tight.</p>
+
+<p>The class poet name Dolly was sent to
+the office for wispering which is by the
+door so she heard all. She is a real poet
+because she cant help it no more than a
+fitty orfun we had once at the sylum she
+ran the maytrun most crazy. Dolly had
+to write the poetry on Venusses back or
+she said it woulda been lost to the world
+and what a pity. Venus is a little white
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span>saint in the office. Dolly has a nawty way
+not respeckfull of her betters but she says
+when she acts like badness it is only jeenyus
+in the fire. Here is the poetry. I dont
+like it for not respeckfull of Luigi.</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+      <div class="verse indent0">The Daygo shook his earings gold</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">And begged he might the child behold</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">The Teacher froze him with her glasses</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Sir you keep me from my classes</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Avaunt thou son of garlick do!</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Giovanna flys too high for you!</div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<p>P. S. Dolly says such was not the
+words of that teacher but you cannot write
+the true in poetry or it will not stand right
+on its ends.</p>
+
+<p>O I have a fraid Luigi will believe I am
+grown hawty and how could I when I
+would be a whole orfun in the sylum this
+minute just the same like I was if you
+hadnt took me out by your love.</p>
+
+<p class="right"><span class="r6">
+Your ownest ownest</span><br>
+<span class="r2">Giovanna.</span>
+</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span></p>
+
+<p class="unindent"><i>Dear Mother Mother Dear</i>,—</p>
+
+<p>I guess it was God who got me sent to
+the office not for badness but 3 pencils.
+The Principle said listen Giovanna all days
+that old fruit peddler friend of yours makes
+one same song up to this school when he
+goes by on his waggon. I listened and
+shook and shook for it was Luigi and he
+made no song but only to play sing in
+Daygo talk “I know where is one little bird
+name Isabella in cage of gold.” He did
+that way to tell me because he got such
+scare on that teacher he hadnt dare to
+ring the bell. I beg the Principle please
+xcuse all shakes because Isabella usto be
+my sister and she was a little brunet beauty
+and a kind lady took her for her own.</p>
+
+<p>The Principle sent the maid quick to run
+behind Luigi which she done and he had a
+fraid to whoa but he did and sat on the
+big black chair in the office and the Principle
+was not hawty but treated him grand
+like he was a payrent of this school.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span></p>
+
+<p>Luigi tell of sell the orange and the
+apple in one street of rich. He tell one
+house most big and wide and high and
+wonderfull. He tell the curtains like vail
+of Virgin in church of Italy where his
+madre do kiss that vail in its corner. He
+tell one little miss come put back curtins
+with her hands to look—little miss dressed
+in pink silk all ruffledy like biggest doll in
+Christmas window. Little miss got long
+black curls and face of Isabella. No he
+not make catch the mistake for didnt he see
+her since bambina to play with his own
+bambinas? Was he old to have eyes of
+blind beggar? No it was Isabella—he
+say Isabella till he die and no mistake.
+Then Luigi went away.</p>
+
+<p>The Principle said Giovanna Saterday
+a teacher will take you to see your sister.
+I answer that cannot be for the kind lady
+wished her to forget me and all her past.
+She will never let me in. The Principle
+said real hawty but not at me “you got a
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span>Bennyfactor now good as her and a teacher
+of this school will company you. That
+is enough.”</p>
+
+<p>So I went back upstairs and the teacher
+said where are the pencils? I answer
+please what pencils? The teacher saw
+my looks and she thought I was sick but
+I wasnt. It was just my thinks of Isabella
+jumping round in me. Soon we were dissmist
+and I ran quick here to my room to
+tell you all.</p>
+
+<p>Today is Wensday and I got to live
+Thursday and Friday before I can get to
+Saterday. For it is a rule of this school
+not to make visits in the middle of weeks.</p>
+
+<p>O but 3 days is not so long as perhaps
+never and to think my darling sister is not
+dead in her grave like I expected. When
+God made the start to be good to me He
+dont forget a thing.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Your adoring<span class="righttext">
+Giovanna.</span></p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span></p>
+
+<p class="unindent"><i>Angel Mother of my life</i>,—</p>
+
+<p>It is my joy that to-morrow is Saterday
+when a teacher will take me to visit Isabella.
+Can my little sister forget me in
+one year? Can she forget how I held her
+on our doorstep at the tenement and how
+I made curls on her and washed her dress
+and licked any kid that would teeze her and
+ate myself the most spoiled sides of apples
+which Papa gave us that could not sell?
+He was a man of fruits like Luigi but more
+stile for he had a stand and no waggon.
+Can she forget how she slept with me and
+the bannannas and I all times put more
+blankit to her and not to me? But if she
+has gone and forgot all I will not have
+mean feels at her because she was little.</p>
+
+<p>But O Mother the Eggsloosifs all say
+that kind lady was crule and selfish to separate
+2 sisters like she done and its the true.
+She was jellus that Isabella would love
+anybody else but her. Now perhaps my
+baby sister has gone and lost her love for
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span>me out of her heart and all by the fault of
+that kind lady. The priest says on Sunday
+that hate is wicket but I cant help to
+hate hate hate her hard and fierce. If she
+has woe I care not for look at the woe she
+made to me. I didnt ask her to adopt me
+the long brown old thing nobody could
+want but you and I dont know how you
+did but I begged her only to let me see
+Isabella 2 or 3 × in a year because God
+put her to me for a sister but she wouldnt.
+I have no sure she will let me in for I
+know her hawty and jellus as she is but
+she cannot help I should walk by her house
+and look for Isabella at the window. But
+I hope in no window to see that kind lady
+for the hate I got on her.</p>
+
+<p>Now I will shut her out of my head and
+only keep in my thoughts of Isabella.</p>
+
+<p>It is bedtime but my eyes dont want to
+sleep for my thinks of Isabella and they do
+too so I can get quicker to Saterday.
+When I say my prayers and my goodnight
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span>to you by my bed I will say also goodnight
+my baby sister in cage of gold. I love
+down to Isabella Mother like I love up to
+you. I pray God will not let her feckshun
+for me get lost out of her.</p>
+
+<p class="unindent">Your O so happy<span class="righttext">Giovanna.</span></p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="unindent"><i>Only Mother of my Soul</i>,—</p>
+
+<p>We found the place me and the teacher.
+It was a palace that house but O mother
+by the front door was big bow of black. I
+know what means black bows for we had
+them all times in our famly not so big but
+25 dolars is no cheap funrals and must
+make stile for the naybors and the man
+takes the bow the minute the cawfin is gone
+out of the door but for funrals of 15 dolars
+he wont lend his bow to nobody.</p>
+
+<p>I shook and shook and say I might a
+known Isabella would be dead for my family
+is like that but the teacher answer it
+would not be so black and big for a child.
+I said no she was little and curly and I
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span>felt some better but queer for it is sorry
+anybody must die. The teacher rang the
+door bell and the maid came and her eyes
+were pink with weeps. She told that the
+lady didnt want to see nobody because she
+was dead. The teacher asked could we
+speak to the child Isabella and the maid
+said no she was asleep after much crys but
+she let us in a room by the door with gold
+chairs and talked like wispering.</p>
+
+<p>She told how Isabella was to that lady
+her apple in the eye and never did she want
+the child one minute not by her side and
+Isabella was all times fechshunate with her
+and sweet in her temper. The lady bought
+her clothes always to put her beauty in
+other dress like a doll. The little girl sing
+like bright angel up in the sky and the lady
+have every day expensif teacher of voice to
+come. Upstairs was big room of prettys
+just for her to play and the lady usto take
+her to stores and when Isabella point her
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span>finger to anything it got bought awful
+quick.</p>
+
+<p>O Mother the shame I felt in me to think
+of my wicket hate and her so good to put
+Isabella like a princess in the green book
+you gave me.</p>
+
+<p>The maid spoke more to wisper as she
+tell how the lady went dead in the night
+when Isabella didnt know and in the morning
+she which her name is Vicktoria led
+the child to look fairwell and Isabella cry
+and cry with grief and kiss her Bennyfactor
+and beg her to wake up and speak but
+the lady couldnt for she was dead. Then
+Vicktoria took Isabella away and she cry
+very much but now she sleep her nap and
+forget her woe.</p>
+
+<p>The teacher said “letersleep.” She said
+also “This girl is her sister name Giovanna.”
+The maid looked surprised like
+she seen a booger man in the dark. She
+tell how she got some words the lady gave
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span>her for me before she died. “Vicktoria
+find that girl of hungry eyes sister to my
+Isabella and beg her forgive a selfish
+woman who was so lonesome she wanted
+some person to love her most and not love
+worse a sister or anybody.”</p>
+
+<p>I chokt and chokt and reached for my
+hanky. I said “O tell her for me—” but
+what was the good to say anything with
+the black bow on the door and her deadngone?
+The teacher said better for us to
+go now and we so went.</p>
+
+<p>Mother I wish you could hold me on
+your lap tonight like I was little as Isabella.
+I got such shame on my hate of my sister’s
+good Bennyfactor seems as if it will burn
+me up. O if I could just beg her please
+excuse my nawty hate all gone! Look
+Mother how I hated these darling Eggsloosifs
+at first. But this is worse for the
+Eggsloosifs are not deadngone.</p>
+
+<p>Now Isabella is back to orfun and I
+spose they will send her again to the sylum.
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span>She must have forgot all her orfun ways
+like ugly dress and no cake and nobody
+to call dear on you. It will be better than
+for her little hands to reach for breakfast
+in cans of garbige but she will not have
+those thinks of comfort. She will have
+thinks instead of the princess she was in
+the house of her Bennyfactor. I have a
+fraid she will die of grief and differents.
+Mother I know in my conshents what I
+ought. It is to go and be her in the sylum
+so she can come here and be me. That is
+my duty. I am a mean selfish pig sister if
+I dont and her so little and tender and no
+more ust. I can stand to give her my
+shiny bed of brass and my deserts and my
+duster razen tailer soot. I can stand to
+give her the Eggsloosifs dear though
+they be to me and Dolly my precious chum
+and the teachers and the Principle. But
+when I think to give you to Isabella,
+Mother of my heart, O how can I do that?
+All of me just holds tight to you and dont
+want to let go never!</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span></p>
+
+<p>Please write very quick and say your
+good thinks what I must do and perhaps
+by that time I wont mind quite so awful.</p>
+
+<p>I know God dont want no prayer tonight
+out of any person wicket like me to hate
+that Bennyfactor lady so I will make none.</p>
+
+<p class="right r2">
+  Giovanna of the bad heart.
+</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="unindent"><i>Wonderfullest Mother in the big world</i>,—</p>
+
+<p>Today I was doing my practice and to
+think how that piano is full of scales and
+will the postman bring your darling letter
+and when can I see Isabella. The maid
+came and said company in the recepshun
+room and I told her Mary you mean another
+girl because companys I never do
+have in my long life but she said Miss Giovanna
+it is 2 company to ask for you. So
+I went.</p>
+
+<p>O the feelings that did jump in me when
+I see it was Isabella with Vicktoria! My
+sister is longer in the legs and curls. Her
+dress black for sadness but plenty of stile
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span>and no hanky pinned on. Vicktoria was
+dressed in sadness also. That is a way of
+richness. Poorness is just as sorry to lose
+a piece of the famly but must cry in same
+dress red or pink except to borrow of naybors
+black vails and skirts not to shame
+the dead one at its funral.</p>
+
+<p>I looked and looked and Isabella looked
+and looked. Vicktoria said Miss Isabella
+kiss your sister and she did very polite
+and we looked more and more. A teacher
+came and said the children need lonesome
+for break the eyes. Giovanna take her to
+your room which I done.</p>
+
+<p>We never did break our eyes like that
+teacher said but we made the start and
+Isabella let me hug her like crazy and she
+was glad and loved me the same like she
+usto. I showed her your picture and told
+her of your goodness and she said that
+was just like her Mama and her pretty
+face all fussed up to weep but I kissed her
+and talked her back past the sylum to the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span>doorstep of the tenement and she remembered
+how a mean kid squoze his orange
+in her eye on purpose and how I whailed
+that kid and she laughed. She did not
+want to go so soon with Vicktoria but
+Vicktoria said it was time.</p>
+
+<p>I never knew how anybody could make
+wills for people to mind when that person
+is deadngone. That Bennyfactor lady
+make a will about Isabella to go to a school
+in other city where the Principle of that
+school usto be girls with her and that Isabella
+have lessons to sing and bynby sail
+to Italy for the best. So Isabella will be
+some lost to me again but not bad for now
+we can have stamps.</p>
+
+<p>And O Mother Mother, I have no duty
+to give you to Isabella and go back to the
+sylum! I got a glad in me big as a house
+for that! I have no duty not to be the
+same</p>
+
+<p>Long brown Giovanna of your heart.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span></p>
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_MERRY_CHRISTMAS_OF">
+    THE MERRY CHRISTMAS OF
+    GIOVANNA
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p class="drop-cap"><i><span class="smcap">Mother</span> of my thankful heart</i>,—</p>
+
+<p>Yesterday was Thanksgiving and
+the Principal said in chapel for us to count
+our bennyfits up to God. That was easy
+like anything because when he gave you to
+me seems like he said “Giovanna, here is all
+your bennyfits in one package.”</p>
+
+<p>Our school turkey was big as a little ash
+barrel and the dinner so many courses it
+was like a week of meals tied together.</p>
+
+<p>I fell awake in the middle of Thankful
+Night and first believed me to be back in
+the sylum for the many girls in white
+nightys. But when I saw those nightys
+all embroidery and my shiny bed of brass
+and one girl to toast marshmallows on the
+steam heat I knew the difference and was
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span>glad. Dolly my poet chum now rooms
+with me by both our wish. Dolly stood on
+her bed making her arms act like the
+priest’s and whispered a speech most out
+loud to say she had been taken with an idea
+in her sleep very grand even noble.</p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="i_fp054" style="max-width: 35.6875em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i_fp054.jpg" alt="sketch: Girls in nightgowns play-acting on beds.">
+  <figcaption>
+    <q>Dolly’s grand idea was for the Eggsloosifs to give the orphuns a Christmas</q>
+    <div class="attr"><a href="#Page_54">Page 54</a></div>
+  </figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p>The Eggsloosifs laughed much and
+whispered “Here! here!” and sat on our
+beds and floors to listen and passed chockylet
+creams. Only one was sleepy and said
+pickle that idea but the rest put shame and
+pillows on her. I asked “Dolly, is it a
+new poem?” and she answered “no but
+better for a poem is just litteryture and
+this idea is all true izem.” I asked
+“What’s izem Dolly?” but she never explained.
