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

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

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274 MIL1TAR Y LIFE.<br />

11<br />

As sure as I am of the light of day."<br />

The sol<strong>di</strong>er fastened his eyes on the capta<strong>in</strong>, and stood look<strong>in</strong>g<br />

at him motionless.<br />

Meanwhile, the mother, whose heart<br />

and head were with her<br />

son, rather than with the capta<strong>in</strong>, pulled him by his clothes,<br />

and tak<strong>in</strong>g the medal between her first f<strong>in</strong>ger and thumb, drew<br />

it closer to her face, looked attentively at it, and said smil<strong>in</strong>gly<br />

to the sol<strong>di</strong>er, who still stood motionless look<strong>in</strong>g at the capta<strong>in</strong>:<br />

" I would wager that, after your mother, this is the dearest<br />

th<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the world to you." And she raised the medal the entire<br />

length of the ribbon.<br />

" No," replied her son, without turn<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

" No !<br />

Well, what is the dearest th<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> this world after<br />

your mother "<br />

? asked the woman with an affectionate smile.<br />

The sol<strong>di</strong>er raised his arm, and po<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g to the capta<strong>in</strong>,<br />

replied :<br />

" That man there !<br />

"

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