Barbara's Heritage - Young Americans Among the Old Italian Masters by Deristhe L. Hoyt
page 125 of 240 (52%)
page 125 of 240 (52%)
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addresses were Australia, Germany, Norway, England, and America."
"I noticed it," answered Mr. Sumner, "and of course, like you, could not help asking myself the question, 'Why do travellers from all parts of the Christian world come to this small city, which is so utterly unimportant as the world reckons importance?' Simply because a good man was once born, lived, and died here. Surely one renews one's faith in God and humanity as one thinks of this fact." "May not the paintings alone draw some visitors?" asked Malcom, after thinking for a few moments of his uncle's words. "But even then we must allow that the paintings would not have been here if it were not for the saint; so it really amounts to about the same thing, doesn't it?" answered his uncle, smiling. "What a pity it is," said Bettina, thinking of the garrulous old monk who so evidently desired to earn his _lira_, "that people will add so much that is imaginary when there is enough that is true. It is a shame to so exaggerate stories of St. Francis's life as to make them seem almost ridiculous." When their drive was nearly over and they were watching the ever nearing Perugia, Malcom turned toward Mr. Sumner with a serious look and said:-- "Uncle Robert, these Italian cities are wonderfully interesting, and I think I have never enjoyed anything in my life so much as the fortnight since we left Florence and, of course, the time we were there; and yet I would not for worlds live here among them." |
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