As he was approaching the door of a large mansion, its mistress, a rich lady without children, saw him coming, and was struck with his beauty and sweetness, as, with arms folded on his breast, he was hastening on.  “Stay one moment, dear child,” she said, putting herself in his way; “tell me thy name, and where do thy parents live?”

“I am Tarcisius, an orphan boy,” he replied, looking up smilingly; “and I have no home, save one which it might be displeasing to thee to hear.”

“Then come into my house and rest; I wish to speak to thee.  Oh, that I had a child like thee!”

“Not now, noble lady, not now.  I have intrusted to me a most solemn and sacred duty, and I must not tarry a moment in its performance.”

“Then promise to come to me tomorrow; this is my house.”

“If I am alive, I will,” answered the boy, with a kindled look, which made him appear to her as a messenger from a higher sphere.  She watched him a long time, and after some deliberation determined to follow him.  Soon, however, she heard a tumult with horrid cries, which made her pause on her way until they had ceased, when she went on again.

In the meantime, Tarcisius, with his thoughts fixed on better things than her inheritance, hastened on, and shortly came into an open space, where boys, just escaped from school, were beginning to play.

“We just want one to make up the game; where shall we get him?” said their leader.

“Capital!” exclaimed another; “here comes Tarcisius, whom I have not seen for an age.  He used to be an excellent hand at all sports.  Come, Tarcisius,” he added, stopping him by seizing his arm, “whither so fast? take a part in our game, that’s a good fellow.”

“I can’t now; I really can’t.  I am going on business of great importance.”

“But you shall,” exclaimed the first speaker, a strong and bullying youth, laying hold of him.  “I will have no sulking, when I want anything done.  So come, join us at once.”

“I entreat you,” said the poor boy feelingly, “do let me go.”

“No such thing,” replied the other.  “What is that you seem to be carrying so carefully in your bosom?  A letter, I suppose; well, it will not addle by being for half an hour out of its nest.  Give it to me, and I will put it by safe while we play.”

“Never, never,” answered the child, looking up towards heaven.

“I will see it,” insisted the other rudely; “I will know what is this wonderful secret.”  And he commenced pulling him roughly about.  A crowd of men from the neighborhood soon got round, and all asked eagerly what was the matter.  They saw a boy, who, with folded arms, seemed endowed with a supernatural strength, as he resisted every effort of one much bigger and stronger, to make him reveal what he was bearing.  Cuffs, pulls, blows, kicks, seemed to have no effect.  He bore them all without a murmur, or an attempt to retaliate; but he unflinchingly kept his purpose.