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When my father returned from Milan, he found playing with me in

the hall of our villa a child fairer than pictured cherub-a

creature who seemed to shed radiance from her looks and whose

form and motions were lighter than the chamois of the hills. The

apparition was soon explained. With his permission my mother

prevailed on her rustic guardians to yield their charge to her.

They were fond of the sweet orphan. Her presence had seemed a

blessing to them, but it would be unfair to her to keep her in

poverty and want when Providence afforded her such powerful

protection. They consulted their village priest, and the result

was that Elizabeth Lavenza became the inmate of my parents'

house-my more than sister-the beautiful and adored companion of

all my occupations and my pleasures.