Every evening in Venice, an old lantern keeper walked beside the canals.
His name was Marco.
He carried a long wooden pole and lit the old street lamps one by one.
Tourists often asked why he continued doing such an old-fashioned job.
Marco always smiled.
“Because someone has to keep the path visible.”
One foggy evening, a young boy became separated from his family.
Marco found him standing alone beside a canal.
The boy was frightened.
Marco took his hand and walked with him through the fog.
They followed the lanterns.
After several minutes, they found the boy’s parents.
They hugged their son tightly.
The next morning, Marco discovered a small drawing attached to his lantern.
It showed an old man holding a light.
Underneath were the words:
“Thank you for showing me the way.”
Marco kept the drawing for the rest of his life.
When he eventually retired, the city replaced him with electric lighting.
But one small lantern remained beside the canal.
It was called Marco’s Lantern.
And every night, it continued shining over the water.