+She made more speech but low
+for teachers wake easy. She said there is
+us pampered darlings of our doting parents
+and there’s orfuns who are Miss Fortune’s
+wafes and poor things. Her grand
+idea was for the Eggsloosifs to give the
+orfuns of the sylum a Christmas like they
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span>never dreamed could be in this world.
+The girls jumped themselves up and
+danced in their bear feet for glad of my
+chum’s noble idea and I never loved Eggsloosifs
+quite so hard as that minute.</p>
+
+<p>Dolly put me in her speech to name me
+cyclopede of orfun lore who must understand
+their habits and for me to all times
+speak up.</p>
+
+<p>One girl said the orfuns could use her
+tree the next day after the day after Christmas.
+I said did they truly want the cyclopede
+of orfun lore to speak up? They answered
+“Yes, lay on mack duff.” I shook
+some in my bed but lay on like they said
+and explained how orfuns must be ever
+grateful for trees but all years to have
+Christmas not on the hollyday but after
+other persons have finished tastes like cold
+potatoes to their souls.</p>
+
+<p>The girls said this must be no cold potato
+Christmas. They decided to beg their
+parents to sellybrate their presents at home
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span>Christmas Eve and to let them eat early
+Christmas Day so as to fetch the orfuns
+to the school before dark and all so promised
+except one girl that lives far off in the
+geography.</p>
+
+<p>Another girl said “Lets give the orfuns
+turkey dinner before the tree,” but some
+complained so many relayshuns wait for
+presents they could not put that much allowance
+onto orfuns.</p>
+
+<p>But an Eggsloosif named Bessie made
+to answer “Lets ask the Principal if we
+have no deserts on our dinners from now to
+Christmas perhaps she will give us turkey
+dinner for the orfuns.”</p>
+
+<p>The girl of sleepy replied “That is easy
+now to say when we have just finished
+mints pie and plum pudding and cake and
+ice cream and raisins and nuts all in one
+Thankful dinner but a month of no deserts
+would be terrible and must reduce us all to
+skinnybone.” The other Eggsloosifs made
+laughs on her and more pillows and said
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span>no deserts was allright with them for orfuns’
+sake.</p>
+
+<p>Dolly poeted when she never knew she
+was going to.</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+      <div class="verse indent0a">“Dear cyclopede of orfun lore,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">O wont you please to tell us more?”</div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<p>So I told how the presents of orfuns are
+most times the same for all. You look at
+your present and then 3 or 4 dozen orfuns
+hold the same in their hands and if you
+let go of it you can tell no more if it is
+really that one except yours was not broken
+and the one you now got is so.</p>
+
+<p>The Eggsloosifs had serious looks on
+them and said all gifts must be different.
+They sang to me Dolly’s poetry.</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+      <div class="verse indent0a">“Dear cyclopede of orfun lore,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">O wont you please to tell us more?”</div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<p>So I told that if not the same then orfun
+presents must be already busted prettys of
+richness. In my sylum Christmas one
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span>time I got a doll like I prayed by my bed
+very beautiful except she missed one foot
+and one hand and one eye and a crack in
+her cheek. I tried to think onto her all
+that was missed but I never could so I
+played instead how she had been whaled
+by a cruel father but was now a whole and
+adopt by me to love better for her misseds
+and whales.</p>
+
+<p>Dolly hugged me and all promised no
+gifts must be busted and sang Dolly’s
+poetry at me again to speak up more.</p>
+
+<p>I answered “This next is too much for
+orfuns but O the ache I usto have in me for
+a present tied in tisshoe paper with a red
+ribbon! I ached and ached and ached for
+that like a pain to take medicine with a
+spoon for cure.”</p>
+
+<p>All exclaimed tisshoe paper with red ribbon
+must be wrapped round the gifts like
+for relayshuns or anybody.</p>
+
+<p>I said I must wear my orfuns clothes
+for them not to see me that usto be orfun
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span>now in dress of richness. Dolly made her
+arms act like 6 priests for telling all to
+wear orfun dress same as me and look like
+wholes. The Eggsloosifs cried “O lets!
+lets! lets!” and the girl who lives far in
+the geography said she would write her
+family to let her stay and have cold potato
+Christmas at home after all had finished
+so she could wear a sylum dress.</p>
+
+<p>But I said that is no fair because orfuns
+want to stare at pretty clothes and not come
+here to see like their own selves in the
+lookinglass.</p>
+
+<p>Dolly was taken with another idea so
+big it made her most crazy—that was to
+put the pretty clothes on the orfuns’ backs
+to keep. She asked me how many orfuns
+and I answered I believed the orfuns to be
+about the same thickness of Eggsloosifs
+and she declared one girl must dress one
+orfun perhaps not new but good and pretty.</p>
+
+<p>All got excited and forgot teachers and
+the Principal opened the door in a keemono.
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span>Dolly disappeared under the blanket but
+her head was wrong way round to her
+feet on the pillow.</p>
+
+<p>The Principal went to look haughty but
+her eyes laughed and the girls begged her
+in which she came and they told her all.
+She said we might make Christmas for
+orfuns and econymze by no deserts for
+orfun turkey but now to bed and not catch
+our deathycolds which all so done very
+happy.</p>
+
+<p>It is my turn to practice scales on the
+piano so I will say goodbye, darling bennyfit
+Mother of me. <span class="righttext">Giovanna.</span></p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="unindent"><i>Angel Christmas present Mother</i>,—</p>
+
+<p>We have so much orfun business in this
+school we almost cannot do our practice
+and lessons. The girls all secured easy
+the dresses but now have much trouble to
+find the right orfun which fits in the dress.
+All Saturdays go committys of Eggsloosifs
+to the sylum for measuring orfuns but
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span>just with their guess not to spoil the surprise.</p>
+
+<p>Dolly begged her dress off an Aunt with
+a little girl cousin. It is navy blue silk
+deckrated with ruffles so her orfun must be
+7 like the dress. She picked out a whole
+named Lizzie to fit it fine so that is not her
+grief and woe but it comes of asking Lizzie
+what she wants for presents and Lizzie
+begged “O please a Mama and a Papa.”
+Dolly has that kind of heart to promise
+first and then wonder if she can so now
+she’s got to anyway and it puts her most
+crazy. If Lizzie could just be the pretty
+kind but her compleckshun is pale trimmed
+with freckles and her teeth are some gone
+and not grown in yet. Her hair is red
+pigtales. Her nose skwints up a little but
+not enough to notice much and she has a
+good blue eye and a feckshunate dishpishin.
+Dolly names her hair tisshen but the Eggsloosifs
+laugh and say no, plain carrots.
+They all times advise Dolly to raffel her
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span>off at the tree with tickets but my noble
+chum will ever answer “Heethen creatures!
+raffel off your own orfuns if you
+want to but my Lizzie never do I raffel! I
+will find her sootybell parents or adopt her
+myself.”</p>
+
+<p>It’s a tight secret only Dolly lets me tell
+just you she’s got the parents of Lizzie all
+picked but they don’t know it yet and Dolly
+has awful scares to imagine how they will
+act when the news gets broke on them. It
+is an Aunt and Uncle not the one she
+begged the dress off of but another named
+Winnyfred and John with no child and
+rich like anything. Dolly makes little
+tacks on their hearts like to say “What is
+home without an orfun?” But her Uncle
+will ever answer “When orfun comes in
+at the door piece flies out of the window”
+which is a mistake for Lizzie is not the
+kind to break the window like Dolly’s
+Uncle thinks.</p>
+
+<p>This does not discourage my poet chum.
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span>She has a skeem to fix all Christmas night
+at the tree. The Eggsloosifs will invite
+their relayshuns and the halfs their whichever
+they got lefts and the maytrun will
+company the wholes. Dolly says anybody
+must give thanks for presents and never
+look like it is not the best thing they want
+in the big world so she will give Lizzie to
+her Aunt and Uncle for a present and them
+to Lizzie for a present and all live happy
+ever after and three off her list. I tell
+Dolly a present can be no fair like a lady in
+our tennyment O awful poor and a daygo
+organist made a present to her little boy
+of a sick monkey that must all days eat
+cream and bannannas. Dolly says the
+cases are different but she will ask the
+Principal so I may be satisfied.</p>
+
+<p>Mother I had to choose the orfun of big
+mouth and little sense because nobody else
+could like her looks and ways but I know
+what feels you have to be that kind no person
+wants. She is most my size and will
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span>fit in my plain brown rainy dress or my
+red silk. The Principal says in chapel
+“mind your conshents” so I asked mine
+which dress? One conshent says “Shame
+Giovanna selfish pig girl, think how that
+orfun put her finger to that red silk dress
+at the sylum the day it was bought and
+said ‘pretty pretty’ and now with that
+dress on her she will be happy up to the
+sky and believe she is an angel.” And
+then another conshent will speak “Ungrateful
+one to give away the so beautiful
+dress of red whistling silk the first bought
+you by your darling Bennyfactor Mother
+that whistles all the time of her! What
+can it whistle to that orfun of big mouth
+and little sense?” Now Mother what do
+I make with those conshents? Our letters
+must go far so it will be done before I get
+your advice to tell what conshent I shall
+mind.</p>
+
+<p>O if you could visit me that would be my
+Christmas present of the whole world but
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span>you say that cannot happen. I will try
+and not make too much sadness to myself
+for that because when I am your daughter
+every day is Christmas for my thinks of
+you.</p>
+
+<p class="right r2">Giovanna.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="unindent"><i>Mother of my Christmas heart</i>,—</p>
+
+<p>There stays just your me tonight in this
+school of many girls. All the Eggsloosifs
+sellybrate Christmas Eve at home except
+her that lives far in the geography and she
+went to Dolly’s tree not to notice homesick
+aches in her soul like she got simptums.</p>
+
+<p>Dolly invited me so hard she most got
+mad on me not to go but I never could
+for lonesome. Here I have no lonesome
+but glad instead because you said in your
+preciousest letter of all that this Eve I
+could know you were writing to me. Last
+Christmas I was mixed with many orfuns
+but felt like sollytude. This Christmas I
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span>got such company as nobody ever had that
+together we write to each other. Last
+Christmas at the sylum I received a work
+basket with two spools and thimbel but
+no surprise for they were all on the maytrun’s
+bed when I swept her room and no
+names just any basket to whatever orfun.
+The maytrun named me ungrateful to cry
+but Mother how could Christmas be glad
+when my surprise was lost?</p>
+
+<p>I usto not think so much of Santa Claus
+as some to treat richness all times better
+than poorness but I learned off a kid on
+our doorstep at the tennyment that there
+isn’t any. So its no fair to blame a person
+who never was anybody and I believe a
+really truly Santa Claus would act like
+his photograf looks and not forget the
+stockings of poorness—</p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter illowp81" id="i_fp066" style="max-width: 50.0em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i_fp066.jpg" alt="sketch: Girl seated on her knees examining a watch just removed from an open box in front of her.">
+  <figcaption>
+    <q>O the teeny gold watch with G on it</q><br>
+    <div class="attr"><a href="#Page_67">Page 67</a></div>
+  </figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p>The <i>s</i> of poorness has the long tale because
+in that minute the maid knocked with
+a bundle for me. This is my thoughts to
+open that box. O! O! O! O! O! O! O!
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span>To think you put in prettys for me to
+give to all the names in my letters. Dolly
+will jump and dance at the nugget buckle.
+Luigi will put a smile on him like anything
+to see the yellow pipe. O Mother
+never before in my long life did I give
+a present to any person. For somebody
+to look on me with present looks that will
+be my all new joy with this first Christmas
+to be your daughter.</p>
+
+<p>In the boxes corner stayed a little package
+in tisshoe paper tied with red ribbon.
+O the teeny gold watch with G on it in
+pearls and a pearl pin to fasten it on top
+of my heart! O Mother it never can be
+me that usto be orfun Giovanna to own
+that watch! It must be a fairy dream and
+I will wake up in the sylum to say “What
+a dream I dreamed!” Always your presents
+talk to me of you or look at me with
+your looks but this watch speaks most of
+all not to stop in day or night or get tired.
