--- title: Antonio Canova. — Fifty Famous Stories Retold · full text with trees · page 2 description: Antonio Canova., «Fifty Famous Stories Retold» by James Baldwin: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: A good many years ago there lived in Italy a little boy whose name was An-to'ni-o Ca-no'va. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Fifty Famous Stories Retold](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/) / Antonio Canova. # Antonio Canova. · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/) **2** [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/page/3/) - [101](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/101/) — He expected that the man would laugh at him; but al-though a jailer, he had a kind heart. - [102](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/102/) — "Do you think that I would hurt your little plant?" he said. " - [103](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/103/) — No, indeed! - [104](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/104/) — It would have been dead long ago, if I had not seen that you thought so much of it." - [105](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/105/) — "That is very good of you, indeed," said Char-ney. - [106](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/106/) — He felt half ashamed at having thought the jailer unkind. - [107](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/107/) — Every day he watched Pic-cio-la, as he had named the plant. - [108](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/108/) — Every day it grew larger and more beautiful. - [109](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/109/) — But once it was almost broken by the huge feet of the jailer's dog. - [110](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/110/) — Charney's heart sank within him. - [111](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/111/) — "Picciola must have a house," he said. " - [112](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/112/) — I will see if I can make one." - [113](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/113/) — So, though the nights were chilly, he took, day by day, some part of the firewood that was allowed him, and with this he built a little house around the plant. - [114](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/114/) — The plant had a thousand pretty ways which he noticed. - [115](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/115/) — He saw how it always bent a little toward the sun; he saw how the flowers folded their petals before a storm. - [116](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/116/) — He had never thought of such things before, and yet he had often seen whole gardens of flowers in bloom. - [117](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/117/) — One day, with soot and water he made some ink; he spread out his hand-ker-chief for paper; he used a sharp-ened stick for a pen--and all for what? - [118](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/118/) — He felt that he must write down the doings of his little pet. - [119](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/119/) — He spent all his time with the plant. — checked by a teacher - [120](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/120/) — "See my lord and my lady!" the jailer would say when he saw them. - [121](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/121/) — As the summer passed by, Picciola grew more lovely every day. - [122](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/122/) — There were no fewer than thirty blossoms on its stem. - [123](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/123/) — But one sad morning it began to droop. - [124](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/124/) — Charney did not know what to do. - [125](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/125/) — He gave it water, but still it drooped. - [126](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/126/) — The leaves were with-er-ing. - [127](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/127/) — The stones of the prison yard would not let the plant live. - [128](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/128/) — Charney knew that there was but one way to save his treasure. - [129](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/129/) — Alas! how could he hope that it might be done? - [130](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/130/) — The stones must be taken up at once. - [131](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/131/) — But this was a thing which the jailer dared not do. - [132](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/132/) — The rules of the prison were strict, and no stone must be moved. - [133](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/133/) — Only the highest officers in the land could have such a thing done. - [134](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/134/) — Poor Charney could not sleep. - [135](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/135/) — Picciola must die. - [136](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/136/) — Already the flowers had with-ered; the leaves would soon fall from the stem. - [137](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/137/) — Then a new thought came to Charney. - [138](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/138/) — He would ask the great Napoleon, the em-per-or himself, to save his plant. - [139](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/139/) — It was a hard thing for Charney to do,--to ask a favor of the man whom he hated, the man who had shut him up in this very prison. - [140](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/140/) — But for the sake of Picciola he would do it. - [141](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/141/) — He wrote his little story on his hand-ker-chief. - [142](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/142/) — Then he gave it into the care of a young girl, who promised to carry it to Napoleon. - [143](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/143/) — Ah! if the poor plant would only live a few days longer! - [144](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/144/) — What a long journey that was for the young girl! - [145](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/145/) — What a long, dreary waiting it was for Charney and Picciola! - [146](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/146/) — But at last news came to the prison. - [147](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/147/) — The stones were to be taken up. - [148](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/148/) — Picciola was saved! - [149](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/149/) — The em-per-or's kind wife had heard the story of Charney's care for the plant. - [150](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/150/) — She saw the handkerchief on which he had written of its pretty ways. - [151](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/151/) — "Surely," she