Parent's assistant; or, Stories for children
Maria Edgeworth
Paperback
(RareBooksClub.com, May 20, 2012)
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1858 Excerpt: ...eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the people of Naples will not taste fireworks. My poor little rockets, and even my Catherine's-wheels, will have no effect: I am glad to part with all I have in this line of business. A few days ago I had fine things in readiness for the Countess di F.'s birth-day, which was to have been celebrated at the Count's villa." " Why do you fix your eyes on me, friend? What is your discourse to me?" said Pietro, who imagined that the man fixed his eyes upon him as he mentioned the name of the Count's villa. "I did not know that I fixed my eyes upon you; I was thinking of my fireworks," said the man simply: " but now that I do look at you, and hear your voice, I recollect having had the pleasure of seeing you before." " When? where?" said Pietro. ' A great while ago; no wonder you have forgotten me," said the man; " but I can recall the night to your recollection--you were in the street with me the night I let off that unlucky rocket which frightened the horses, and was the cause of overturning a lady's coach. Don't you remember the circumstance? "I have a confused recollection of some such thing," said Pietro, in great embarrassment, and he looked suspiciously at this man, in doubt whether he was cunning, and wanted to sound him, or whether he was so simple as he appeared. "Tou did not perhaps hear, then," continued the man, "that there was a great search made, after the overturn, for a fine diamond cross, belonging to the lady in the carriage? That lady, though I did not know it till lately, was the Countess di F." " I know nothing of the matter," interrupted Pietro, in great agitation. His confusion was so marked, that the firework maker cou...