ABSTRACT
The thirty-five gil'ls in the Convitto, many of whom are partly paid for, have been some three years, and some hardly as many months, in the Home. All are well washed, comfortably, but plainly dressed; all attend school more or less, but the elder girls have the regular work of the house to do, cooking, cleaning, bed-making, &c. The little girls even are told off, so many each day to sweep and dust, under the supervision of the elder ones; and are thus all gradually initiated in the mysteries of household work. One day I met a little favourite of mine, about seven years of age on the stairs, with the broom and dust-pan in hand, but the tear in her eye. When I asked about it, a bigger girl told me she was molto cattiva, and had sat down on the stairs, and refused to sweep, and shethe larger mite-had been obliged to tell Signora Baermann. Margherita herself said she was so cold. I told her if she would move actively she would get warm, and be the sooner done lier sweeping. " Now you will be good, my little one, will you not f " I said, and the impressionable little creature smiled brightly, promised, and did set to work bravely. I met her soon again, skipping down to school, saying she was quite good now, and all her work was done.