+I say to it “Little angel watch she is the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span>Mother of my—” And that watch so
+smart ticks back “heart, heart, heart,
+heart.” No other watch could be smart
+like this of pearly G and teeny golden
+hands.</p>
+
+<p>O but it makes me feel twice as dreadful
+about your Christmas present you won’t
+get from me for an awful long time like
+next summer. If you are thinking this
+minute I forgot your present that is not
+the true but despare and most wear out
+my brains that is the true and now what
+looks like no gift.</p>
+
+<p>I was going to buy you a pretty with
+the money you sent for a swetter but the
+Principal said in chapel to take the money
+of your parents to buy them gifts what
+love in that? Give them what costs you
+effort and self denial. And she talked
+more to say never give debty presents just
+because you owe them or hopeful presents
+to get one back. Dolly raised her hand
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span>and asked “What if somebody needs a
+present which they don’t want?” The
+girls giggled to guess she meant Lizzie.
+The Principal replied “Decide that yourself
+with love and tact. Young ladies you
+are dismissed to your classrooms.”</p>
+
+<p>Dolly says love and tact and the Principal
+and a quarter which fell heads up are
+all on her side to give Lizzie to her Uncle
+and Aunt at the tree. She made a poem
+for her parents out of her own poetry but
+I cannot poet for you Mother because it
+must fall on one out of the sky or its no
+good. A musical girl dedycated her parents
+many staffs full of tunes but I could
+only make you some scales what are notes
+upstairs and downstairs and that would
+be no present. A very smart girl in lessons
+was to give her prize if earned which
+made me worse despare for many girls
+shorter in their skirts are longer than me
+in their grades which must put shame on
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span>you and the prize for spelling is past my
+hope so how could I think to earn a prize
+except for stupid and faults?</p>
+
+<p>Friday was the last day of this school
+turn, and the Principal gave out the prizes
+with many cheers from all and her of
+smartness earned the one for grammar
+which was a poetry book. At last the
+Principal said there was one more prize to
+decide by vote of all the girls which pupil
+had got most better in manners by trying
+hard. O Mother that prize was given
+to me and not by fair because no other
+girl here was ever orfun so I had the head
+start in backness. I was so scared I almost
+could not hold out my hand and to
+walk back to my seat I did not know where
+it stood with the Eggsloosifs to clap clap
+their hands so much. By and by when I
+opened the package the Principal asked me
+why I look so disapointed. I answered “It
+is very beautiful and never did I earn it but
+what can my Mother make with a Girl’s
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span>Memory Book of School for a Christmas
+present?” She explained that if I wrote
+it full of memorys for you Mother it would
+be a piece of real daughter present same
+as Dolly’s and the musical girl’s and her
+of smartness. But it is my grief and woe
+you will not get it in time for Christmas
+because I cannot write in it memorys that
+are not to happen yet but must wait till
+they happen.</p>
+
+<p>I have decided to give away my red silk
+dress because my Christmas conshent says
+“Giovanna you got such lots and that orfun
+so little.” O my little darling watch! It
+now ticks “You got to stop, you got to
+stop” because the electric will be off in
+one minute and so goodnight Darling
+Mother from little watch and me.</p>
+
+<p class="right r2">Giovanna.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="unindent"><i>Mother of my Merry Christmas Heart</i>,—</p>
+
+<p>The candles are just blown out on the
+orfun tree and I took a pink one not much
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span>burnt to put in the teeny silver candlestick
+Dolly gave me so I can write to you
+after electric is off. I believe this candle
+likes to burn itself up for that because it
+waves round its little flame as if to speak
+“Giovanna remember me to your Mother.”</p>
+
+<p>The Eggsloosifs all rushed back today
+quick as possible after their deserts to
+dress themselves orfun style. Such
+laughs never were heard in the real kind.
+Then came the jenuine orfuns and O the
+looks on them to behold the immitashun
+orfuns! That orfun which usto make tall
+her pompydoor with the maps out of her
+geography said if she had known she was
+invited just to other sylum she never
+woulda come.</p>
+
+<p>The Eggsloosifs took each one her orfun
+to her room and dressed her all sweet and
+pretty and stylish like a girl of richness
+with two parents. One orfun said to her
+Eggsloosif “I thank you but keep this dress
+to your own self because you look worse
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span>poor than me.” And the father of that
+Eggsloosif is a 1000000air.</p>
+
+<p>Mine which was her of big mouth and
+little sense all times touched the red silk
+with her finger and repeated “My red
+dress, my red dress” like my watch ticks
+and I was glad to see her love it that
+hard.</p>
+
+<p>Dolly’s Lizzie turned not pretty but so
+Dolly named her quaint and said that was
+more distinggay. Lizzie asked “Will my
+new Mama like me better in this dress?”
+And Dolly kissed her and pinned a card
+on her “Merry Christmas to dear Aunt
+Winnyfred and Uncle John from Dolly.”
+But Lizzie never saw Dolly wring her
+hands to me on the quiet to show what
+scares she got on herself.</p>
+
+<p>Mother when all was finished the orfuns
+made immitashun Eggsloosifs like the
+Eggsloosifs made immitashun orfuns—I
+guess because the Eggsloosifs in dress of
+poorness acted like fixed grand for a party
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span>and the orfuns could not forget so quick
+their scroocht down feelings even in dress
+of richness.</p>
+
+<p>Next was the turkey dinner with the
+orfuns in the chairs and the Eggsloosifs
+to act like maids. All their swallows
+could work fine and they were very satisfied
+except Lizzie teased to sit between her
+Mama and Papa but Dolly told her they
+were not yet come.</p>
+
+<p>After turkey dinner all went to the big
+hall of the Christmas tree and there stayed
+the parents and relayshuns and whichevers.
+Dolly looked so pityfull for her
+feelings on Lizzie a kind old man thought
+she was a jenuine and tried to give her a
+dollar in her hand but she explaned no
+thank you.</p>
+
+<p>The janitor played he was Santa Claus
+and passed the presents and O the joy and
+surprise of those orfuns most paralized
+them. I gave mine a doll because her
+sense is younger than she is and it seemed
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span>as if she couldn’t hug it enough and I was
+glad.</p>
+
+<p>But poor little Lizzie looked like weeps
+and said to Dolly “Where is my Mama
+and Papa like you promised?” My chum
+led her pretty near to her Uncle and Aunt
+where they sat and whispered to Lizzie
+which they were and ran to hide behind
+the tree. Lizzie stept close and close till
+Uncle John said “Whose little girl are
+you?” and she answered “I am yours,
+Papa,” and the surprise that Uncle had
+on him was wonderful. Aunt Winnyfred
+spoke “What nonsents! Run to your
+Mama, child,” but she answered “You are
+my Mama.”</p>
+
+<p>Uncle John looked on her card and exclaimed
+“O that Dolly!” Aunt Winnyfred
+explaned to Lizzie how she did not
+want a little girl and all was mistake.</p>
+
+<p>Lizzie got that kind of disapoint which
+hurts so bad you don’t cry the first minute
+and they thought she was satisfied but
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span>she fell herself down on the floor and her
+grief and woe were dreadful and she all
+times talked in her cry “O my Papa don’t
+want me! O my Mama don’t want me!”</p>
+
+<p>Dolly ran to comfort her but she would
+take no comfort. Aunt Winnyfred stood
+up and spoke, “Let us go! this is very
+painful! Dolly you must be punished!”
+But Uncle John answered “Why not take
+her along and look her over? Anyway
+she said first she was mine.” Aunt Winnyfred
+talked back “Just because you sat
+on that side so she came first to you.” So
+Uncle John carried her but Aunt Winnyfred
+held her hand.</p>
+
+<p>The little candle is most gone and so is
+my first merry Christmas but I got plenty
+of merryness this time to catch up on all
+I missed before.</p>
+
+<p>O Mother what a long chain you started
+by your goodness to me. The Eggsloosifs
+tied some more to that chain by this wonderful
+surprise on the sylum; Aunt Winnyfred
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span>and Uncle John made another piece
+to adopt Lizzie. And I never did a thing
+to make it longer but perhaps I can some
+day. That is my wish.</p>
+
+<p>I have just one more minute to say
+Merry Christmas so with that I will stop
+my letter. Merry Christmas, Mother!
+Merry Christmas, Isabella! Merry
+Christmas, orfuns! Merry Christmas,
+Eggsloosifs! Merry Christmas, all the
+people in the big world! Merry Christmas,
+dear God up in heaven!</p>
+
+<p class="right r2">Giovanna.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span></p>
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="GIOVANNAS_ITALIAN">
+    GIOVANNA’S ITALIAN
+    RENAISSANCE
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p class="drop-cap"><i><span class="smcap">Mother</span> of my Italian heart</i>,—</p>
+
+<p>Such wonderful bran news I got today
+for you and me to be glad about—the
+teacher spoke it right out to all the class
+of geography. She said that Dago is just
+the disrespeckfull for Italian and she
+names Italians grand and wonderful with
+songs in their throats and pictures in their
+eyes and hands to make statyous. And
+Mr. Columbus who discovered America
+was a Dago! So Americans needn’t feel
+set up over us because where would they
+be this minute if he never had? Besides
+they are all named after Mr. Amerigo,
+another Italian man who put them first
+on any map or they must have got omitted
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span>out of the geography and then think how
+mortifide they would have felt!</p>
+
+<p>So Mother, it is not mean for me to be
+Dago and need not put shame on you as
+I always supposed it must indeed. It was
+my guess to myself you had hopes to erase
+all my Dago part in this school except
+my looks which are very brunetty and no
+powder can help that because I tried and
+it showed on top of my brownness like
+chalk on the blackboard and the Principal
+said “Giovanna, go wash your face; I did
+not believe you were that silly kind of
+girl.” So I cried and washed hard and
+threw away that powder box awful quick
+but explained not to the Principal because
+it would have been like telling a secret
+of yours and mine, Mother, to explain and
+I never did. Now you don’t need powder
+to stay on me any more.</p>
+
+<p>O Mother, my proudness is up to the
+top of the highest mountain in the red
+atlas! I wish I could go and tell all the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span>folks in our tenement that they are no
+more Ginneys but very grand and respecktable
+Italians and must have no shame
+on themselves for that but all glad and
+hawty.</p>
+
+<p>I had thoughts of asking you to change
+my name to Jane but now I rejoyce to be</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+  Your Italian daughter,
+</p>
+
+<p class="right">
+  Giovanna.
+</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="unindent"><i>Mother of my Dago heart</i>,—</p>
+
+<p>There was a reception in this school
+today very grand from three to five. O
+the surprise that happened on me right in
+the middle of this reception! If I gave
+you 1,000,000 guesses and 3 more you
+could not tell who came and not invited,
+for how could I think to invite rellytives
+never seen in my long life and most forgotten
+and also believed by me to stay in
+Italy shaped like a rubber boot and washed
+by many seas?</p>
+
+<p>I was sitting some behind a screen and
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span>the music talked of you and my love as
+I never can write in my letters because
+it would take words I do not know. I
+wore my new pink silk which is that kind
+to try to stick to my fingers as if it says
+it likes to be my dress and the best beautiful
+sign of your love.</p>
+
+<p>Dolly came and pulled me by the hand
+to the window quick as we could go for the
+many ladies not to step our feet on their
+elegant trains. There stayed Luigi on his
+wagon full of oranges and bananas. An
+Italian woman sat by him not his wife
+for I know her looks and a girl about
+my bigness. Down in front of the seat
+was a boy not so big and another girl not
+so big as the boy and another girl with
+curls not so big as that girl and a baby
+in the Italian woman’s lap which she gave
+Luigi to hold while she clum out and pulled
+down all the rest except the boy who
+jumped himself off and stufft two bananas
+in his shirt not seen by Luigi. Then Luigi
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span>pointed with his whip to the door of our
+school and drove away very quick like
+he still had scares on that teacher.</p>
+
+<p>Wrinkeldy and poor was the Italian lady
+with a little square shawl on her head.
+The girl of my bigness was dressed pretty
+but curyous. Her black velvet corset was
+on top of her white waist. She wore a red
+skirt and an apron crost by many stripes.
+The toes of all the littler ones looked out
+of their shoes and no wraps on their thinness.
+I had a big sorry for them in my
+heart.</p>
+
+<p>Then Dolly was called by her Mother
+to play a piece on the piano for some person
+in the music room.</p>
+
+<p>Very soon that family off Luigi’s wagon
+stood in our hall and all stared at them
+like they were brickyards and not
+people. I had no dream who they could
+be, but Dago must ever go to Dago so I
+went.</p>
+
+<p>When I walked close to her of the wrinkeldy
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span>face and little shawl, she screecht
+“Giovanna! Mia cara! Mia cara!” and
+hugged me long long in her arms and
+many times kissed my cheeks and hugged
+me more and more and tears ran down in
+her wrinkles.</p>
+
+<p>I let her hug and kiss me, Mother, but
+I shook and shook and wished not to be
+so much kissed with all to stare and stare
+as they done. Nobody hugs like that in
+receptions which are not any good form
+place for jenuine feelings like hers but
+just touch your fingers and talk politeness.
