66 Ah, that is a monk, with his face covered with a black nightcap, with holes for his hateful eyes to glare out, come to beg; and what you thought was a spear, is a collection box." 66 "QI thought it was-the-the-wicked one." "Hush, child," said her father. The monk did certainly look frightful, with his black mask covering his face. The party went to the baptistery, a large and elegant building in the form of an immense dome, which rises to a height of one hundred. and seventy-nine feet; and to the Campo Santo, in which they were all much interested, and then returned to Leghorn, where, at night, they again embarked for Genoa, at which place they arrived the next morning, all glad to leave the little miserable steamer. 66 Why do you call this a city of palaces?" asked Walter of his father one night while in Genoa. "Because palaces are so numerous here." "We have seen several; but not enough to make the city remarkable on account of them." "They are more numerous than you suppose. These hotels that you see were once the palaces of nobles and princes. Any person may rent a palace at a less cost than he can hire a decent tenement among us; and beggars now tread where nobles used to live." "Columbus used to live here." "Yes." "Was he the son of a noble ?" "Yes, a noble wool-comber." "Tell us about Columbus," said Minnie. "He was born poor, and struggled with poverty all through his youth. In 1470 he went to Lisbon, married a wealthy lady, and devoted himself to geographical pursuits. When he became convinced that there was an undiscovered continent, he laid his plans before the Portuguese court, but they were rejected. He then came home to Genoa; but this city refused the honor. He then went to the court of Spain, and at length, after numerous discouragements, set sail from Palos, under the patronage of Ferdinand and Isabella." "How old was he?" "In his fifty-sixth year." "You have both read about the discovery, how the sailors wanted to return, and for weeks murmured against him; how at length the birds from the land were seen, then a branch with red berries on it. When Columbus had taken possession of St. Salvador he returned to Spain, where a triumphant reception met him; and "What does that mean?" "It means, For Castile and Leon Columbus has discovered a new world.' 999 6 "Why did they not call our country, Colum bia,' for him?" "Because the honor was unjustly claimed by another adventurer." "Who?" "Amerigo Vespucci." "How did Columbus die?" "In disgrace, from the ingratitude of Spain." "Tell us more about him." "No, not to-night. Retire now, and rest." "Good night, father," said Walter. "Good night," said Minnie. "Good night, and pleasant dreams to you both." |