The Daughter of an Empress

Brother Lorenzo handed to the pope the willow basket filled with corn

and green leaves, and both, with hasty steps and laughing faces, betook

themselves to the poultry-yard; the ducks and geese fluttered to

them with a noisy gabbling as soon as they caught sight of the

provender-basket, and Ganganelli laughingly said: "It seems as if I were

here in the conclave, and listening to the contention of the cardinals

as they quarrel about the choice of a new pope. Lorenzo, I should well

like to know who will succeed me in the sacred chair and hold the keys

of St. Peter! That will be a stormy conclave!--Be quiet, my dear ducks

and geese! Indeed, you are in the right, I forgot my duty! Well, well, I

will give you your food now--here it is!"

And the pope with full hands strewed the corn among the impatiently

gabbling geese, and heartily laughed at the eagerness with which they

threw themselves upon it.

"And is it not with men as with these dear animals?" said he, laughing;

"When one satisfies them with food, they become silent, mild, and

gentle. Princes should always remember that, and before all things

satiate their subjects with food, if they would have a tranquil and

unopposed government! Ah, that reminds me of our own poor, Lorenzo! Many

petitions have been received, much misery has been described, and many

heart-rending complaints have been made to me!"

"That is because they know you are always giving and would rather suffer

want yourself than refuse gifts to others," growled Lorenzo. "Hardly

half the month is past, and we are already near the end of our means!"

"Already?" exclaimed the pope, with alarm. "And I believe I yet need

much money. There is a father of fourteen children who has fallen from

a scaffolding and broken both legs. We must care for him, Lorenzo; the

children must not want for bread!"

"That is understood, that is Christian duty," said Lorenzo, eagerly.

"Give me the address, I will go to him yet to-day! And how much money

shall I take with me?"

"Well, I thought," timidly responded Ganganelli, "that five scudi would

not be too much!"

Lorenzo compassionately shrugged his shoulders. "You can never learn

the value of money," said he; "I am now to take five scudi to these

fourteen children."

"Is it not enough?" joyfully asked Ganganelli. "Well, I thank God that

you are so disposed! I only feared you would refuse me so much, because

my treasury, as you say, is already empty. But if we have something

left, give much, much more! At least a hundred scudi, Lorenzo!"

"That is always the way with you; from extreme to extreme!" grumbled

Lorenzo. "First too little, then too much! I shall take to them twenty

scudi, and that will be sufficient!"