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

A MEDAL. 265
in command ought to look after these affairs ;
you must excuse
me, Mr. Colonel, I don't say
it of you but it does n't seem
; just
to me. We poor women pass entire months without knowing
any thing of our sons, and we are always anxious, and my
friends here can tell you so, for they see me every day and
know what a life I have been leading for some time,
my heartaches,
fears, and the pain I have suffered on account of that
poor boy.
There are moments in which I really cannot bear it
any longer. Oh, no, no, let me finish, Mr. Colonel,
it is not
just ! "
Saying which she covered her face with her apron, and
began to weep.
All the other women assented by word and gesture ;
the captain
was silent.
" Look
"
here, my good woman ! he then said suddenly.
The woman uncovered her tear-stained face, and glanced at
him.
" Look
"
!
repeated the captain, taking off his cap and
handing it to her. She took it with a stupid expression of face,
looked at it
top and bottom, glanced around at her friends as
if to question them, then stared fixedly at the captain,
to show him that she had not
understood.
as if
The captain laughed.
" Is there nothing which interests you in this cap "
?
The woman began examining
it again, and uttered a cry
:
"Ah ! it is the number of the regiment my son's "
regiment !
and seizing the cap with both hands she kissed and rekissed it
impetuously, and in a moment overwhelmed the captain with so
many questions, prayers,
demonstrations of gratitude, joy, and
affection, that he was overcome, and was obliged to wait, in
order to reply one word, until this outburst had quite exhausted
her strength and choked her voice.