+The feelings that Italian lady had on me
+were terrible and I could not understand
+what for with this the first time I ever
+walked in her sight.</p>
+
+<p>By and by she calmed off a teeny bit
+and held my face with her hands and
+looked and looked and said she was my
+Aunt Maddalena.</p>
+
+<p>I was embearest dreadful and sorry to
+make her such dizzypoint but I begged
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span>her please excuse me not to be her
+niece and her not to be my Aunt Maddalena.</p>
+
+<p>The girl of my bigness had eyes black
+and looks proud like anything. She spoke
+American but slow and funny and full of
+try as if her tongue could just walk and
+not run.</p>
+
+<p>“Why notta your Aunt?”</p>
+
+<p>I answered “It is the true that my Mama
+who died had a sister named Maddalena
+and she usto tell me how they cried and
+hugged much when my Mama started for
+America in the big ship, but this lady
+never can be my Aunt.”</p>
+
+<p>That girl asked again, “Why notta your
+Aunt?”</p>
+
+<p>I explained just like my Mama that died
+usto tell me plenty of times. “My Aunt
+Maddalena is so beautiful in looks that
+artiss men make her picture with many
+paints. Nobody in her village can dance
+the tarantella like my Aunt Maddalena;
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span>any person will travel a mile and be glad
+to see the steps of her teeny feet. She
+wrote a letter how she marrys my Uncle
+Nicolo who sings long songs and walks
+on the grapes to make them wine. By
+and by she wrote another letter that she
+has a baby girl, cousin to me named
+Concetta. Then no more letters or else
+lost. Now you understand why this Italian
+lady is all mistake and no Aunt.”</p>
+
+<p>That girl spoke again awful proud.</p>
+
+<p>“Little fool! Can she no getta old?
+When young she was moddle for artiss
+men and this dress I wear now is her
+moddle dress because my dress gotta the
+holes. Your Uncle Nicolo no come today,
+he hunts the work. You think that
+baby girl Concetta no getta big never? I
+am Concetta and this is your Aunt Maddalena.”</p>
+
+<p>Then I believed she spoke the true and
+I was more embearest like I would die
+with all my thinks tip side up and no
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span>chance to get them fixed. My voice came
+out of me little and funny.</p>
+
+<p>“I am very pleased to meet you.”</p>
+
+<p>“Notta so!” said Concetta awfuller
+proud. “You no wanta us! One year in
+America we look look ask ask for you.
+Now I wish we never hadda found you!
+You gotta the shame of us and I hate
+you!”</p>
+
+<p>I did not answer that Concetta but I
+led them to chairs which were very quick
+plenty when they walked near. It is the
+rule not to just have your own talk with
+your rellytives at a reception but you must
+make presents to them of your schoolmates.
+I did not mind that rule, Mother because
+of the feelings I had for the Exclusives
+to look on my cousins so wretcheddy and
+my Aunt Maddalena all poor and wrinkled
+up. I was trying to swallow down
+my cry when our dear Principal came and
+saylooted my rellytives fine and polite as
+if they were the best in elegant trains
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span>instead of short in the skirts and big in
+the shoes as my Aunt, only Concetta hid
+her hands under her apron crost by many
+stripes. What sort of manners was that?</p>
+
+<p>The boy begged me, “Swipe a feller
+some cake. Say, do you guys have ice cream?”
+I made the start to get him
+some but Concetta said, “Notta swipe—better
+he starve first,” so I sat still and
+swiped not.</p>
+
+<p>I wanted to make good from talk with
+my rellytives but it was skarce in me.
+Pretty soon Concetta said to her Mother
+in Italian that no longer must they put
+shame on Giovanna with her grand
+friends so they went and fine riddants to
+that Concetta.</p>
+
+<p>O Mother, what is the good to call Italians
+grand and wonderful and then all
+to stare at them like brickybacks when
+they stand in your hall? How can they
+have that glad the teacher says they may
+for the songs in their throats and the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span>pictures in their eyes and their hands to
+make statyous when they got those
+scroochtdown Dago feelings on themselves
+(not counting Concetta) and you got the
+same on them to be their rellytives? My
+Italian proudness is all spoiled.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Your unhappy<br><span class="righttext">
+Jane.</span></p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="unindent"><i>Dearest and Best</i>,—</p>
+
+<p>I am writing to you in my cloak and
+my hat is still on my head because my
+feelings fizzed and fizzed all the way home
+from the call on my Italian rellytives and
+will not stay shut up in me one more minute.</p>
+
+<p>All days I felt as if there was a string
+on my soul and Aunt Maddalena was
+pulling it and I knew Dago must go to
+Dago. The Principal said a teacher
+might company me this afternoon which
+she so done.</p>
+
+<p>O Mother, rellytives are no good but to
+make grief and woe! I wish mine were
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span>back in Italy like a rubber boot washed
+by many seas, I do indeed. No, I would
+save out Aunt Maddalena because love
+is sprouting in my heart for her and how
+she does not look all homely as at first.
+And the baby with eyes like chockylet
+creams, it is a dear baby. Giuseppe is a
+newsy and newsys are ever desprit characters
+and usto pull my braids, but Giuseppe
+has not done it yet and he has a hello
+grin on him so you got to like him anyway
+and I do not wish away my cousin
+Giuseppe. Marietta next to Giuseppe is
+very good and quiet and pityful to be so
+thin and pale and nobody could wish her
+away. Assunta between Marietta and the
+baby has long black curls and dimples, and
+I ached to hug and hug her but I never
+could for the eyes of Concetta kept me
+all friz up on my bench so I sat still and
+hugged not.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Maddalena would have embrased
+me the same as at the reception but Concetta
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span>had to put in her Italian talk “Have
+care, little Mother, for the fine clothes of
+our grand lady cousin.”</p>
+
+<p>All the time of this visit I felt as if
+my heart was a pincushion and every word
+of Cousin Concetta stuck another pin in
+that cushion for the hate she got against
+me. She asked me in her own talk why
+I brought that teacher to show her how
+poor they live. Was it not enought for
+me to know it myself and come where I
+was wanted by nobody?</p>
+
+<p>They are terrible poor, Mother, and live
+way upstairs in the back tennyment with
+no window to look on the street but just
+at clothes-lines and for furniture some big
+and little benches such as my Uncle could
+make with boards loose from the back
+fence if he got them first and not the
+neighbors to burn and a little old busted
+stove and a bed very ricketty and the
+plaster to fall off in many spots.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span></p>
+
+<p>They must take coats home to finish just
+for some cents each one. Aunt Maddalena
+sewed like crazy and Concetta the
+same hard and fierce and Marietta pale
+and pityful must sew and little Assunta
+pulled the bastings and minded the baby.
+She cried to go sit on the doorstep and
+Aunt Maddalena shook her, not for mad
+but because tears would drop on that coat
+of fine cloth and ruin them all.</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Nicolo is a man of ditches in
+America because we walk not on our
+grapes to make them wine, and when he
+cannot get ditches to dig he is out of work
+which is dreadful and all must finish more
+coats. He walked in at the door and I
+saw him for the first time ever. He bowed
+polite to the teacher and me and shook our
+hands. He did not laugh nor sing long
+songs nor take his piccolo out of his pocket
+as my Mama that died said he had those
+habbits but sat on a bench with his head
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span>to hang down in front and his hands to
+fall between his knees.</p>
+
+<p>The teacher spoke with him very
+friendly and he told her O if he had fifty
+$ to buy a fruitstand of an Italian man
+who must take his poor sick wife back to
+Italy to die in the arms of her old Mother,
+then the family could live fine and not
+finish the coats. After telling this Uncle
+Nicolo fell back into his sorry thinks and
+talked no more.</p>
+
+<p>Giuseppe was gone to sell his papers,
+the teacher could not speak all the time
+about nothing, Aunt Maddalena in English
+can only smile and smile, the little
+girls were too bashful and the baby too
+young and Uncle Nicolo too sad and Concetta
+too mean to talk so nobody did.</p>
+
+<p>By and by Aunt Maddalena begged me
+to tell of my Mama that died and all our
+family, but I have lost the habbit to speak
+Italian and was afraid to say it funny
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span>and full of mistakes for Cousin Concetta
+to laugh so I answered “Aunt I cannot.”</p>
+
+<p>Then Concetta went and made this lie,
+“Little Mother, our grand lady cousin has
+forgot she was ever poor like us. Do not
+make her the pain to remember.”</p>
+
+<p>O Mother, that was mean and mean and
+mean! I hated Concetta to say that lie of
+me, so I begged the teacher please let us
+go and we went.</p>
+
+<p>I will never go back to see them any
+more—I’m all finished up with them forever
+and forever world without hen!</p>
+
+<p>Goodbye Aunt Maddalena, dear Aunt
+no more ugly but good and sweet.
+Goodbye Giuseppe of the hello grin.
+Goodbye poor little Marietta so pityful.
+Goodbye Assunta with the Isabella looks
+and curls. Goodbye baby of the big eyes
+like chockylet creams. Goodbye Uncle
+Nicolo. I hope you get plenty of ditches
+to dig and can buy that fruit stand. I
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span>do indeed. Goodbye Cousin Concetta
+with your manners like snow to freeze me
+and your words like mustard to burn me.</p>
+
+<p>Mother darling, I feel some unfizzed and
+I just have time to put away my hat and
+coat before the supper bell.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Goodbye from<br><span class="righttext">
+Jane.</span>
+</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="unindent"><i>Dear Mother</i>,</p>
+
+<p>Your letter hurt fierce and awful but I
+guess it’s what the Principal calls a merryted
+reebuke. You say you have no
+daughter Jane and want none of that name
+if my last letters are her kind to write.
+You tell the great dizzypoint you got in
+me to be so snubbish and your surprise
+that I can so quick forget the feelings I
+usto have in my soul when the Exclusives
+were hawty with me the same. O how
+you put big big Selfish on me to fuss all
+times at my own mortifide and not considder
+the mortifide of my rellytives at the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span>reception to find themselves such differents.
+In the call also you feel Scorn for
+me as a horrid silly Prig not to talk Italian
+with my dear Aunt. And my Mama that
+died—how dreadful she must have felt to
+lean over in her Heavenly seat and see me
+act like that to her used-to-be-beautiful sister
+and I guess God has His oppinion of
+me too.</p>
+
+<p>The repentants I got on all the family
+is big as a house but it don’t reach to my
+Cousin Concetta—no ma’am it don’t!
+Her I must ever hate as she does me and
+she made its start when I never did. Last
+night I had trouble with my prayers all
+on account of her. This morning when I
+woke I felt as if I had caught meazles in
+my soul for my thinks of her.</p>
+
+<p>Yes, ma’am, I will go spend the whole
+Saturday to visit those rellytives I thought
+never to see again in my long life but
+Dago must go to Dago and that’s the true.
+Yes, ma’am, I will help finish the coats.
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span>Yes, Mother, to please you, I will love that
+Cousin of my bommynation just this Saturday,
+since you say that on Sunday I have
+your permission to hate her again if I
+can’t help it.</p>
+
+<p>This is your first time to scold me,
+Mother, and it felt like spanks on my soul,
+but O you put such love and forgiveness
+at the end and now to be all confessed and
+promised up, why I feel more daughterish
+than ever.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Your never-more Jane<br>
+<span class="r2">But always</span><br>
+<span class="right">Giovanna.</span>
+</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="unindent"><i>Mother of my happy love</i>,—</p>
+
+<p>On Saturday morning the Principal was
+to shop herself a new dress but she took
+me first to the house of my Aunt. They
+were terribly busy. This time the coats
+belonged to boys and all must sew sew
+like crazy to get finished that day for the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span>rent. Poor little Marietta most fell off her
+bench with sleepy because all had sewed
+in the night. Giuseppe was gone to sell
+his papers and Uncle Nicolo to hunt his
+ditch to dig with little hope for ditches are
+scarce and many beg for shovels.</p>
+
+<p>I said “Concetta, today I love you, give
+me a coat to sew.” She tost her head and
+mocked me back. “Very kind the grand
+lady Giovanna to love her poor cousin and
+sew a coat, very very kind! I thank you.”
+I did not get any mad but I just thought
+how mad I would be tomorrow for her to
+speak that way. I took a coat to finish
+off the pile but I sewed clear through and
+the stitches showed and Concetta must stop
+and pull them out. She said awful cross
+“Thank you, fine lady Giovanna, for the
+splendid help which will put us back three
+coats to get over. Why don’t you stay
+with your grand friends and let us be?”</p>
+
+<p>I was much mortifide but not mad today
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span>or tomorrow because I had a big sorry on
+myself to put them back three coats by my
+fault.</p>
+
+<p>When it was dinner time Concetta said
+“We have only polenta because this is the
+day of the rent. I fear our grand Cousin
+will starve.”</p>
+
+<p>I answered “My Mama that died usto
+talk of polenta how good, so polenta is
+all right with me.” We had no tablecloth,
+just a big dish of polenta which is corn
+pudding made out of mutton. Giuseppe
+came and saylooted me with his hello grin
+but no words. O Mother, when I tasted
+that polenta I thought what will I do what
+will I do not to offend more Concetta because
+so fierce I did not like it that scarcely
+could my swallow act and besides there
+was not plenty for all. In that minute
+Giuseppe winkt his eye on my side and I
+slipt my share to him under the table which
+he ate with much joy and me the same that
+he should.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span></p>
+
+<p>Very quick was finished the polenta because
+it was not much and all must hurry
+hurry to finish more coats. I begged very
+humble to try again and Concetta let me
+most scornful but I finished one all right
+and felt proud but there was no time for
+proudness, just grab another and another.
