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

THE SON OF THE REGIMENT. 89
the military salute, and with an expression
of more or less respect,
according to their grade, which he had learned to distinguish
from the very first day. He held the colonel in great
fear.
When he saw him in the distance he took to his heels or
hid behind a tent ;
and even he himself could give no reason
for this. But one day, while he was standing chatting with
two or three soldiers near the tent of an adjutant, behold
the colonel suddenly appeared. He trembled from head
to foot ;
there was no time to hide himself ;
he was obliged to
look at and salute him ;
he raised his eyes timidly, and put his
hand to his hat. The colonel looked at him, placed his hand
under his "
chin, and said : Good-by, my good boy." Carluccio
went nearly crazy ;
flew instantly to us, and breathless
and stammering related this great adventure.
A strange thing in a boy of his age was that he never took
advantage in the slightest degree of the familiarity
with which
we treated him. He was always docile, humble, and respectful,
as on the first day when we picked him up on the road. Of
that fortunate day he spoke often, and always with tears in
eyes. He had his melancholy hours, too, especially on rainy
days, when all the soldiers were gathered under the tents, and
the camp was as silent as a desert. At those times he seated
himself under the tent with his face toward the opening,
and his eyes fastened motionless on the ground
as if he were counting the drops that fell inside. " Carluccio,
of what are you thinking?" I asked. "I? Nothing."
" That is not true," I said.
" Come here, poor Carluccio,
come here beside me ;
I am only one of the many who are
fond of you but I love
; you for them all. Come and sit here
and we will talk together, and away with all melancholy."
his
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