sheasked.whenshesawtheboy.

"don'tbeangry,"hepleaded;"ireceivednothing,ihavenothingatall;"andheseizedhismother'sdressandwouldhavekissedit.thentheywentintoalittleroom.ineednotdescribeit,butonlysaythattherestoodinitanearthenpotwithhandles,madeforholdingfire,whichinitalyiscalledamarito.thispotshetookinherlap,warmedherfingers,andpushedtheboywithherelbow.

"certainlyyoumusthavesomemoney,"shesaid.theboybegantocry,andthenshestruckhimwithherfoottillhecriedoutlouder.

"willyoubequiet?ori'llbreakyourscreaminghead;"andsheswungaboutthefire-potwhichsheheldinherhand,whiletheboycrouchedtotheearthandscreamed.

thenaneighborcamein,andshehadalsoamaritounderherarm."felicita,"shesaid,"whatareyoudoingtothechild?"

"thechildismine,"sheanswered;"icanmurderhimifilike,andyoutoo,giannina."andthensheswungaboutthefire-pot.theotherwomanliftedupherstodefendherself,andthetwopotsclashedtogethersoviolentlythattheyweredashedtopieces,andfireandashesflewabouttheroom.theboyrushedoutatthesight,spedacrossthecourtyard,andfledfromthehouse.thepoorchildrantillhewasquiteoutofbreath;atlasthestoppedatthechurch,thedoorsofwhichwereopenedtohimthenightbefore,andwentreeverythingwasbright,andtheboykneltdownbythefirsttombonhisright,thegraveofmichaelangelo,andsobbedasifhisheartwouldbreak.peoplecameandwent,masswasperformed,butnoonenoticedtheboy,exceptinganelderlycitizen,whostoodstillandlookedathimforamoment,andthenwentawayliketherest.hungerandthirstoverpoweredthechild,andhebecamequitefaintandlasthecreptintoacornerbehindthemarblemonuments,andwenttosleep.towardseveninghewasawakenedbyapullathissleeve;hestartedup,andthesameoldcitizenstoodbeforehim.

"areyouill?wheredoyoulive?haveyoubeenhereallday?"weresomeofthequestionsaskedbytheoldman.afterhearinghisanswers,theoldmantookhimhometoasmallhousecloseby,inabackyenteredaglovemaker'sshop,whereawomansatsewingbusily.alittlewhitepoodle,socloselyshaventhathispinkskincouldplainlybeseen,friskedabouttheroom,andgambolledupontheboy.

"innocentsoulsaresoonintimate,"saidthewoman,asshecaressedboththeboyandthedog.thesegoodpeoplegavethechildfoodanddrink,andsaidheshouldstaywiththemallnight,andthatthenextdaytheoldman,whowascalledgiuseppe,wouldgoandspeaktohismother.alittlehomelybedwaspreparedforhim,buttohimwhohadsooftensleptonthehardstonesitwasaroyalcouch,andhesleptsweetlyanddreamedofthesplendidpicturesandofthemetalpig.giuseppewentoutthenextmorning,andthepoorchildwasnotgladtoseehimgo,forheknewthattheoldmanwasgonetohismother,andthat,perhaps,hewouldhavetogoback.heweptatthethought,andthenheplayedwiththelittle,livelydog,andkissedit,whiletheoldwomanlookedkindlyathimtoencouragehim.andwhatnewsdidgiuseppebringback?atfirsttheboycouldnothear,forhetalkedagreatdealtohiswife,andshenoddedandstrokedtheboy'scheek.

thenshesaid,"heisagoodlad,heshallstaywithus,hemaybecomeacleverglovemaker,likeyou.lookwhatdelicatefingershehasgot;madonnaintendedhimforaglovemaker."sotheboystayedwiththem,andthewomanherselftaughthimtosew;andheatewell,andsleptwell,andbecameverymerry.butatlasthebegantoteasebellissima,asthelittledogwascalled.thismadethewomanangry,andshescoldedhimandthreatenedhim,whichmadehimveryunhappy,andhewentandsatinhisownroomfullofsadthoughts.thischamberlookeduponthestreet,inwhichhungskinstodry,andtherewerethickironbarsacrosshiswindow.thatnighthelayawake,thinkingofthemetalpig;indeed,itwasalwaysinhisthoughts.suddenlyhefanciedheheardfeetoutsidegoingpit-a-pat.hesprungoutofbedandwenttothewindow.coulditbethemetalpig?