+At first it was like play to try to get
+through quick as the rest which I could
+not for even Marietta would beat me by
+both sleeves. I liked to wonder what was
+the color of hair now growing on the boy
+whose Papa would buy him this coat but
+soon no more because I got a little ache
+in my back which spread and spread and
+my arms ached fierce and my feet got
+asleep and my neck full of cricks. The
+black color would come off on my hands
+to make them horrid and ugly. I was
+hungry like I would starve and all my
+bones were full of pains but I had shame
+to stop first, so it was grab another and
+another till it seemed as if I had to sew
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span>down a long long road with no end but
+just coats and coats until I died.</p>
+
+<p>O Mother, all at once I lost my Giovanna
+feelings and caught Concetta feelings
+instead. It was as if I was not me
+but her all poor and tired and ever sewing
+and hungry and sleepy and anksyus.
+I could see me, Giovanna, sitting there in
+the good clothes of your love clean and
+fed up and lazy and smarty and selfish
+and crittykle. O Mother, I hated me and
+not her so fierce that I cried to think how
+mean I was and all times putting it on her.</p>
+
+<p>Concetta got big astonish to see my cry,
+but said real sweet as I never knew she
+could “Notta more sew—you tired, no?
+You stop now.”</p>
+
+<p>Then I tried to explain and we all
+stopped and hugged and Concetta embraced
+me most of all and said I was not
+proud and hawty like she thought and for
+me to forgive and I hugged back most
+crazy with glad.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span></p>
+
+<p>Uncle Nicolo came in and Concetta
+begged him to play the piccolo so they
+might dance to sellybrate. It is a fine father
+who can always have music in his
+pocket that his children may dance. I
+told Uncle Nicolo how my Mama that died
+said the neighbors called him Mr. Piccolo
+instead and he laughed a little for the first
+time in America I guess by his looks.</p>
+
+<p>Isn’t it funny that my feet have not forgot
+the tarantella learned from my Mama
+that died while my head forgets many
+capitals of States in vacation? So Concetta
+and I were fine in love and danced it
+to each other like our Mothers usto, only
+Uncle Nicolo would have his sad thoughts
+again and forget to blow.</p>
+
+<p>The Principal stood in the door and
+Dolly with her because Dolly had met her
+in a store and wanted to come. They
+begged and begged and coaxed and coaxed
+until Aunt Maddalena took her little shoes
+out of a chest and nobody could dance the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span>tarantella like her. She looked old but
+danced young just as when all would walk
+miles to see the steps of her teeny feet.</p>
+
+<p>O Mother, what do you think our dear
+Principal said—that her grand wonderful
+actress friend who visited us once at the
+school wants to learn the tarantella because
+she must dance it in a play named
+“Ibsen’s doll’s house” and nobody could
+teach her to do it like my Aunt Maddalena
+and the actress lady will pay Aunt Maddalena
+plenty of money to be taught. In
+that minute I got back my Italian proudness
+to think of that way-way-up-to-the-sky
+actress lady taking lessons off my
+Aunt.</p>
+
+<p>O and Uncle Nicolo can buy that fruit
+stand and he was so glad he sang a long
+song which the Principal named grand
+opera. All the time he sang Dolly was
+scribbling with her pencil on the cuffs of
+my white waist but not so anybody would
+notice her much and then she whispered
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span>to me “Don’t send my limmyricks to the
+laundry.”</p>
+
+<p>Next Uncle Nicolo played like he would
+break his cheeks and we all danced.
+Even the Principal made some whirls with
+Marietta.</p>
+
+<p>We parted in joy and now I am home
+back at the school and happy happy! And
+I have looked in Dolly’s closet but I can’t
+find any limmyricks not to send to the
+laundry. I know all her clothes and she
+never said she wore any or what color.</p>
+
+<p>Here is the poetry off my left cuff.</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+      <div class="verse indent0a">“There was an Aunt Maddalena</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Whom Giovanna never had seena</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">She’s wrinkled and old</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">But her heart is fine gold</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">So her looks don’t count for a beana.”</div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<p>Here is her poetry on my right cuff.</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+      <div class="verse indent0a">“There was a proud Cousin Concetta</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Whose eyes were black as the jetta</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">She seemed full of hate</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">But that’s all a mistake</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">She’s so darling we’re glad to have metta.”</div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span></p>
+
+<p>That’s the true just as if it wasn’t
+poetry, but all the rellytives in this big
+world dont = one precious darling Mother
+always first in the heart of</p>
+
+<p class="right r2">Giovanna.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span></p>
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="GIOVANNAS_FIRST_REMEMBERS">
+    GIOVANNA’S FIRST REMEMBERS
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p class="drop-cap"><i><span class="smcap">Angelickal</span> Mother of my gloryous
+new times</i>,</p>
+
+<p>Such a hurry I got to put my first remembers
+in this letter because to-morrow
+we girls must fix them in compositions
+to oblige the Chair of Professor
+Sighkology who lectured to us in Assembly
+and I cannot make secrets with that
+Chair away from you who must ever be
+the Queen of all my deepmost thinks.</p>
+
+<p>A senior said Professor Sighkology’s
+smile was Heavenly, but Dolly answered it
+was so impursynal it fell down between
+the desks. I never noticed which way
+flew his smile for wondering what sort
+of magic Chair to read my writing and
+put red ink on top of my mistakes. I’d
+like to see it only to feel that Chair staring
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span>at me without eyes would be worse than
+the evil eye of the old shoeman—I’ll tell
+about him when I get to his spot in my
+letter.</p>
+
+<p>The girls are Odearing something
+dreadful about this composition (except
+Dolly who says hers will then be ready
+for her byography) but they don’t really
+mind—it’s just their Odear habit.
+Boosted up here as I am by your love and
+my orphan feelings not forgotten, I don’t
+see how they can fuss and fuss at nothing,
+I don’t indeed. But then a beggar of the
+street might peep in at the asylum window
+and hear the orphans Odear the same and
+say “What have those orphans all safe
+and fed got to Odear about?” and wonder
+at them just as I do at the Exclusives
+of this school.</p>
+
+<p>No other girl here could make news to
+her mother of her first remembers since
+they had them together which we never
+could the ones I got now, because if I had
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span>been your daughter from the beginning all
+these first remembers would have been diferents.
+Anyway no daughter could belong
+any fiercer than I do now, <i>could</i> they
+Mother? My days are trimmed up and
+deckorated with my thinks of you. And
+when I tell you these remembers we will
+belong some more for you to know all that
+passed with me in my years before I sewed
+by your side at the College Settlement
+where we used to take our first start with
+each other.</p>
+
+<p>And even if we didn’t begin so early to
+belong, I hope we can finish up together
+and have our funerals the same afternoon.
+Sometimes I get scares in my bed to wonder
+if, you being older, God expects you
+to die first, but please live to be an aged
+lady and I won’t mind dying some young
+not to be left orphan again.</p>
+
+<p>How strange that Dolly and I were
+babies in the world at the same time and
+her with a nurse of white cap and apron
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span>to ride her in the Park and embroidery
+dresses and her rattle silver, so no angel
+could guess she would ever be chums with
+the brown tenement baby which grew up
+me. And you, Precious Mother, were in
+the world too and God had you waiting
+for me like a grand surprise hid way back
+on the top cubboard shelf.</p>
+
+<p>Dolly read a book out of the library so
+her composition is very intelleckchewel.
+She writes about her infantyle conceps but
+they were too much style for a Dago tenement
+kid so I am very sure I had none.</p>
+
+<p>O Mother, wouldn’t it be fun if we could
+remember way far backer than we can and
+not forget how it feels to be teeny in laps
+and pull hair and talk guggy guggy? But
+no—we must grow to some bigness before
+memory sprouts in us.</p>
+
+<p>Dolly’s earlyest reckylection is shook in
+church for badness to go sit on the pulpit
+steps and hug and kiss her new hat with
+the minister up there preaching how
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span>wicked is vanity. Can’t you just see her
+looking dear and cute and funny like anything?</p>
+
+<p>I will tell you my own very firstest remember
+I got. I never knew there was
+any me in this world until the day the
+saloon burned across our street. All
+stands in my head just like a picture only
+myself I cannot see though I feel I am
+in the middle of it and little to hold on that
+way to the back of the chair where my Papa
+lifted me up to look. He was an awful
+handsome man of big black mustash. I
+can see very plain my Mama that died and
+hear her prayers of scare that our house
+would not burn also. All the front of that
+picture is blazing fire close close till it
+seems as if I could reach it with my hands.
+I had not then my “dawn of conshus fear”
+but jumped and danced on the chair like
+a little crazy with joy of the big red and
+yellow flames.</p>
+
+<p>Dolly’s best scare was on a ghost which
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span>never skooted in at the window all white
+with eyes green and ringing its hands
+and moaning fierce to fly her off into the
+dark, but of nights she lay on her little bed
+expecting and expecting that ghost which
+the nurse said would come if she did not
+go quick to sleep, and she could not for
+scare of the ghost. It was all just a
+wicked lie of that nurse so she could run
+talk with her bow over the fence.</p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter illowp40" id="i_fp110" style="max-width: 26.8125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i_fp110.jpg" alt="sketch: Girl walking past an open doorway; a cobbler inside the door examines a shoe.">
+  <figcaption>
+    <q>I must hold my horny hand at my back for politeness</q>
+    <div class="attr"><a href="#Page_110">Page 110</a></div>
+  </figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p>My first afraid was on that old Dago
+shoeman. He pozest the evil eye and always
+plenty of work because the neighbors
+had scares of what would fall on them if
+another should mend their shoes. He sat
+close to the door in his little shop where I
+must pass on errands to the grocery. My
+Mama that died hung a charm about my
+neck to keep off his bad looks; also she
+showed me how to make horns with my
+hand but I must hold my horny hand at
+my back for politeness. With the charm
+and horns I felt safe when I was in the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span>house just going to start, but soon as I
+heard his hammer tinky tinky I would go
+slow and slow grabbing my charm and
+making my horns and shake and shake
+and whisper little prayers and creep soft
+on my tippy toes till I was half past and
+then run like crazyness.</p>
+
+<p>Dolly says her scare was worse than
+mine because the old shoeman stayed in
+his shop and didn’t go flopping round into
+windows. I told her but he was really in
+the world and the ghost was not, and she
+answers that’s the eyedentickle reason for
+the ghost to be worst.</p>
+
+<p>I never dreamed that richness living upstairs
+and downstairs in its house could
+think of anything to want and not get it
+and there Dolly and I had the same wish
+which was a new baby in the family, girl
+for choice. Poorness got waited on up in
+Heaven and richness didn’t, so my going-to-be-chum
+Dolly had to stay an only like
+she was.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span></p>
+
+<p>I wish she could have had hers too.
+She needed it worse than me because I
+was not quite an only on account of Tony.
+I never noticed when he came. He was in
+our house not so big as I when I first
+thought about him. He was too big
+though to make a good baby and wouldn’t
+play it anyway. All the girls my size on
+the tenement doorstep had babies to tend,
+so it was no good form to be without and
+I must ever play old maid which is very
+stupid with no children to lick. It was
+only nice when the hand organ would come
+to our block because a baby is awful heavy
+to dance with for several tunes while an
+old maid can dance all tunes very free and
+glad.</p>
+
+<p>My best friend was named Katy. She
+was proud to be Irish and no Dago. Her
+father was a man of pollyticks who could
+shake hands with the alderman just whenever
+he pleased, and the alderman got him
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span>a job to sweep the dirt of the streets into a
+great big dustpan with a long handle.
+Katy was so haughty for that she would
+not be much friends with Dago kids but
+with me yes, because we had the other
+front tenement to look on the street and
+lived in good style with always something
+to pawn when there was not money enough
+for the rent. So she liked me at home
+but not at school—there she walked at
+recess with her arms around the Irish and
+not me. But after school she was my
+friend again and said the rest in our tenement
+were ginneys and could not sit on
+the top step along with us.</p>
+
+<p>One day when Katy got home from
+school she found a bran new baby in her
+house and she was stucker up than ever
+because it was a sister which is more stylish
+than brothers and it was blonde white
+with teeny gold curls like no other baby in
+that tenement. I was its old maid Aunt
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span>and must hold it most all the time while
+Katy was busy chasing kids off the top
+step.</p>
+
+<p>I loved Katy’s baby so fierce I had most
+forgotten to want one of my own when
+Isabella came in the night and the next
+morning I heard her cry in Mama’s bed
+and was crazy glad and ran to look but
+such a dizzypoint fell on me for her to be
+little and red and blackfuzzy and Katy’s
+baby so beautiful. O Mother, I write this
+with red shame on my cheeks to think of
+me so mean and wicked but I must tell
+you all even if it makes you have a black
+spot of dispizement for me in your soul
+<i>I tried to trade babies with Katy</i>! I offered
+her all my hair ribbons and my red
+beads and even my badeye charm but she
+said not on her sweet life for mine was
+the common Dago kind so if you dropped
+her on the steps you couldn’t tell again
+which one she was and so little I would be
+getting ten pounds more baby.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span></p>
+
+<p>God was good to me as I never deserved
+not to let her trade since her baby died and
+I would have been left without any little
+sister and serve me right for my evil heart.
