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[Transcriber's Note: Bold text is surrounded by =equal signs= and italic
text is surrounded by _underscores_.]



TESSA

Our Little Italian Cousin




THE

Little Cousin Series

(TRADE MARK)

    Each volume illustrated with six or more full-page plates in
    tint. Cloth, 12mo, with decorative cover,
    per volume, 60 cents


LIST OF TITLES

BY MARY HAZELTON WADE

(unless otherwise indicated)

    =Our Little African Cousin=

    =Our Little Alaskan Cousin=
    By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet

    =Our Little Arabian Cousin=
    By Blanche McManus

    =Our Little Armenian Cousin=

    =Our Little Australian Cousin=
    By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet

    =Our Little Brazilian Cousin=
    By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet

    =Our Little Brown Cousin=

    =Our Little Canadian Cousin=
    By Elizabeth R. MacDonald

    =Our Little Chinese Cousin=
    By Isaac Taylor Headland

    =Our Little Cuban Cousin=

    =Our Little Dutch Cousin=
    By Blanche McManus

    =Our Little Egyptian Cousin=
    By Blanche McManus

    =Our Little English Cousin=
    By Blanche McManus

    =Our Little Eskimo Cousin=

    =Our Little French Cousin=
    By Blanche McManus

    =Our Little German Cousin=

    =Our Little Greek Cousin=
    By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet

    =Our Little Hawaiian Cousin=

    =Our Little Hindu Cousin=
    By Blanche McManus

    =Our Little Hungarian Cousin=
    By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet

    =Our Little Indian Cousin=

    =Our Little Irish Cousin=

    =Our Little Italian Cousin=

    =Our Little Japanese Cousin=

    =Our Little Jewish Cousin=

    =Our Little Korean Cousin=
    By H. Lee M. Pike

    =Our Little Mexican Cousin=
    By Edward C. Butler

    =Our Little Norwegian Cousin=

    =Our Little Panama Cousin=
    By H. Lee M. Pike

    =Our Little Persian Cousin=
    By E. C. Shedd

    =Our Little Philippine Cousin=

    =Our Little Porto Rican Cousin=

    =Our Little Russian Cousin=

    =Our Little Scotch Cousin=
    By Blanche McManus

    =Our Little Siamese Cousin=

    =Our Little Spanish Cousin=
    By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet

    =Our Little Swedish Cousin=
    By Claire M. Coburn

    =Our Little Swiss Cousin=

    =Our Little Turkish Cousin=


    L. C. PAGE & COMPANY
    New England Building,      Boston, Mass.

[Illustration: TESSA]




TESSA

Our Little Italian Cousin

By Mary Hazelton Wade

_Illustrated by_ L. J. Bridgman

[Illustration]

    Boston
    L. C. Page & Company
    _PUBLISHERS_




    _Copyright, 1903_
    BY L. C. PAGE & COMPANY
    (INCORPORATED)

    _All rights reserved_


    THE LITTLE COUSIN SERIES
    (_Trade Mark_)


    Published, July, 1903
    Fifth Impression, June, 1908
    Sixth Impression, November, 1909
    Seventh Impression, August, 1910




Preface


MANY people from other lands have crossed the ocean to make a new home
for themselves in America. They love its freedom. They are happy here
under its kindly rule. They suffer less from want and hunger than in the
country of their birthplace.

Their children are blessed with the privilege of attending fine schools
and with the right to learn about this wonderful world, side by side
with the sons and daughters of our most successful and wisest people.

Among these newer-comers to America are the Italians, many of whom will
never again see their own country, of which they are still so justly
proud. They will tell you it is a land of wonderful beauty; that it has
sunsets so glorious that both artists and poets try to picture them for
us again and again; that its history is that of a strong and mighty
people who once held rule over all the civilized world; that thousands
of travellers visit its shores every year to look upon its paintings and
its statues, for it may truly be called the art treasure-house of the
world.

When you meet your little Italian cousins, with their big brown eyes and
olive skins, whether it be in school or on the street, perhaps you will
feel a little nearer and more friendly if you turn your attention for a
while to their home, and the home of the brave and wise Columbus who
left it that he might find for you in the far West your own loved
country, your great