days
previous to this so impudently demanded possession of him, might try to
kidnap him.

"Peppo", he said, addressing Lihu by his Italian nickname, "Peppo, you
know that I mean well by you."

"Yes, Father," answered the boy impatiently, "but please don't keep me
now. We are going to the city and I am to be the leader of the ranks."

"Peppo, not very long ago you said that you were willing to make a
great sacrifice to God, because he saved you from death, and permitted
you to be baptized, and because you are soon to receive your first
communion."

"Yes, Father, I did, and I will willingly make a sacrifice, but let me
go now. Brother Onufrio has already opened the door."

"Peppo, would it not be a beautiful sacrifice for you to give up going
to-night?"

"O Father," stammered the child with tears in his eyes, "no, I don't
want to. I will make a sacrifice, but not to-night. I want to see the
fire-works and the puppet show. And Willy will be at the puppet show,
I want to find him, too. He will go if he can, for he knows that every
New Year's night we boys go. Please, Father, do not keep me. I will
willingly live on rice and water for a month rather than stay home
to-night."

"Poor child, you do not know what is for your best good," answered
Father Somazzo. "I wanted you to look upon this as a sacrifice which
you were willing to make, but since you will not, I command you to
remain at home, for a reason which I cannot tell you. Come, Peppo,
into the class-room. You may take my big picture-book with all the
pictures of European cities and churches, ladies and gentlemen in fine
clothes and battles and ships. The time will pass quickly. Come and
win the reward of obedience."

"I don't want to, I won't go!" cried the boy, crying at the top of his
lungs and stamping his feet on the floor.

"What? What? Such a thing as this from you? That is no way to
behave. If you do not come with me willingly, you shall not have the
pretty picture-book."

With these words Father Somazzo led the weeping child into the
class-room, while he went to get the promised book. Totu, the servant,
who was standing near the door at the time, was a witness of the scene.
His plan was to seize the boy at the puppet show, when the attention of
all the by-standers was on the stage, fasten him to himself by a
cunningly contrived chain and belt, so that he could not possibly
escape in the crowd, and deliver him over to his uncle.