+I saw that dear baby just the day before
+in Katy’s house and I thought it not to be
+sick as they said with its cheeks so pink,
+but the next tomorrow it was dead. The
+Chairs asks which is your beautifullest remember
+and that is mine—Katy’s baby lying
+on the table among its candles, its face
+all over clean at once and dressed in white
+embroidery like richness. It seemed as if
+it must wake up in surprise and reach for
+those teeny blue shoes such as it never
+dreamed on itself. The look on its face
+was just as though an angel was whispering
+creepymouse in its ear. I cried more
+than Katy which she said was no fair and
+I kissed many times its little hands like
+cold snow. They took it away with grand
+style and much weeps out loud and three
+carriages and a white hurse and a bouquet
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span>of genuine flowers bigger than it, a present
+from the alderman which must have
+cost plenty.</p>
+
+<p>Isabella had grown some bigger by that
+time and her curls had started only they
+were still black and not gold. When the
+funeral proceshun was gone, I went again
+upstairs and hugged her not to be dead and
+cold and whispered did she forgive her
+wicked sister to try to trade and she guggled
+“yes” and I cried some more into her
+apron for my little Irish niece deadngone
+to the semitary.</p>
+
+<p>Katy returned from her funeral very sad
+and hawty. I offered her Isabella to hold
+for comfort but she sobbed “no, thanks,
+her own or none” and she let everybody
+sit by her side on the top step. I saw by
+such politeness her heart to be broke intirely
+as she said it was.</p>
+
+<p>Katy’s family moved away pretty soon
+because the alderman fixed her Papa with
+a better job to drive a big sweep-the-streets
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span>machine of nights and they went to a grand
+Irish tenement with a bathtub and foldup
+bed in the parlor glorybe.</p>
+
+<p>I truly love this school, Mother, but not
+more than I loved the First-Grade in that
+time. It was fine to be the monitor to all
+the pencils in my row and the teacher’s
+petticoat rustled grand and silken down
+the aisle and her smile was hardly ever
+off her face—just when some boy was
+mean. My hand would most wave itself
+broke to say the words on the blackboard
+and I loved to sing</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+      <div class="verse indent0a">“Twenty froggys went to school</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Down beside the Russhen pool.”</div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<p>I went home different ways to find that
+pool but none on our block was Russhen,
+just all Dago with men hitting little balls
+and no froggys to see.</p>
+
+<p>You must have been the Dolly kind of
+little girl, Mother and O so fine and wonderful!
+Please please write your youthfullest
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span>rememberants to me in your next
+precious letter. My Mama that died used
+to tell me about when she was a little girl
+in Italy. She would get glad to talk of
+Italy—how it is warm, fresh and light,
+the neighbors sing like the fountins; fig
+and olive trees grow thick there as the garbige
+cans of America. We would dance
+the tarantella very happy but pretty soon
+it would make worse her cough and then
+she would cry and say how cold, sad, dark
+and ugly is this country and all times like
+Good Friday. She was a very good kind
+of Mama and where she was that place
+seemed ever sweet and shiney unto me.</p>
+
+<p>The curious chair wants to know how
+we made our first start to feel grownup.
+Dolly says her shoes keep climbing higher
+and higher up her ankels and her skirts
+keep falling down lower and lower.
+When they meet she will be a young lady.</p>
+
+<p>I must have stayed kiddish forever to
+wait for that because my dresses not like
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span>Dolly’s would get shrinker and shrinker
+and my legs would grow longer and longer
+so my shoes and skirts must get more
+apart for boys at school to holler “broomsticks!
+broomsticks!” as I hated them to
+so holler.</p>
+
+<p>I guess my grownup feelings sprouted in
+me one tragicky winter full of woe when
+Papa’s fruit would freeze and freeze and
+lose him plenty of money and we got all
+pawned out and had to move back into an
+old behind tenement very dark and cold
+so I was glad Katy was gone not to see.
+The cough of my Mama that died got awful
+worse and no fire seemed to warm us
+with the little coal we had and Tony sat
+by the stove and wouldn’t play anything
+but lame boy and his knee was bad but he
+never said it was real—only his play. It
+was a good thing I was eight that birthday
+to do the work. My Papa fixed a box
+by the stove and a box by the cubboard so
+I could reach and also put our tub on to
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span>wash, only Isabella always tried to fall in
+that tub and be drounded. I had no time
+for doorsteps and anyway it was too cold.</p>
+
+<p>The walk-in districk nurse came every
+day to put a new bandige on Tony’s knee
+and fix Mama what comfy she could. One
+morning I put Mama and Tony’s breakfast
+on the box by the stove while I filled
+the teakettle and Tony never noticed and
+put his foot in it and I slapped him—my
+poor little lame brother with a bandige on
+his knee! O Mother, when he was awful
+sicker in the hospital I begged him to slap
+me back but he wouldn’t, so that slap I
+put on Tony must stay on me till I die.</p>
+
+<p>And I can’t have the delishus dinner I
+got now in a basket and take it to Mama
+and Tony to make them glad. When
+persons are in some other place perhaps
+you can get there to walk enough, but you
+cannot walk to them in a new time after
+theirs is all past and finished up.</p>
+
+<p>I know that winter was when I got the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span>habit of growing up for the nurse to say
+as she did “you poor little old woman!”</p>
+
+<p>Then one day very sudden it was spring
+and warm by the sun and some grass trying
+to grow itself in a crack of the sidewalk
+and Tony went outdoors with his new
+crutch. That day the walk-in nurse helped
+me like a sick one into a pink dress terrible
+short with a big spot where Isabella spillt
+her mackyrony on me but the best I had.
+She led me to a beautiful house like no
+tenement because its rooms had not beds
+or stoves but pictures and prettys and
+many parlors which must be bigger and
+grander than the glorybe parlor of Katy.
+Some children were firing little pillows full
+of beans at a hole—so silly I thought and
+beans good to eat.</p>
+
+<p>Then the walk-in nurse opened a door
+and that was the door to all my joy. Many
+girls sewed in a club and one hollered very
+mean “I know her—that’s Giovanna Long-legs,”
+and all laughed. My wish was to
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span>cry and run home, but O the wonderfulest
+enchantingest lady which was you hugged
+me with your arm and put shame on those
+girls and asked me did I want to sew doll
+rags? I was embearest dreadful but answered
+“no, please I am too old.” Your
+smile was truly Heavenly as you gave me
+a dress to make for Isabella and put me
+close by your side. That was the day my
+love for you got planted in the ground of
+my heart.</p>
+
+<p>But, Mother, I could not have sat there
+and sewed so happy if I had known God
+was planning all those funerals for our
+family. And if any angel had whispered
+in your ear that day how the funny little
+new Dago kid of the long legs would get
+to be your ownest ownest daughter, I
+think you would have told that angel
+“Guess again and don’t be abzurd!”</p>
+
+<p>Now in this letter you got me from the
+start and I am for keeps and keeps and
+keeps<span class="righttext"> Your Giovanna.</span></p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span></p>
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="GIOVANNA_AS_THE_WRONG">
+    GIOVANNA AS THE WRONG PRINCESS
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p class="drop-cap"><i><span class="smcap">Adorablest</span> Mother</i>,</p>
+
+<p>My times in this school get better
+and better and now my tiptopest joy of all
+is that I am to act in a real play. The
+Principal divided us girls into program
+groops and my Dolly chum is writing O a
+gorjous drama just out of her own thinks
+for our groop to give next month.</p>
+
+<p>First Dolly read a book from the library
+how to make plays, but that book only gave
+her much discurage and her head to ache
+therefore she decided younity and atmosphear
+are too much style for a school play
+and not to have them in hers. So she
+writes it absolootly by inspuration same as
+poetry only worse for long and often which
+is terrible. That inspuration falls on her
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span>in the middle of nights and just in front
+of dessert and once when climbing the
+trapeeze so she lost her hold, but on the
+floor stayed her play notebook and when
+the gym teacher came running to see how
+bad she was hurt, there she lay to scribble,
+scribble like crazy and never knew her
+bumps until they turned their bumpy color.
+O Mother, how wonderful is genius!</p>
+
+<p>The Age of Dolly’s play is Middle because
+then all persons wore costumes instead
+of clothes and were romantic every
+minute. Dolly adores romance which it
+is her grief and woe to be now so scarce
+and most extinkt. The Principal likes
+that time because petticoats were good
+form for gentlemen, so the King girl can
+be real modish in a red kimono trimmed by
+bands of cotton decorated with ink blots,
+and the other mail characters will keep on
+their long cloaks so their gym suits won’t
+show.</p>
+
+<p>Dolly can’t dyvulge the plot yet because
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span>the characters are so opstreperus that
+whatever she writes them to do they fuss
+back at her to fix it all different. She
+says that’s because, being the children of
+her brains, they must take after her in temperment.
+But we girls coaxed and teased
+her most crazy till she consented to give
+us just an introduckshun no more to those
+desperit tempermental characters.</p>
+
+<p>Dolly will act the Right Princess as the
+playwrite must ever be leading lady or no
+fair, and I am the Wrong Princess which
+is the next best part for being her chum.
+The rest are the King, Queen, Noble,
+Prince of the Long Feather, Cruel Jailer,
+Wicked Witch, and four Hop-livelys who
+must be sometimes pezzents (which means
+not birds but the poor and humble obliged
+to dust with their aprons the chairs of
+nobility) sometimes kitchen sculpins and
+sometimes pop-up ghosts.</p>
+
+<p>Dolly says the Wrong Princess gets
+taken for the real kind at first but by and
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span>by she is expozed and found out to be nothing
+but a half orphan of the Wicked Witch.
+Already I love my part because to be any
+princess whatsoever will be magnificent
+like I never dreamed. I try hard with my
+manners, Mother, I do indeed, but they
+are not the teeniest bit enough good for
+even the wrong kind of princess. I must
+just watch them now like cats and mice
+not to put shame on you by the rudeness of
+my princess ways. But the half orphan
+piece of my part I guess I will understand
+to act as some girl of two parents might
+not.</p>
+
+<p>I knew a little girl in another dormitory
+of our asylum who was fairy once at a
+genuine theater and she told how in a play
+you are always fine and wonderful like
+makebelieve come true only she always
+wished it wouldn’t be over so dreadful
+quick.</p>
+
+<p>O Mother, I go upstairs and downstairs
+in all the rooms of this school so happy to
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span>think on my character in Dolly’s drama
+that scarcely can my feet walk and not
+skippity skippity as would be no proper
+princess manners. I love Dolly more than
+I ever did, which was lots already, to see
+her write in her play notebook those good
+grand words for me to speak. It is diffycult
+not to feel haughty when I think that
+a backward like me has genius for her
+chum.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Your joyful-up-to-the-sky<br>
+  <span class="righttext">Wrong Princess.</span></p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="unindent"><i>O Mother Dear and Only Comfort</i>,</p>
+
+<p>I most wish I was an old old lady dead
+in my peaceful grave so Dolly would get
+repentants on herself for her perfiddy and
+she calls perfiddy on me the same when I
+perfidded nothing and she all. Now we
+are no more chums and never can be in our
+long lives.</p>
+
+<p>Dolly had promised, when the play was
+finished up, to read it first to me like a
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span>secret, so last night after supper I ran with
+her very happy to our room, and O dear!
+O dear! how I wish that inspuration had
+never dropped on her. When she began
+to read we were the lovingest friends and
+when she stopped we were the hatingest
+enemies.</p>
+
+<p>The play makes its start with the King
+and Queen discovered on top of their
+thrones talking about their believed-to-be
+child, the Wrong Princess—how vile and
+evil is her dishpishum and how dark her
+looks—just like me. Her name is Zeerooty
+as any girl so wicked must have her
+name spelled with Z to hiss like the snakes
+in her black heart.</p>
+
+<p>The King says “Adzooks! cheer up,
+Mrs. Queen. This is the day the Noble
+Prince of the Long Feather comes to be
+her sooter. He will marry her away from
+us and good riddants to our Zeerooty.”
