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There were other influences that I daresay contributed to the boy's education。 I think his imagination was stimulated by a band of gypsies who used to come every summer and pitch a tent on a little roadside patch of green turf by the river…bank not far from his house。 It was shaded by elms and butternut…trees； and a long spit of sand and pebbles ran out from it into the brawling stream。 Probably they were not a very good kind of gypsy； although the story was that the men drank and beat the women。 John didn't know much about drinking； his experience of it was confined to sweet cider； yet he had already set himself up as a reformer； and joined the Cold Water Band。 The object of this Band was to walk in a procession under a banner that declared；
〃So here we pledge perpetual hate To all that can intoxicate； 〃
and wear a badge with this legend； and above it the device of a well… curb with a long sweep。 It kept John and all the little boys and girls from being drunkards till they were ten or eleven years of age； though perhaps a few of them died meantime from eating loaf…cake and pie and drinking ice…cold water at the celebrations of the Band。
The gypsy camp had a strange fascination for John； mingled of curiosity and fear。 Nothing more alien could come into the New England life than this tatterdemalion band。 It was hardly credible that here were actually people who lived out…doors； who slept in their covered wagon or under their tent； and cooked in the open air； it was a visible romance transferred from foreign lands and the remote times of the story…books； and John took these city thieves； who were on their annual foray into the country； trading and stealing horses and robbing hen…roosts and cornfields； for the mysterious race who for thousands of years have done these same things in all lands； by right of their pure blood and ancient lineage。 John was afraid to approach the camp when any of the scowling and villainous men were lounging about； pipes in mouth； but he took more courage when only women and children were visible。 The swarthy； black…haired women in dirty calico frocks were anything but attractive； but they spoke softly to the boy； and told his fortune； and wheedled him into bringing them any amount of cucumbers and green corn in the course of the season。 In front of the tent were planted in the ground three poles that met together at the top； whence depended a kettle。 This was the kitchen； and it was sufficient。 The fuel for the fire was the driftwood of the stream。 John noted that it did not require to be sawed into stove…lengths； and； in short； that the 〃chores〃 about this establishment were reduced to the minimum。 And an older person than John might envy the free life of these wanderers； who paid neither rent nor taxes； and yet enjoyed all the delights of nature。 It seemed to the boy that affairs would go more smoothly in the world if everybody would live in this simple manner。 Nor did he then know； or ever after find out； why it is that the world permits only wicked people to be Bohemians。
XIX
A CONTRAST TO THE NEW ENGLAND BOY
One evening at vespers in Genoa； attracted by a burst of music from the swinging curtain of the doorway； I entered a little church much frequented by the common people。 An unexpected and exceedingly pretty sight rewarded me。
It was All Souls' Day。 In Italy almost every day is set apart for some festival； or belongs to some saint or another； and I suppose that when leap year brings around the extra day； there is a saint ready to claim the 29th of February。 Whatever the day was to the elders； the evening was devoted to the children。 The first thing I noticed was； that the quaint old church was lighted up with innumerable wax tapers；an uncommon sight； for the darkness of a Catholic church in the evening is usually relieved only by a candle here and there； and by a blazing pyramid of them on the high altar。 The use of gas is held to be a vulgar thing all over Europe； and especially unfit for a church or an aristocratic palace。
Then I saw that each taper belonged to a little boy or girl； and the groups of children were scattered all about the church。 There was a group by every side altar and chapel； all the benches were occupied by knots of them； and there were so many circles of them seated on the pavement that I could with difficulty make my way among them。 There were hundreds of children in the church； all dressed in their holiday apparel； and all intent upon the illumination； which seemed to be a private affair to each one of them。
And not much effect had their tapers upon the darkness of the vast vaults above them。 The tapers were little spiral coils of wax； which the children unrolled as fast as they burned； and when they were tired of holding them； they rested them on the ground and watched the burning。 I stood some time by a group of a dozen seated in a corner of the church。 They had massed all the tapers in the center and formed a ring about the spectacle； sitting with their legs straight out before them and their toes turned up。 The light shone full in their happy faces； and made the group； enveloped otherwise in darkness； like one of Correggio's pictures of children or angels。 Correggio was a famous Italian artist of the sixteenth century； who painted cherubs like children who were just going to heaven； and children like cherubs who had just come out of it。 But then； he had the Italian children for models； and they get the knack of being lovely very young。 An Italian child finds it as easy to be pretty as an American child to be good。
One could not but be struck with the patience these little people exhibited in their occupation； and the enjoyment they got out of it。 There was no noise； all conversed in subdued whispers and behaved in the most gentle manner to each other； especially to the smallest； and there were many of them so small that they could only toddle about by the most judicious exercise of their equilibrium。 I do not say this by way of reproof to any other kind of children。
These little groups； as I have said； were scattered all about the church； and they made with their tapers little spots of light； which looked in the distance very much like Correggio's picture which is at Dresden；the Holy Family at Night； and the light from the Divine Child blazing in the faces of all the attendants。 Some of the children were infants in the nurses' arms； but no one was too small to have a taper； and to run the risk of burning its fingers。
There is nothing that a baby likes more than a lighted candle； and the church has understood this longing in human nature； and found means to gratify it by this festival of tapers。
The groups do not all remain long in place； you may imagine； there is a good deal of shifting about； and I see little stragglers wandering over the church； like fairies lighted by fireflies。 Occasionally they form a little procession and march from one altar to another； their lights twinkling as they go。
But all this time there is music pouring out of the organ…loft at the end of the church； and flooding all its spaces with its volume。 In front of the organ is a choir of boys； led by a round…faced and jolly monk； who rolls about as he sings； and lets the deep bass noise rumble about a long time in his stomach before he pours it out of his mouth。 I can see the faces of all of them quite well； for each singer has a candle to light his music…book。
And next to the monk stands the boy；the handsomest boy in the whole world probably at this moment。 I can see now his great； liquid； dark eyes； and his exquisite face； and the way he tossed back his long waving hair when he struck into his part。 He resembled the portraits of Raphael； when that artist was a boy； only I think he looked better than Raphael； and without trying； for he seemed to be a spontaneous sort of boy。 And how that boy did sing！ He was the soprano of the choir； and he had a voice of heavenly sweetness。 When he opened his mouth and tossed back his head； he filled the church with exquisite melody。
He sang like a lark； or like an angel。 As we never heard an angel sing； that comparison is not worth much。 I have seen pictures of angels singing； there is one by Jan and Hubert Van Eyck in the gallery at Berlin；and they open their mouths like this boy； but I can't say as much for their singing。 The lark； which you very likely never heard either） for larks are as scarce in America as angels；is a bird that springs up from the meadow and begins to sing as he rises in a spiral flight； and the higher he mounts； the sweeter he sings； until you think the notes are dropping out of heaven itself； and you hear him when he is gone from sight； and you think you hear him long after all sound has ceased。
And yet this boy sang better than a lark； because he had more notes and a greater compass and more volume； although he shook out his voice in the same gleesome abundance。
I am sorry that I cannot add that this ravishingly beautiful boy was a good boy。 He was probably one of the most mischievous boys that was ever in an organ…loft。 All the time that he was singing the vespers he was skylarking like an imp。 While he was pouring out