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

THE CONSCRIPT. 121
The conscript, who up to that point had seemed to be in a
state of gaping, wondering ecstacy, hurriedly drew out a match
and handed it to him.
"When one thinks of these things and has any heart, certain
little troubles, and certain scantiness in the living of the soldiers
are quite forgotten ;
so you must think of these things and they
will teach you ;
and you, who are a good sort of fellow, will
keep them in mind, won't you ? "
The conscript made a sign in the affirmative, as he could not
speak for a moment.
"Certainly," continued the officer, "in order to be a good
soldier, one must look above the barracks and the parade
ground. Then, there is every thing in habit. The knapsack
is so heavy at first, and such a torment ; they all say so ;
but
little by
little it becomes a trifle. And the food ? You certainly
don't live like princes, that is well known ;
but you must
have patience, patience, patience, which is the great virtue of a
soldier, and not complain and whimper, as some do, with
and without reason, of all and every thing ;
but eat what there
is and be content with little. Then the appetite is never lacking
when a man works, does his duty, and has a contented
spirit ; appetite is a great cook. They are only the listless
and indolent who find fault with every thing, and are never
contented.
I see that good fellows always make good soldiers,
because their superiors like them, their comrades esteem them,
their towns-people respect them, and there are some of them
who in five years
have never been but one day under arrest,
and have left their numero diciotto white and clean as a handkerchief
;
and you will be one of these, won't you ? "
The soldier assented quickly.