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

" Oh, what an honor !
A MEDAL. 271
" exclaimed the good old woman,
clasping her hands and remaining motionless in that position,
her eyes gleaming with a very beautiful smile, a mixture of
content, marvel, and affection.
The colonel turned toward the regiment, and in a loud,
senorous, vibratory voice, which echoed through the square,
shouted :
" Present arms !
"
The woman felt a shiver run from head to foot, drew close
to the soldier and seized him as if she were afraid.
At the colonel's shout the four majors of the regiment each
turned to his battalion
and repeated the command in a powerful
voice.
Almost instantaneously, as if moved by a single arm, did the
twelve hundred muskets rise, gleaming from the ground, and
resound when hit by
the twelve hundred hands. All faces
were motionless, and all eyes were fixed on the soldier's face.
The officers saluted with their swords. The crowd broke out
in a burst of applause, and the band began to play.
" But who is this soldier ?
" asked the poor mother, astonished,
moved, and fascinated by that stupendous spectacle.
The orderly turned, looked at her, opened his mouth, uttered
some inarticulate sound, glanced at the soldier, and turned
again to the woman.
The band continued playing, the regiment was still motionless.
" It is
your son ! " the orderly shouted.
The old woman uttered a cry,
stood immovable for a
moment, with wide-stretched eyes and mouth, dashed her
hands into her white hair, smiled, groaned, and sobbed ;
that