camerettasabauda

I was hastening along the shrieking, swarming street. I dodged the dirty children, shrank from the terrible voices — shrill and hoarse, — loathed the uncouth actions, the vulgar w^ords, the whole ugly bedlam. "Well for the world," I thought, "if the sordid swarm could be effaced at a single stroke!" Just then I noticed a little, silent girl seated in a baby -carriage near a doorway. Though poorly clad and belonging evidently to that neighborhood, she was as fair and fresh as the first spring blossom. Her eyes rested on a group of screaming children at play, and over her face hovered a heavenly smile. It was a Madonna smile, or that of an infant Christ. The little one saw no stain; she heard no jangle. She was aware only of fellow-children in goodly number, of children at their sport; she loved them. I blessed her for that wonderful, sweet smile!