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

1 1 M1LITAR Y LIFE,
his face streaked with tears, and raising one hand with a convulsive
gesture, he shouted between his sobs :
"
Good-by, regiment
!
good-by, Mr. Officers and soldiers !
Good-by, all All so good I shall ! ! always, always remember
"
you Good-by good-by ! ! !
" " Good-by, Carluccio ! the officers and soldiers replied in
passing.
" Good-by to the son of the regiment ! Good-luck
to you, little one. Do not forget us ! Au
revoir. Good-by !
good-by ! "
The poor boy, not being able to say another word, continued
to salute the officers, soldiers, and flag, waving his arm ;
and
then disappeared suddenly, covering his face with his hands.
We never saw him again from that day forth ;
but the regiment
preserved for a long time the recollections of the little
adopted son, and every soldier bore in his heart, from garrison
to garrison, the memory of that lovely affection, just
as he had
carried the roses from the gardens of Padua on the point of
his bayonet.