+The Queen has scares the Noble Prince
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span>won’t like the blackness and tempers of
+Zeerooty and says weddings in the dark
+are real stylish among her set, but the king
+only zooks some more.</p>
+
+<p>Dolly must read hard and fast to finish
+before the electric light would go off,
+so she never looked at me to know the
+feelings sprouting in my soul. I kept myself
+still and spoke not with hopes the King
+and Queen were some mistaken and me not
+to be so mean as their thinks.</p>
+
+<p>Then in the play a Hop-lively announces
+the Noble Prince of the Long Feather who
+enters the stage followed by the other three
+Hop-livelys. When all finish their politeness,
+that Zeerooty comes along tagged
+by Dolly dressed in her white silk with a
+big black patch basted on its front breath
+to show how poor and dispized she is because
+believed to be just the child of the
+Wicked Witch and given to Zeerooty for
+a sort of slave since the Witch has got
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span>everybody spelled so they don’t know that
+Zeerooty is her own black brat and Dolly
+the Right Princess.</p>
+
+<p>Zeerooty never notices the Prince and all
+those Hop-livelys though I don’t see how
+she can help it and not be blind. She
+saucys her Mama Queen and kicks her
+Papa King on his foot. Then she discovers
+the Prince and has much astonish
+for that. She likes him fine and her manners
+are quick honeytaffy. She puts out
+her hand for him to kiss like she is the sunflower
+of the world, but scarcely can the
+Prince kiss that hand for his looks of love
+on Dolly.</p>
+
+<p>Zeerooty perceeves those looks and goes
+back to acting like scandles. She throws
+her gloves, hat, and hanky on the floor for
+Dolly to pick them up and slaps her on the
+cheek.</p>
+
+<p>O that slap was the worst ever to go
+from me to Dolly in her drama! It is the
+true, Mother, I slapped Dolly my first day
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span>in this school because I spilled the gravy
+on her and she put the name goosey to
+you for thinking I could get made into a
+lady. But that is so long past and see how
+we have been chums ever since the girls
+took the tayboo off me and now for her
+to go put that slap in her play when I
+thought it all forgiven up—O Mother, it
+hurt so bad I couldn’t even speak that first
+minute like once when I caught my finger
+in the door.</p>
+
+<p>When Dolly read on, our electric study
+lamp went to bobbing itself round in funny
+ways and throwing out long strings of
+light into my eyes.</p>
+
+<p>In the second act, Dolly is discovered
+dusting and dusting those thrones and the
+Prince tells her how sweetysweet she is
+and that Zeerooty so bominable which is
+the true—I could put no blame on him for
+that. He wants to marry Dolly instead of
+me and her young heart beats for him
+alone. Then I, which is Zeerooty come on
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span>and catch them in their actions. I stamp
+and yell so fierce all the court rush there
+with scares of fire. Zeerooty demands to
+have the Noble Prince boiled in oil with
+chilly sauce, mean old thing that I am!
+The King answers boiling a guest would
+be inhospittable and no good form and
+make war with his parents but to our lowest
+dunjun let him go until he can love
+Zeerooty and he is halled off by the Cruel
+Jailor while Dolly weeps into her hanky.</p>
+
+<p>After that things are truly awfuller than
+they can be Dolly tries to rescew the Noble
+Prince and gets caught and dunjuned herself
+by the cruel Jailer, so it looks like all
+is over with the lovery pair. But the
+Cruel Jailer gets a tender spot in his tough
+breast and the Wicked Witch falls into her
+own kettle and then her spells don’t work
+and Zeerooty is found out to be the Wrong
+Princess and Dolly the Right One. Dolly
+is let to marry the Noble Prince of the
+Long Feather and Zeerooty is put out the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span>castle gate scratching firce all the Hop-livelys
+who got the job to reject her and
+screeching swears of “Zounds! Zounds!”
+like the cat vickson she is to the last and
+no lady!</p>
+
+<p>When she finished reading, my used-to-be
+chum actually asked if my part wasn’t
+just grand? I felt as a volcano when it is
+volcanoizing. I told her my opinion of
+that despizable old black snubbish Zeerooty
+mean as mud. I asked her what sort of
+mad she had kept hid away in her heart all
+our months of being chums that she could
+make me such a part to slap Dollys in her
+play and saucy mothers and kick fathers
+and boil princes like a cannible heathen?</p>
+
+<p>Dolly just laughed and said Zeerooty
+was dandy and a real actress would know
+her for a splendid part.</p>
+
+<p>I answered I was awear that while I
+might be Dago black and lean like broomsticks
+and used to be a slapper when I
+came, I was one no more but had learned
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span>better in this school where my Mother put
+me for such manners not to stay on me any
+more as the manners of that Zeerooty
+whom I hated and detested and bominated
+like a poison weed and never would I play
+myself to be her!</p>
+
+<p>Then Dolly got mad at me like I already
+was at her, only she had no cause as she
+can ask her consceince and let it tell her
+what she did first to me—not counting that
+way-back slap.</p>
+
+<p>Dolly exclaimed that genius never gets
+its dews this side of the silentomb, so she
+don’t expect it, but to think I could take
+such an ignoranty pursonal view of Zeerooty.
+She asked if after she wrote special
+for me that almost starry part did I
+really refuse to be it?</p>
+
+<p>I answered “Yes, I refuse forever and
+ever and all the time after that to be Zeerooty.”
+Dolly said “This breaks the chain
+which binds us” and I spoke back that
+chain to be already busted when she read
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span>me about that mean slapping Zeerooty
+thing she wrote to put me into.</p>
+
+<p>Dolly answered she would never never
+speak to me again and I told her I would
+not to her in all my long life and we both
+cried on our beds. When we must get up
+to undress, Dolly took off the nugget bracelet
+I gave her Christmas and put it on my
+bureau and me the same on hers with the
+silver candlestick she gave me.</p>
+
+<p>So now I lost my chum all on account of
+that Zeerooty. I never expected to slap
+any girl again but I would Zeerooty if she
+were only in the world to receive my slap.
+And I won’t play her! I won’t! I won’t!
+I wont!</p>
+
+<p class="right">
+  <span class="r4">Your mad and Sorry</span><br>
+  <span class="r2">Giovanna.</span></p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="unindent"><i>Angel Mother All I Got</i>,</p>
+
+<p>It is now three days that Dolly and I
+don’t speak any more than frozen icicles
+and I most wish I was one to fall down and
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span>break into little pieces and be finished.
+My heart is so heavy, it’s like carrying the
+coal-hod at the asylum to get upstairs with
+it to my room. Dolly and I both got the
+proudness not to tell what our mad is about
+so the other girls guess much but know
+nothing.</p>
+
+<p>O Mother, if I had never been born,
+what troubles I would have missed, most
+of all this cold mad lonesome to be a deafndumb
+with Dolly studying on her side of
+our room a deafndumb also, and she my
+used-to-be-dearest next to you.</p>
+
+<p>If Dolly would only say she is sorry she
+wrote that Zeerooty on me I could forgive
+her in a minute, but she never will. And
+I don’t blame Dolly, Mother, as I do Zeerooty
+her own self. You know how Dolly
+told that those characters would fuss back
+at her and dicktate how they wanted to be
+fixed. Dolly is ever a quick forgiver and
+never would have thought to stick in that
+blow for all the girls to remember me as
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span>I was in my slapping days if Zeerooty has
+not hipnotized her to do it.</p>
+
+<p>But now she has chozen between me and
+that Zeerooty whom she loves like a mother
+her bad child to think all its meanness darling
+and cute. She cannot see me write
+in this letter “Dear Dolly, take me and not
+your old Zeerooty,” but I wouldn’t say it
+to her out loud, not for the big round
+world in my pocket. Goodbye my Dolly
+chum, I hope Zeerooty makes you happy
+you don’t look happy though, but sorry and
+frozeup same as me.</p>
+
+<p>I feel my cry is coming Mother, and I
+must get to bed quick and sqush it in the
+pillow for Dolly not to hear. I’m glad
+you are not a chum to bandon me for some
+old Zeerooty. Mothers are just the one
+thing in the world you can always keep
+unless God takes them up to Heaven.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Goodnight truest and darlingist,<br>
+  <span class="righttext">Giovanna.</span></p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span></p>
+<p class="unindent"><i>Treasure Mother</i>,</p>
+
+<p>A real lady actress, friend to the Principal,
+came and performed like Lady Macbeth
+in Assembly this afternoon just for
+us girls. I was so blue I didn’t want to
+go but we all must. She was dressed very
+curious and talked for her husband Mr.
+Macbeth also just as I used to for my doll
+only she made her voice big instead of
+little. He wanted to be king as the witches
+proffyside but he had some feelings not to
+kill the nice gentle old really truly king
+come to visit him like an uncle and explained
+how murdering your company is
+not good form. I guess Lady Macbeth’s
+first name must begin with Z. O Mother,
+I shook till it squeeked the seat when she
+dared him and called him old fraidcat. Of
+course he didn’t have to mind her but a
+wife ought to keep her husband out of
+meanness all she can and not put him up to
+more like Lady Macbeth.</p>
+
+<p>I was sure that actress lady must be very
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span>bad by nature to look like that out of her
+eyes and dangerous, ever full of meanness
+to do somebody. I wondered how our dear
+Principal could stand her for a friend.</p>
+
+<p>When she came in the reception room
+after she had acted I did not know her in
+a tailor suit and smiling sweet, not a bit
+like that Lady Macbeth. I was standing
+close by the Principal and my astonish
+jumped right out of me to say how she
+looked not mean but a lovely lady. The
+Principal laughed and told how good that
+actress is to her little brothers and orphans
+and beggars and adored by all.</p>
+
+<p>O the Principal made me most die of
+mortifide to lead me to the actress lady and
+introdoose me by telling right out loud my
+thinks of her. But she was so Heavenly
+tackfull Mother, that by and by I could
+ask her the question sticking right out of
+my soul to be asked—how she could act
+herself into a mean one like Lady Macbeth
+whom she must ever hate and put on her
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span>looks and ways for all persons to detest
+and not love.</p>
+
+<p>When she was gone I ran quick upstairs
+with my heart no more like coal hods.
+There sat Dolly on her side writing like
+crazy in her play notebook. I never
+thought not to speak first and I cried out,
+“O Dolly, it is the duty of my face to be a
+picture of Zeerooty’s face and my voice to
+sound like hers and my actions to be same
+as her actions to show the audients what
+Zeerooty is like and not what I am like
+which does not count at such a time.
+What a silly I was—all ignoranty and
+pursynal like you said—so please forgive
+and I will play Zeerooty dandy as I can.”</p>
+
+<p>Dolly looked up awful sweet out of her
+writing and answered, “No, Giovanna, you
+had the right to hate Zeerooty because that
+actress explained it to be the smartness of
+Shakespeare for Lady Macbeth to have
+some good feelings mixed in with her badness
+and those repentants in her sleep and
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span>to be no monster. My Zeerooty was a
+fusser and a scowler and a screecher every
+minute which is to be a monster. I’m glad
+you hated her; she is now detestable to me
+the same, so here I sit writing some good
+feelings and repentants into her.”</p>
+
+<p>I asked “Shall Zeerooty walk in my
+sleep?” and she answered she would be no
+copycat to Shakespeare but ever origynal
+and make me into a nun at the last instead
+of a scratcher of Hop-livelys.</p>
+
+<p>Then I remembered what my real maddest
+mad was about, only it was so good to
+be speaking with my Dolly chum again I
+didn’t much care, but I just asked, “Dolly,
+would it be the same with you if Zeerooty
+should pull your hair instead of slap, for
+the girls to not remember my dreadful
+scandle of slapping you during my first
+dinner in this school?”</p>
+
+<p>O Mother, Dolly had forgotten all about
+that slap or she never would have put it in
+her play and she begged please forgive.
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span>We hugged and kissed like crazy and went
+down to dinner with our arms around as
+always. I am so happy I love even poor
+old naughty Zeerooty.</p>
+
+<p class="right">  <span class="r4">Your devoted daughter</span><br>
+  <span class="r2">The Wrong Princess.</span></p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span></p>
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="GIOVANNAS_COMMENCEMENT">
+    GIOVANNA’S COMMENCEMENT
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p class="drop-cap"><i><span class="smcap">O Mother</span> Dear</i>,</p>
+
+<p>Such high sky cheer but feelings
+queer rezembling fear though love burns
+clear to know that we’re so close and near.</p>
+
+<p>Why I almost made a sonnut! I must
+be catching poetry off Dolly’s Muse. A
+Muse, Mother, is a ghosty person only not
+made of fog and clam like a real ghost but
+just of air. It hawnts round waiting to
+help you write poetry but you got to be a
+true genius first. No other girl in this
+school has a Muse except Dolly and I don’t
+mind it hawnting in our room because all
+it does is to keep the poetry stirred up in
+Dolly’s soul.</p>
+
+<p>This is not a real letter for the post office
+or for you to read ever, but just scribble in
+the back of my composition book which
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span>cannot be dissybedient now the term is
+over all but fun and exes. Dolly down in
+the studyroom crams and crams till she
+daresent talk for fear of losing something
+out of her mind. I am writing this sortof
+letter just to keep myself out of crazyness
+while I wait alone in my room the long,
+long, long hours before you come. My imaginer
+can see you in the cars this minute.
+You seem to be looking out of the window
+and I wonder if you got little thinks of
+your Giovanna waiting here. On the seat
+by your side is some big package of my surprise
+for which you did not wish me to meet
+you at the train, but please I don’t need that
+surprise—just you! you! you! Since receiving
+your letter, the big school clock has
+ever ticked “Mother’s coming! Mother’s
+coming!” till I wrote it all round the edge
+of my music book when I never knew I
+did.</p>
+
+<p>I want you to come so bad I can hardly
+live and yet—O Dearest, all the corners of
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span>my soul are full of scares. I stare in the
+mirror until Dolly tells I am getting vanity
+on myself, but it is my wonder, wonder
+what my looks and ways will be to you. I
+hope you do not forget how Dago black I
+am and have dizzypoint in me for that.
