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nted this picture； mostbeautiful is the expression on the face of the two children； whoappear to have full confidence that they shall reach heaven at last。They are embracing each other； and one little one stretches out hishand towards another who stands below him； and points to himself； asif he were saying； 〃I am going to heaven。〃 The older people stand asif uncertain； yet hopeful； and they bow in humble adoration to theLord Jesus。 On this picture the boy's eyes rested longer than on anyother： the Metal Pig stood still before it。 A low sigh was heard。Did it e from the picture or from the animal？ The boy raised hishands towards the smiling children； and then the Pig ran off withhim through the open vestibule。
〃Thank you； thank you； you beautiful animal；〃 said the little boy；caressing the Metal Pig as it ran down the steps。
〃Thanks to yourself also；〃 replied the Metal Pig； 〃I have helpedyou and you have helped me； for it is only when I have an innocentchild on my back that I receive the power to run。 Yes； as you see； Ican even venture under the rays of the lamp； in front of the pictureof the Madonna； but I may not enter the church； still from without；and while you are upon my back； I may look in through the open door。Do not get down yet； for if you do； then I shall be lifeless； as youhave seen me in the Porta Rosa。〃
〃I will stay with you； my dear creature；〃 said the little boy。So then they went on at a rapid pace through the streets ofFlorence； till they came to the square before the church of SantaCroce。 The folding…doors flew open； and light streamed from thealtar through the church into the deserted square。 A wonderful blazeof light streamed from one of the monuments in the left…side aisle；and a thousand moving stars seemed to form a glory round it； eventhe coat…of…arms on the tomb…stone shone； and a red ladder on a bluefield gleamed like fire。 It was the grave of Galileo。 The monumentis unadorned； but the red ladder is an emblem of art； signifyingthat the way to glory leads up a shining ladder； on which the prophetsof mind rise to heaven； like Elias of old。 In the right aisle of thechurch every statue on the richly carved sarcophagi seemed endowedwith life。 Here stood Michael Angelo； there Dante； with the laurelwreath round his brow； Alfieri and Machiavelli； for here side byside rest the great men… the pride of Italy。 The church itself is verybeautiful； even more beautiful than the marble cathedral atFlorence； though not so large。 It seemed as if the carved vestmentsstirred； and as if the marble figures they covered raised theirheads higher； to gaze upon the brightly colored glowing altar wherethe white…robed boys swung the golden censers； amid music and song；while the strong fragrance of incense filled the church； andstreamed forth into the square。 The boy stretched forth his handstowards the light； and at the same moment the Metal Pig startedagain so rapidly that he was obliged to cling tightly to him。 The windwhistled in his ears； he heard the church door creak on its hingesas it closed； and it seemed to him as if he had lost his senses…then a cold shudder passed over him； and he awoke。
It was morning； the Metal Pig stood in its old place on thePorta Rosa； and the boy found he had slipped nearly off its back。 Fearand trembling came upon him as he thought of his mother； she hadsent him out the day before to get some money； he had not done so； andnow he was hungry and thirsty。 Once more he clasped the neck of hismetal horse； kissed its nose； and nodded farewell to it。 Then hewandered away into one of the narrowest streets； where there wasscarcely room for a loaded donkey to pass。 A great iron…bound doorstood ajar； he passed through； and climbed up a brick staircase；with dirty walls and a rope for a balustrade； till he came to anopen gallery hung with rags。 From here a flight of steps led down to acourt； where from a well water was drawn up by iron rollers to thedifferent stories of the house； and where the water…buckets hungside by side。 Sometimes the roller and the bucket danced in the air；splashing the water all over the court。 Another broken…downstaircase led from the gallery； and two Russian sailors running downit almost upset the poor boy。 They were ing from their nightlycarousal。 A woman not very young； with an unpleasant face and aquantity of black hair； followed them。 〃What have you brought home？〃she asked。 when she saw the boy。
〃Don't be angry；〃 he pleaded； 〃I received nothing； I havenothing at all；〃 and he seized his mother's dress and would havekissed it。 Then they went into a little room。 I need not describeit； but only say that there stood in it an earthen pot with handles；made for holding fire； which in Italy is called a marito。 This pot shetook in her lap； warmed her fingers； and pushed the boy with herelbow。
〃Certainly you must have some money；〃 she said。 The boy began tocry； and then she struck him with her foot till he cried out louder。
〃Will you be quiet？ or I'll break your screaming head；〃 and sheswung about the fire…pot which she held in her hand； while the boycrouched to the earth and screamed。
Then a neighbor came in； and she had also a marito under herarm。 〃Felicita；〃 she said； 〃what are you doing to the child？〃
〃The child is mine；〃 she answered； 〃I can murder him if I like；and you too； Giannina。〃 And then she swung about the fire…pot。 Theother woman lifted up hers to defend herself； and the two pots clashedtogether so violently that they were dashed to pieces； and fire andashes flew about the room。 The boy rushed out at the sight； spedacross the courtyard； and fled from the house。 The poor child ran tillhe was quite out of breath； at last he stopped at the church； thedoors of which were opened to him the night before； and went in。Here everything was bright； and the boy knelt down by the first tombon his right； the grave of Michael Angelo； and sobbed as if hisheart would break。 People came and went； mass was performed； but noone noticed the boy； excepting an elderly citizen； who stood still andlooked at him for a moment； and then went away like the rest。 Hungerand thirst overpowered the child； and he became quite faint and ill。At last he crept into a corner behind the marble monuments； and wentto sleep。 Towards evening he was awakened by a pull at his sleeve；he started up； and the same old citizen stood before him。
〃Are you ill？ where do you live？ have you been here all day？〃 weresome of the questions asked by the old man。 After hearing his answers；the old man took him home to a small house close by； in a back street。They entered a glovemaker's shop； where a woman sat sewing busily。 Alittle white poodle； so closely shaven that his pink skin couldplainly be seen； frisked about the room； and gambolled upon the boy。
〃Innocent souls are soon intimate；〃 said the woman； as shecaressed both the boy and the dog。 These good people gave the childfood and drink； and said he should stay with them all night； andthat the next day the old man； who was called Giuseppe； would go andspeak to his mother。 A little homely bed was prepared for him； butto him who had so often slept on the hard stones it was a royal couch；and he slept sweetly and dreamed of the splendid pictures and of theMetal Pig。 Giuseppe went out the next morning； and the poor childwas not glad to see him go； for he knew that the old man was gone tohis mother； and that； perhaps； he would have to go back。 He wept atthe thought； and then he played with the little； lively dog； andkissed it； while the old woman looked kindly at him to encouragehim。 And what news did Giuseppe bring back？ At first the boy could nothear； for he talked a great deal to his wife； and she nodded andstroked the boy's cheek。
Then she said； 〃He is a good lad； he shall stay with us； he maybee a clever glovemaker； like you。 Look what delicate fingers hehas got； Madonna intended him for a glovemaker。〃 So the boy stayedwith them； and the woman herself taught him to sew； and he ate well；and slept well； and became very merry。 But at last he began to teaseBellissima； as the little dog was called。 This made the woman angry；and she scolded him and threatened him； which made him very unhappy；and he went and sat in his own room full of sad thoughts。 This chamberlooke