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

84 MILITARY LIFE.
VI.
Two days later we encamped in the neighborhood of Mestre,
where we remained for nearly a month, until the termination of
the last armistice, that is to say, until
we returned back toward
Ferrara.
No reply came at any time from Padua, and Carluccio remained
on with the regiment.
From the very first day we thought of renewing his wardrobe,
because his clothes, already worn out, had been so spoiled
during the first march that they were literally falling in pieces.
We gave him a straw hat, a jacket, a pair of linen trousers, a
beautiful red cravat, and two little shoes that fitted his small
feet. Oh, how contented the poor boy was When we ! presented
him with all these things, he did not seem able to believe
his eyes ;
he turned red, twisted his head the other way,
almost fancied they were playing a joke on him, tried to push
back the unhoped-for gift with his elbows several times, and
kept
his chin down on his breast. But when he saw that we
began to grow angry at his obstinate incredulity, and pretended
to move off, saying
:
" We '11 dress another boy," he took a
step toward us, made a motion with his hand for us to stop,
and exclaimed in a tear-choked voice " "
: No ! no ! but he was
instantly ashamed of that prayer, bowed his head again, and
stood motionless with his eyes
lowered and full of tears. When
he had his clothes on, he was so much embarrassed that he did
not know how to walk, act, or speak.
"
" the soldiers said to him as they
Cospetto, Carluccio !
made way for him to pass furtively into their midst : " cos-
Petto \ what luxury ! " and he blushed and ran away.