"You ask me for a song, then be content, With little grace, in all I sing or say; And judge me kindly, for I never went To school, and masters never came our way. The only school where ever I did go Was on the mountain, in the hail and snow. And this, alas! was all they made me learn-- To go for wood, and dig when I return." It was not till the day of her marriage that Beatrice discovered her new power "to sing poetry born in her mind," and from that day she never lost her remarkable power of improvisation, and the list of her ballads is very long and varied in theme. She had a strong religious nature, and addressed many of her songs to the Madonna. In her old age, it is said, she knew in poetic form nearly all the New Testament and much of the Old. _GIVE ME LIGHT, LADY_ "Come to the window, lady, give me light! A little light, that I may find my way For darkness deep is on my path to-night, Among the stones I fall or go astray. I cross a troubled river, lady mine; Deep is the water, and no light doth shine. And darkness found me where the waves were high; My feet have failed, so deep the waters lie! So far was I from shore when darkness came! And no one answers when I call thy name." Her eldest son inherited her poetic gift, and often when working in the fields mother and son would carry on a conversation in improvised verse, Beatrice singing one _ottava_, Beppo answering with another. Miss Alexander says that as a girl Beatrice was very handsome, with an inspired face, charming smile, and sympathetic voice. She had great physical strength and indomitable courage. She generally wore her _contadina_ dress of scarlet bodice, blue kerchief, garnet necklace, and gold earrings. On grand occasions she put on a white embroidered veil, kerchief, and apron belonging to her wedding finery. Beatrice lived over a hundred years, "much loved and honoured by her neighbours and all who knew her," and many pleasant anecdotes are told of her experiences and talent. A Boston lady told us that once, when Madame Goldschmidt (better known as Jenny Lind, or the "Swedish Nightingale,") was visiting friends in the Apennines, a meeting was arranged between the two singers, both elderly women at the time. First Beatrice, in her peasant dress, sang to the great prima-donna of the North, improvising words and music suitable to the occasion. In return Madame Goldschmidt, much gratified, sang one of the songs which has so often moved her great audiences to rapturous applause.[13] [Illustration: _Alinari_ _Giovanni della Robbia_ ASSUMPTION OF THE VIRGIN CHURCH OF THE CAPUCHINS, BARGA] [Illustration: _M. M. Newell_ "VIOLET-EYED TUSCAN OXEN"] _THE DOVE_