+And my manners—I have not worn them
+so long as the other girls—sometimes I
+lose them off when I am embearest or forget.</p>
+
+<p>Let’s count me up together, Mother, now
+before you come. I’m bigger—that’s by
+the grace of God as the preacher says. I
+wear the clothes of grandeur—that’s by the
+grace of your love. I am a teeny smarter
+in my head—that’s by the grace of my
+teachers.</p>
+
+<p>Spelling is still my ennemy. I don’t see
+why God made so many ways to spell
+words and then only put one way in the
+Dictionery which He must have written
+like the Bible and Encyclopedia since too
+big for any person to write in his long life.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span></p>
+
+<p>Fractions are mean too and I hate them!
+What is the good to divide units in all
+those stingey parts which the denommynator
+shows how many and the numerator
+what you give each person? Fractions is
+how they used to cut the pie at the asylum
+on Saturday. If it wasn’t for fractions
+there would be no poors in this world for
+everybody would have good and plenty of
+all things. O Darlingest, there is no numerator
+and denommynator between you
+and me; you are my entire Mother instead
+of 1-90 of a matron I used to have.</p>
+
+<p>And deffynitions are what Dolly calls
+my pon sassy norum which is Latin for the
+hardest ever. I could not remember
+moonshiner away from honeymoon till
+Dolly explained which one makes whisky
+on the still and which one is two going off
+alone after the wedding on a journey away
+from all encumbrants. They are still romantics
+and just hate to have anybody close
+except themselves, especially children big
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span>enough to be obzervant. Dolly learned
+that last outside of the book.</p>
+
+<p>I was sure, Mother, I had scribbled away
+this whole hour and when I saw it to be
+only half gone, I shook my little watch and
+then kissed it to forgive me.</p>
+
+<p>It is Commencement Week in this school
+and with me the same because I commence
+to live by your side. I wonder if I will
+ever acheeve the Senior kind to wear a
+graduated dress and make a grand bow
+(down, head, neck and chest; up chest,
+neck and head) to receive my dipploma tied
+with blue ribbon and you in the front row
+quite an old lady (though plenty young
+now) for all the grades and classes I must
+get promoted through. Dolly is a Freshy
+which is to be despized by Seniors, but anyway
+Freshies have class things like a yell,
+a color, and a spirit, while the grades have
+not and so are despized by Freshies the
+same.</p>
+
+<p>Mother, so near, so near.... O O I believe
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span>there comes the maid to call me downstairs....</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p>Sweet Mother dear did wait below, and
+I to talk with her did go, but acted like
+when I was young, they used to say “Cat’s
+got your tongue.”</p>
+
+<p>O Muse, go way and let me alone!
+Can’t you see I’m too miserable to fool with
+poetry? Go and hawnt Dolly down in the
+study-room; only you’ll find she’s dreadfully
+busy cramming math and she won’t
+bother with you either; she’s got real troubles
+same as me—not the fancy poetical
+kind!</p>
+
+<p>Please excuse me, Muse, to be so cross
+and rude, but it’s real aggervating of you
+when i’m just writing down my woe in
+this same old composition book and you
+change it into doggyrells which is all the
+kind you can unwind in me since I am no
+genius like my Dolly chum. I suppose it’s
+missing her makes you try to poetize me.
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span>Now be good and you may look over my
+shoulder though the Principal says for that
+not to be polite.</p>
+
+<p>I shook some as I opened the reception
+room door and there was Mother, grander
+and wonderfuller than even my remembers.
+She met me on the first oriental rug and
+hugged me in her arms and kissed my
+cheeks and I was Heavenly happy.</p>
+
+<p>But Odear! my orgins of speech
+wouldn’t act hardly at all. A teacher says
+we are full of orgins—not the music kind
+which would be nicer only I guess we
+wouldn’t stay in tune and then how bad we
+would sound up to God. Mother sat down
+and me too just like any other time to sit
+in a chair. O it was so funny and gloryous
+to have her close like that, it got me
+awful dazzled up and all I could talk was
+“Yes, Mother,” “No, Mother” like some
+silly doll when you pull its string. Why
+didn’t you come down stairs Muse, and
+hawnt some poetry into me—even that
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span>would have been better than “Yes,
+Mother,” “No, Mother” every minute.</p>
+
+<p>My orgin of thought worked right along
+but of course Mother couldn’t hear it.
+When she asked was I in a hurry for my
+surprise I said outside “No, Mother,” but
+my think spoke “Before you came, Dearest,
+my soul was boiling over with hurry like a
+teakettle but by your side I got no hurry
+in the big world.”</p>
+
+<p>Mother asked didn’t I wish I had a
+father and I answered “No, Mother” but
+my think exclaimed: “For the stupid I am,
+Mother Dear must take up any question
+she can, like some tackfull lady talking to
+a nidiot.” I felt so mortified I was almost
+some glad when she kissed me goodbye on
+the red rug in the hall. O all the night I
+dreamed and dreamed that first visit and
+the words we were going to speak, Mother
+to me and me to Mother! O dear! O
+dear! O dear!</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span></p>
+
+<p>Come hawnt me, O Muse, if you want
+to, for Mother Sweet was just sitting in
+that chair by the table right in this room,
+mine and Dolly’s. It is evening but it
+seemed as if the sun shone in all the windows
+at once!</p>
+
+<p>Mother said “Here I am again, now
+don’t be so diffydent and sollum.”</p>
+
+<p>My thinks hollered that I wouldn’t but
+“No, Mother,” was all I could speak and
+there I was the same chumpy nidiot of the
+afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>Mother laughed. O Musie, her laugh
+rezembles Men—somebody’s “Spring
+Song” which Dolly ever plays on the piano
+for company, only Mother tinklies softer
+and more sweet.</p>
+
+<p>Then she wanted to see my “Girl’s
+School Memory Book” and I sat close on
+my stool of putting on shoes to explain all
+with gladness, since its writings and pasteings
+were done for her precious eyes. I
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span>got my tongue back from the cat and talked
+and talked and talked—now, O Muse, what
+do you think of that?</p>
+
+<p>When the book was finished, Mother
+meddytated to herself. By and by I put a
+little kiss to her hand and it fell on her
+rings, a diamond solitary and another unfancy,
+“Daughter,” she said, “I love those
+rings better than my fingers.” She meddytated
+some more while little watch on
+top of my heart ticked “Mother’s here!
+Mother’s here!”</p>
+
+<p>Pretty soon she sortof waked herself up
+and said, “Giovanna, when you have a
+Mother and no father, you are still half
+of an orphan.”</p>
+
+<p>I told her, “I don’t feel the least bit
+halffy, Mother, but so wrapped all round
+by your love there isn’t any chilly side to
+my soul!”</p>
+
+<p>She spoke how splendid for me to own
+a father like Dolly and the other girls.</p>
+
+<p>I answered: “No thank you, please,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span>because a father would divide our loves and
+so bring fractions into our family, now a
+Heavenly unit of you and me.”</p>
+
+<p>I remembered her asking me in the reception
+room about wanting a father and
+now I understood it was not just for tackfull
+but for really truly. All my time as
+her daughter it has been her angelical wish
+for me nevermore to see other girls with
+any pretty and me not.</p>
+
+<p>I asked her, “If he is my father, mustn’t
+that make him your weddy husband?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes,” answered Mother, and blushed
+as any really lady must all times do when
+talk is about their husbands and they have
+none.</p>
+
+<p>Then we meddytated some more and I
+thought how every man in the big world
+who sees Mother must wish he could have
+her for his weddy wife to sit forever by
+his side.</p>
+
+<p>O Muse, I was afraid not to be respeckfull
+if I talked more to Mother on that
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span>blushy subject, but she asked me for my
+thinks so I spoke them out.</p>
+
+<p>“Mother, he mightn’t suit you the leastest
+bit and perhaps you don’t care for husbands
+anyways so please don’t trouble
+yourself since you are to me plenty of parents.”</p>
+
+<p>The Principal says there isn’t any joy
+like selfsacryfice and that is the true, for
+Mother’s face was just angel shiney with
+happiness to think of providing me to a
+father which she got to stand his long life
+as an old weddy husband always round in
+her way.</p>
+
+<p>She just tinklied some more laugh and
+told me I could come tomorrow to her room
+at the hotel and receive my grand surprise.
+Then she went away. Goodnight, O
+Dolly’s Muse.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="unindent"><i>Precious, Funny, Darling Mother</i>,</p>
+
+<p>It seems like the night of day after tomorrow
+but it isn’t it’s the same evening
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span>tied right on to the same day of the afternoon
+I went to receive my surprise. O I
+must write all down here quick, quick or
+I will believe it to be just some perhaps I
+made up with myself and it isn’t—it’s the
+true—the great big wonderful gloryous
+true! This time I got to write it like a letter
+to you, Mother, as I so long have the
+habit and not to any Muse of slim air.
+Anyway Musie is busy this evening wispering
+a class song into Dolly.</p>
+
+<p>In your room waited a big tall high
+bundle like no other in the whole world
+tied round and round with white paper and
+white ribbon.</p>
+
+<p>I cried out was it a statyou to stand in
+my room and you said a little like that.</p>
+
+<p>I asked was it a Pollo, god of handsome
+looks? You said better than a Pollo, and
+the bundle shook as if wind was blowing it.
+I pulled some paper off and there was cloth
+like a coat and I said I was glad for my
+statyou to not be cold and pitiful like the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span>Pollo of the Museum seemed when I put
+my hand on him. That bundle shook more
+like mice running up and down inside the
+paper and I felt creepyfied but I pulled
+again and there was the real hand of a
+man.</p>
+
+<p>I shreeked it was a burglar and ran
+away to you and shook and shook but you
+laughed and said “Goosey, would I bring
+you a burglar for a present?”</p>
+
+<p>“O! O! O!” I screamed, “It’s my
+new father!” But I couldn’t pull any more
+paper off him for shakes, so he did himself
+and stood there, a big, grand, fine, dandy,
+shiverlrous gentleman! I said “Thank you,
+Mother for this nice father which is handsomer
+than Dolly’s or a Pollo but don’t
+make trouble to yourself just on account of
+me—does he suit you for a weddy husband?”</p>
+
+<p>How you both laughed and ran together
+and hugged and laughed like anything and
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span>explained you were already married and
+having your honeymoons!</p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter illowp46" id="i_fp156" style="max-width: 30.9375em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i_fp156.jpg" alt="sketch: Girl unwrapping a figure tied up in paper; one hand is exposed.">
+  <figcaption>
+    <q>I pulled again and there was the real hand of a man</q>
+    <div class="attr"><a href="#Page_156">Page 156</a></div>
+  </figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p>O and then my happiness got an awful
+bumpy ripple when I had quick remembers
+of Dolly explaining how honeymooners are
+romantic solitarys with their worst hate on
+children old enough to be obzervant.</p>
+
+<p>I ran and looked out of the window and
+twinkled my eyes hard not to cry. I stared
+at a girl walking with a blue parrysol and I
+had awful jealous feelings to be just an
+old rag doll adoption out of an asylum and
+now not wanted by you any more. I had
+those feelings while that girl passed by
+seven lamp posts and then I saw what a
+mean, selfish, horrid, piggy thing I was,
+not to like you to be a romantic and have
+such happy looks on you as I never saw
+there before!</p>
+
+<p>Then you and Daddy hugged me on both
+sides and asked what was my sadness and
+I was ashamed but must tell with all those
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span>coaxes and you both said this wasn’t any
+Dolly deffynition kind of honeymoon but
+you two wanted it all trimmed up with children.
+For that we are going next week
+to a cottage by the same lake where the
+orphans stay in a big camp with the money
+out of the kind old gentleman’s hat at
+Christmas. And Daddy says in its turn of
+ten at once every orphan gets a ride in his
+gassylean launch on the lake.</p>
+
+<p>I can’t hardly believe yet that Isabella is
+to come for her vacation from the school
+where she was put by the will of her deadngone
+Bennyfactor and that Dolly is to
+visit for a month and my Italian cousins
+out of their tenement. Joy! joy! joy!
+joy!</p>
+
+<p>O! O! O! and Daddy Dear took a
+dockument out of his pocket about you and
+him adopting me leegully for all my life!
+That dockument is my dipploma to be
+graduated out of the orphan school; only
+I made no down-head, up-chest bow but
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span>plenty of hugs to you and Daddy Dear instead.</p>
+
+<p>O and he don’t bring fractions in our
+family and divide our loves as I was afraid!
+It was before he came we were fractionary
+but now complete. And my love for him
+is not cut off my love for you but is new by
+itself.</p>
+
+<p>This is my last blank page, but I don’t
+need any more because now I’m all finished
+up like a once-on-a-time story in my green
+fairy book to “live happy ever after” with
+my adored parents. Amen! Amen! Amen!</p>
+
+<p class="right r2">
+  Giovanna.
+</p>
+
+<p class="p2 center allsmcap ls">
+THE END.
+</p>
+
+</main>
+
+
+<div class="chapter transnote">
+<h3>TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE:</h3>
+
+<p>Final stops missing at the end of sentences were added. Words may have
+multiple spelling variations or inconsistent hyphenation in the text.
+Misspelled words were not corrected.</p>
+</div>
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79015 ***</div>
+</body>
+</html>
+
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author	www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org>	2026-07-04 06:26:16 -0700
committer	www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org>	2026-07-04 06:26:16 -0700
commit	e7237b156f3d1f90a447234828ceb0f84c0d5f6c (patch)
tree	9cb8159fd80e5b1b08a50cf38e4cc8439c9539ed /79015-h