said, "it can do us no good to keep such a man in prison." - [152](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/152/) — And so, at last, Charney was set free. - [153](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/153/) — Of course he was no longer sad and un-lov-ing. - [154](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/154/) — He saw how God had cared for him and the little plant, and how kind and true are the hearts of even rough men. - [155](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/155/) — And he cher-ished Picciola as a dear, loved friend whom he could never forget. - [156](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/156/) — MIGNON. - [157](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/157/) — Here is the story of Mignon as I remember having read it in a famous old book. - [158](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/158/) — A young man named Wil-helm was staying at an inn in the city. - [159](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/159/) — One day as he was going up-stairs he met a little girl coming down. - [160](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/160/) — He would have taken her for a boy, if it had not been for the long curls of black hair wound about her head. - [161](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/161/) — As she ran by, he caught her in his arms and asked her to whom she belonged. - [162](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/162/) — He felt sure that she must be one of the rope-dan-cers who had just come to the inn. - [163](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/163/) — She gave him a sharp, dark look, slipped out of his arms, and ran away without speaking. - [164](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/164/) — The next time he saw her, Wil-helm spoke to her again. - [165](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/165/) — "Do not be afraid of me, little one," he said kindly. " - [166](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/166/) — What is your name?" - [167](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/167/) — "They call me Mignon," said the child. - [168](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/168/) — "How old are you?" he asked. - [169](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/169/) — "No one has counted," the child an-swered. - [170](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/170/) — Wilhelm went on; but he could not help wondering about the child, and thinking of her dark eyes and strange ways. - [171](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/171/) — One day not long after that, there was a great outcry among the crowd that was watching the rope-dan-cers. - [172](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/172/) — Wilhelm went down to find out what was the matter. - [173](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/173/) — He saw that the master of the dancers was beating little Mignon with a stick. - [174](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/174/) — He ran and held the man by the collar. - [175](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/175/) — "Let the child alone!" he cried. " - [176](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/176/) — If you touch her again, one of us shall never leave this spot." - [177](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/177/) — The man tried to get loose; but Wilhelm held him fast. - [178](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/178/) — The child crept away, and hid herself in the crowd. - [179](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/179/) — "Pay me what her clothes cost," cried the ropedancer at last, "and you may take her." - [180](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/180/) — As soon as all was quiet, Wilhelm went to look for Mignon; for she now belonged to him. - [181](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/181/) — But he could not find her, and it was not until the ropedancers had left the town that she came to him. - [182](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/182/) — "Where have you been?" asked Wilhelm in his kindest tones; but the child did not speak. - [183](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/183/) — "You are to live with me now, and you must be a good child," he said. - [184](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/184/) — "I will try," said Mignon gently. - [185](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/185/) — From that time she tried to do all that she could for Wilhelm and his friends. - [186](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/186/) — She would let no one wait on him but herself. - [187](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/187/) — She was often seen going to a basin of water to wash from her face the paint with which the ropedancers had red-dened her cheeks: indeed, she nearly rubbed off the skin in trying to wash away its fine brown tint, which she thought was some deep dye. - [188](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/188/) — Mignon grew more lovely every day. - [189](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/189/) — She never walked up and down the stairs, but jumped. - [190](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/190/) — She would spring along by the railing, and before you knew it, would be sitting quietly above on the landing. - [191](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/191/) — To each one she would speak in a different way. - [192](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/192/) — To Wilhelm it was with her arms crossed upon her breast. — checked by a teacher - [193](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/193/) — Often for a whole day she would not say one word, and yet in waiting upon Wilhelm she never tired. - [194](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/194/) — One night he came home very weary and sad. - [195](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/195/) — Mignon was waiting for him. - [196](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/196/) — She carried the light before him up-stairs. - [197](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/197/) — She set the light down upon the table, and in a little while she asked him if she might dance. - [198](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/198/) — "It might ease your heart a little," she said. - [199](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/199/) — Wilhelm, to please her, told her that she might. - [200](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/200/) — Then she brought a little carpet, and spread it upon the floor. [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/) **2** [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/54/page/3/) - ← previous: [V. the Fortune.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/53/) - ↑ back to [Fifty Famous Stories Retold](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg18442/)