Military life in Italy : sketches - Societa italiana di storia militare

THE SON OF THE REGIMENT. 8 1
the boys accompanied them outside the city, and there were
some who went many miles with them. In fact, I heard that
two or three had run away from home, and then came back
saying they had eaten the soldiers' bread and slept under
their tents. I instantly thought I would run away. I tried
two or three times ;
but when it
began to grow dark, I got
frightened and went home. But yesterday morning my mother
beat me with a stick and hurt me very much ;
here are the
marks on my hands, and then she struck me in the face, and all
because I had said :
'
May you burst !
'
to one of the boys who
was making fun of my boots, saying they looked like boats.
They did not even give me a piece of bread, and then in the
evening they left me alone in the house. I stood at the window
with tears in my eyes, and was really desperate, when
suddenly I heard the band play ; I instantly left the house,
and as soon as I saw that they were the soldiers of the king
who has come to liberate us, I threw myself into their midst,
and I have not left them. . . . Then
you spoke to me (and
he looked at me). Then they told me not to be afraid ; they
gave me something to eat I was so !
hungry and told me
they would keep me with them. . . . But I don't wish to
stay here and eat my bread like a beggar. I want to work.
I will brush your clothes (and he touched my jacket).
I will bring water to drink and get
straw for the officers to
sleep on. . . ."
At this point one of my friends cut him short by taking his
head between his two hands, and pressing
it to his breast with
all the pity and love of a father.