The Shipwreck | Page 3

passed by, as Joseph--this was the name given him at baptism--showed decided talent, he was put in school, and finally given over to the missioners in the college, to be trained for the priesthood, if God called him to the work.
At the very time that Willy was seeking for Joseph, Joseph was seeking for Willy, and, when he heard the voice of his red-cheeked companion, his black slanting eyes danced and his yellow face flushed with pleasure.
"Hello, Peppo," said Willy, addressing him by the nickname which old Brother Onufrio had given him.
"Come with me behind the camelia-bush where Father Somazzo cannot see us."
"But why must he not see us? You are not going to do anything wrong, are you?" asked the small Chinaman trembling.
"What? Anything wrong? I'll play him a trick or two--the tyrant--and that will not be wrong, I say. Is there anything wrong about my looking to see whether my father's boat is here? Come with me right now." Peppo hesitated. "Come this minute or I'll drag you along by your pig-tail the way naughty Freddy used to do before I took you in charge."
Joseph went with his protector without more ado, but did not approve of the plan disclosed to him behind the camelia bush.
"Don't do it, Willy. It will be disobedience, and it's against the fourth commandment."
"The fourth commandment of God tells me to love my father, and for love of my father I want to climb up and look for his ship. That cannot be against the fourth commandment," said the sinful distorter.
The sophism did not enlighten small Peppo. "I believe, Willy," he said, "that it is against the fourth commandment, because the Father has forbidden it. He will be very sorry to have you do this, and will give us a dreadful punishment. Only think! the day after tomorrow will be the Chinese New Year, and then in the evening we shall be allowed to go to the marketplace and the harbor to see all the lights,--and the fireworks,--and the Punch and Judy show, if we are good boys. You have never in all your life seen anything so beautiful,--green, and red, and blue, and yellow lanterns,--and all the people,--and the sky-rockets,--and the puppet show. Wouldn't you be sorry to have to stay at home for punishment while all of us boys go to the show?" Willy was almost persuaded and hesitated a moment; then he struck his heels into the ground defiantly and said:
"Never mind, Peppo, Father Somazzo won't catch me, and, if he does, I won't tell on you. Now you've got to help me over the wall, and I'll climb up on the other side where he can't see me from the house. Come, now hurry up, Peppo, if you want to be my friend."
Unwillingly the young Chinaman yielded to his comrade's command. He felt it was wrong to lend a helping hand to one who was disobeying, but he did not wish to lose his best friend, the one who had so often defended him from the teasings of his companions. He slipped along with Willy in the shadow of the bushes, then helped him climb the wall, but even when the youthful sinner had swung himself from the wall to the scaffolding he remonstrated, saying:
"Willy, don't do it. Come down."
"Nonsense, Peppo," he said as he began to ascend.
"Willy,----he does not hear me. I wish I had not helped him," sighed Peppo, as he slipped away to his companions with an uneasy conscience.
CHAPTER II.
Sad Tidings.
A very few moments after Willy with the help of Peppo had climbed the garden wall the bell called Brother Onufrio to the door. There stood a stranger. He wore a cap marked with a golden anchor and inquired for an Irish lad named Willy Brown.
"Yes, Willy is here. You are his father, are you not? For days he has talked of nothing but your coming. He will be so pleased to see you. Come in, Captain, I'll announce your arrival to the Father Prefect, and call Willy."
With these words the Brother showed the Captain into the small reception-room near the door, and would have left quickly had not the stranger motioned him to wait.
"Hm,--hm,--my coming," he said, "will not give the boy so much pleasure as you think. I am not his father but his guardian. His father died suddenly last week at sea."
"Oh, how sad! And the poor child knows nothing of it," sighed the Brother. "I'll first speak to the Father Prefect in private; he must prepare him somewhat for this sad news. Wait a moment. Father Somazzo will be here immediately."
The Captain gave the gray-haired man a sinister look as he left the room, then muttered to himself: "Prepared! As if such a piece of news could have much effect on a