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           ForalongtimeIwastheironlycare.Mymotherhadmuchdesiredtohaveadaughter,butIcontinuedtheirsingleoffspring.WhenIwasaboutfiveyearsold,whilemakinganexcursionbeyondthefrontiersofItaly,theypassedaweekontheshoresoftheLakeofComo.Theirbenevolentdispositionoftenmadethementerthecottagesofthepoor.This,tomymother,wasmorethanaduty;itwasanecessity,apassion—rememberingwhatshehadsuffered,andhowshehadbeenrelieved—forhertoactinherturntheguardianangeltotheafflicted.Duringoneoftheirwalksapoorcotinthefoldingsofavaleattractedtheirnoticeasbeingsingularlydisconsolate,whilethenumberofhalf-clothedchildrengatheredaboutitspokeofpenuryinitsworstshape.Oneday,whenmyfatherhadgonebyhimselftoMilan,mymother,accompaniedbyme,visitedthisabode.Shefoundapeasantandhiswife,hardworking,bentdownbycareandlabour,distributingascantymealtofivehungrybabes.Amongthesetherewasonewhichattractedmymotherfarabovealltherest.Sheappearedofadifferentstock.Thefourothersweredark-eyed,hardylittlevagrants;thischildwasthinandveryfair.Herhairwasthebrightestlivinggold,anddespitethepovertyofherclothing,seemedtosetacrownofdistinctiononherhead.Herbrowwasclearandample,herblueeyescloudless,andherlipsandthemouldingofherfacesoexpressiveofsensibilityandsweetnessthatnonecouldbeholdherwithoutlookingonherasofadistinctspecies,abeingheaven-sent,andbearingacelestialstampinallherfeatures.

           Thepeasantwoman,perceivingthatmymotherfixedeyesofwonderandadmirationonthislovelygirl,eagerlycommunicatedherhistory.Shewasnotherchild,butthedaughterofaMilanesenobleman.HermotherwasaGermanandhaddiedongivingherbirth.Theinfanthadbeenplacedwiththesegoodpeopletonurse:theywerebetteroffthen.