Miraculous Bambino?

Very subdued and tearful was 21-year-old Signora Anna Donnarumma, in the village of Gragnano last fortnight, for she had just given birth to girl-twins.

Signor Donnarumma looked reproaches at Signora Donnarumma. The young wife could guess her husband's thoughts, for she knew that he had boasted in the village, "I shall have a son!" He had even bet on it. Now he would be laughed at, and perhaps he would hate her for making the villagers laugh. . . .

Half distracted by these thoughts Signora Anna prayed, fervently, wildly, to the Mother of God. Sometimes such prayers are efficacious. Last week Signora Anna's midwife was hastily called in a second time, detected an infant she had not previously noticed, assisted the belated bambino into the world, and triumphantly announced: "A son!"

Strutting proudly in the village next day, Signor Donnarumma crowed: "What joy! I have a son. and one of the twins has died!"